Girl, at 16, you haven’t seen anything yet! You are in for quite the ride. ;)
Here I am in the year 2010. Twenty years later from where you are at, two decades, and while things have surely changed one thing that has not changed all that much is fashion. That off white sweater you have with the black polka dots on it, well, you may want to keep that because a week or so ago I went into H&M (one of the stores you will be shopping at) and saw that exact sweater. I would also go through Grandma Lucy’s digs and Mom’s digs because yes, even those eras will repeat themselves. Plus, you will find out that you were probably born in the wrong era. You will love the classic films like An Affair to Remember. You will love anything that represents Old Hollywood / Old New York. You will love the Rat Pack and love Audrey Hepburn. You will be all about women being ladies and men being gentlemen. I guess it has to do with the romantic in you.
If you can believe it, I am writing to you on a lap top computer. Basically a mobile computer, unlike the ones you have at school. Technology is what has probably changed the most, besides YOU. Forget the pager, we have mobile phones now that do EVERYTHING! On your iPhone you can keep your schedule, contacts, make phone calls, text message your friends, check emails, play games, listen to music and watch TV to name a few. Crazy I know! No more busy signals, no more waiting days for something to arrive in the mail and all those mix tapes you have will be obsolete. No more albums or 45’s. Now you will go on your computer, download your music and either copy it to a CD or download it straight to your phone. As much of a pain technology can be it does make life easier. And the best part, since you will STILL be in California, is that you will be able to keep in contact instantly with your family and friends.
Speaking of family and friends, look around you and take inventory. Some of the friends you are close with now you won’t be as close with 20 years from now, some you will be closer with and some that you don’t hang out with now will actually become good friends. Some will disappear for awhile and then, thanks to a great social network called FaceBook, will make a re-appearance. Note that this not a bad thing. It’s just that some people are in your life for a reason, some for a season and some for a lifetime. It is up to you to discern who fits where. As for family, you have one of the best, even if you may not see it that way now. Yes, the Italians can be a bit crazy but they do love and adore you and if you ever question God’s love look to Mom and Dad because they are true examples of it. Through your successes, mistakes, and times they didn’t understand they have always been there and loved you with an unconditional love. Mom will actually turn out to be your best friend and greatest confidant. And that pain in the bleep brother will still be a pain in the bleep but a really cool guy. Treasure the memories you have with them and once you move take every opportunity that presents itself to visit them because life is too short and as you will see, Nonna will be taken too soon.
You must be wondering where you are moving to. Well, at the age of 18 you are going to travel to California on a one month scholarship to the Tremaine Dance Studios. You will audition among 150 girls and be one of two chosen so audition knowing, “I got this!” While in CA with dance scholarships to Oklahoma City and New York University you will choose to stay there. Now, I wish I could say to you what people want me to say, especially, probably, Mom and Dad, which is that you should fly back from California and walk with your class at graduation and go on to college but I am not going to. Yes, education is important but the path you chose, all the ups and downs have made you into the woman you are today. And I think you are pretty amazing. I will suggest though you start saving now because CA is expensive. Educate yourself on investing and stay away from debt. If you can’t pay cash for it then you don’t need it. Even though you come out on top during what the world is calling a recession all the extra finances and knowledge will have you in yours quicker. And even though people think money is the greatest commodity it isn’t, time is, so don’t waste it sweetheart.
The dance scene in CA is quite different than NY. You will be approached to sell your soul, so to speak for work. You will be told you are too good at one audition, that you don’t fit the costume at another and so on. Don’t be discouraged. You will come to find that although you loved being on stage growing up your passion has changed. Oh, to save you from embarrassment, when you are on stage dancing with Robin S and MTV approaches you to dance on The Grind, say NO. You will never live it down! LoL! Actually, still do it because it will be a great experience shared with a great friend, a great friend that will also get you through your first earthquake. Oh yes. Upon your move you will witness riots, a major earthquake, but you will also meet some great people that will turn out to be more like family. You will be in the company of celebrities, you will work on the Prime Time Emmy Awards and you will even fly in private jets and drive fancy cars. I told you it would be quite the ride.
On a more serious note, and I want you to remember this throughout the next 20 years is this, hold on to your Faith. Your Faith is going to set you apart from the rest and keep you standing when others would have fallen or quit. It is your Faith that will keep you at peace when you should be losing your mind. People will talk about you behind your back and think you are holier than though, a Jesus freak. People will question your motives, stone you and put you on your cross because of it. People won’t agree, will ridicule and make fun of you/it. Your passion and your heart will be misunderstood. Don’t pay it/them any mind. You will see God do things for you that you KNOW are a result of your seeds sown and time spent in His Presence. His Presence will be your Safe Place. He is real Becky and He loves you. And He has some great and mighty things to do for you and through you. At this moment you are writing your first book. Your walk is not going to be easy because of what you are called to do and who you are called to reach but it will be worth it. You might want to start studying the ministry of Kathryn Kuhlman. God is going to show you a great deal from her ministry.
As for this thing called love. Get over your most recent break up because 20 years from now you are going to be so thankful you didn’t end up with him. At 16, you really have no clue who you are. You have a clue as to who people tell you, you are but no clue as to who you really are. Here you/I am 20 years later and I feel like just now you know who you really are. Which is probably why it is best you didn’t end up with any of your exes. Speaking of those, you will have 1 or 2 great ones but the majority of them won’t be worth mentioning. Love is going to take some time to find you so be patient and do not settle. Don’t make permanent decisions in temporary situations. (And that can be applied to more than love.) And in the new millennium when you meet that really cute artist, stay away. LoL! It will be the greatest heartbreak you witness to date. It will cause you to lose yourself and be put on an emotional rollercoaster. Even though there have been more toads/frogs than Princes don’t shut down or give up on love. Just be wise and discerning, stop giving of your heart so easy and make them work for your trust. Love without reservation. Give your whole heart. But if in some way you don't fulfill what he needs in a woman & if he feels he needs somebody else, then don't stick around. Be the kind to not stay & make a scene. Eventually, loving without reservation and giving of your whole heart will prove worth the risk! Your heart is one of your greatest gifts and if in the wrong hands it will do more damage than good. Your worth is far above rubies Becky. Read Proverbs 31 for this will be the standard you live by. It is who you are, Royalty, a Queen. You love to love and really are at your best when in a relationship. Take time to learn who you are, whose you are, and make sure you are whole before settling in with the one. You owe it to him. Be OK with who you are and embrace who you are, especially those curves! ;) You will realize that the most exciting, challenging, and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself! And If you can find someone to love the YOU, you love…well that’s just fabulous.
In closing, enjoy life. Just love, make mistakes, and have wonderful times, but never second guess who you are, where you have been, and most importantly, where it is you are going.
PS: Be on the look-out for a series called Sex and the City. Trust me/you, you will be obsessed. Not just because it is filmed in NY and the girls wear amazing fashions but also, I believe, because you can relate to one of the characters named Carrie. She is a writer and at times, her relationship with Mr. Big will hit pretty close to home. You may not understand this now but in the words of Carrie Bradshaw…STAY TUNED! XOXO
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A Lesson for the Faith Walker
A faith-walker must learn to live in an atmosphere where people are saying to them that what their seeing is wrong yet their response is, “you know what, I know what I am seeing, I know what this Word says, I know what God has promised me and I refuse to be moved.”
If you let people get in your ear who don't see what you see, you will lose heart. If you let people get in your ear who don't walk like you walk, you will lose heart. You will be spiritually schizophrenic. You will wake up one day and think everything is wonderful and by noon because so-and-so talked to you, you'll be saying, “I wonder what happened, I wonder where God is?”
You must get accustomed to this and learn to be comfortable with the incongruence between your faith and your circumstance. You must learn how to stand in the middle of a storm and say, "It’s going to be clear tomorrow." You are going to have to learn how to stand in the middle of doubt and unbelief and tell everybody around you that, “THIS is going to pass.”
The life of faith is a life of simultaneous death and life. If you are going to walk by faith there is going to be a SIMULTANEOUS happening in your life CONSTANTLY. Something is always going to be dying so that something else can live and if you focus on what's dying then you will lose heart, but if you focus on what is being brought to life you will be encouraged
The way to navigate, the way to NOT lose heart is to get certain principles down. Because THERE IS A PLACE, where your emotions are not going to carry you through, where what you feel is not going to be the determining factor as to whether you go on or not, where nothing in you will feel like getting up, where nothing in you will feel like going ON. THERE IS A PLACE, where you will feel like throwing in the towel, like nothing is working, like you might as well try something else, like the promise is never going to come to pass, and if you (rely on your emotions), you will lose heart.
Get and rely on the principle, “I SPEAK WHAT I BELIEVE!!!” And when all hell is breaking forth in your life, that is when you need to talk the loudest, when everything is going wrong in your life, that's when you need to lift up your voice and tell your friends, your enemies and anybody else, “Let ME TELL YOU what's going to happen in THIS situation.”
---"I Still Have the Heart for This" (BCEM)
Scripture Reference 2 Corinthians 4:1,7-16
THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN GOD AND YOU. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR CHOICES AND HIS DESTINY. SETTLE WHAT IS HIM IN YOUR LIFE. AND NO MATTER WHAT IT APPEARS OR HOW PEOPLE MAKE IT APPEAR STAND, BELIEVE, SPEAK, OBEY AND WATCH IT COME TO PASS. WHEN SOMETHING IS GOD YOU DON’T HAVE TO FORCE IT. IT WILL HAPPEN AT THE APPOINTED TIME AND IN DUE SEASON. DON’T STRIVE IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH, REST IN HIS GRACE AND IN HIS PRINCIPLES.
---RB Twist
If you let people get in your ear who don't see what you see, you will lose heart. If you let people get in your ear who don't walk like you walk, you will lose heart. You will be spiritually schizophrenic. You will wake up one day and think everything is wonderful and by noon because so-and-so talked to you, you'll be saying, “I wonder what happened, I wonder where God is?”
You must get accustomed to this and learn to be comfortable with the incongruence between your faith and your circumstance. You must learn how to stand in the middle of a storm and say, "It’s going to be clear tomorrow." You are going to have to learn how to stand in the middle of doubt and unbelief and tell everybody around you that, “THIS is going to pass.”
The life of faith is a life of simultaneous death and life. If you are going to walk by faith there is going to be a SIMULTANEOUS happening in your life CONSTANTLY. Something is always going to be dying so that something else can live and if you focus on what's dying then you will lose heart, but if you focus on what is being brought to life you will be encouraged
The way to navigate, the way to NOT lose heart is to get certain principles down. Because THERE IS A PLACE, where your emotions are not going to carry you through, where what you feel is not going to be the determining factor as to whether you go on or not, where nothing in you will feel like getting up, where nothing in you will feel like going ON. THERE IS A PLACE, where you will feel like throwing in the towel, like nothing is working, like you might as well try something else, like the promise is never going to come to pass, and if you (rely on your emotions), you will lose heart.
Get and rely on the principle, “I SPEAK WHAT I BELIEVE!!!” And when all hell is breaking forth in your life, that is when you need to talk the loudest, when everything is going wrong in your life, that's when you need to lift up your voice and tell your friends, your enemies and anybody else, “Let ME TELL YOU what's going to happen in THIS situation.”
---"I Still Have the Heart for This" (BCEM)
Scripture Reference 2 Corinthians 4:1,7-16
THERE IS A FINE LINE BETWEEN GOD AND YOU. KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOUR CHOICES AND HIS DESTINY. SETTLE WHAT IS HIM IN YOUR LIFE. AND NO MATTER WHAT IT APPEARS OR HOW PEOPLE MAKE IT APPEAR STAND, BELIEVE, SPEAK, OBEY AND WATCH IT COME TO PASS. WHEN SOMETHING IS GOD YOU DON’T HAVE TO FORCE IT. IT WILL HAPPEN AT THE APPOINTED TIME AND IN DUE SEASON. DON’T STRIVE IN YOUR OWN STRENGTH, REST IN HIS GRACE AND IN HIS PRINCIPLES.
---RB Twist
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Have U made peace with who U R?
I was checking my “tweets” as my BFF and her hubby like to instruct me to do (LOL) and I saw a post from “the Secret daily” that read, “Just like the law of gravity, the law of attraction never slips up. If something came to you, you drew it, with prolonged thought.”
I chuckled because I think it funny that SO many jumped on “The Secret” bandwagon when “The Secret” is just Biblical Principles under a marketing idea that would sell to a bigger audience. As well as that the whole Name & Claim tactic, like some faith messages can borderline witchcraft if not careful. Before one can do any of this, whether through the latest trend, or through faith one must know what the Will is for their life. Not what Will they make because of desires and bad choices but the true Will otherwise you may end up with something you thought you wanted only to realize you don’t want it. (That is a whole other message/blog)
It then made me think of others boldness in what they believe and who they are. The Secret, good energy, Gumby (Inside Joke – LOL), etc. and how sometimes I shy away from who I really am because we can never be sure how others will respond or because we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. And to be honest, a part of me shied away because life’s circumstances and twists have had me questioning who I really am. Am I really called to do what so many have spoken into me? Do I really want this? Do I really want that? Is this the truth? Is that a lie? Circumstances that contradict who you are, what you know, what you are made of and where you know you are to be will do this. Being around negative people, people who don’t know who you are and / or remaining in unhealthy relationships will do this. Life can do this. Life gets tiring. And I recently have gotten tired. I know I am in a transition, a wilderness so to speak but I’m just tired. And because of how I flow I am constantly being pulled on to pray for this individual, fast for this individual, agree with this individual, and deal with this individuals problems and that will tire a person out, especially when they are in this place of transition / wilderness. People often assume for those of us who flow like this that we don’t ever need to refill or have someone pray and hold our arms up. It’s not an easy balancing act to be everything to everybody and be who you need to be self but I have faith it can be accomplished. Otherwise Proverbs 31 wouldn’t exist. ;)
Anyway, the more I thought of all this the more I thought, “Screw what people think. I respect others and their choices they can respect mine or have nothing to do with me.” THIS is what works for ME! I have tried it and I have found it to work and be true. Moving 3000 miles from home at the age of 18 not knowing anyone will force you to grab on to something. For me that was faith in the God I was introduced to growing up by my Nonna and my parents. And I have held on to that faith and it is that faith that keeps me when at times I feel lost or feel like I can’t go on. I’ve tried to get away from it and to be completely honest, at times have not been feeling it and questioned it. But in the end it is the light that ignites the fire in me. This IS who I am. This IS how I live and I refuse to shy away from it. This is how I look, how I am shaped and I am not going to make excuses for it. I have died too many deaths and been on the cross too many times to get where I am. If someone doesn’t like it or if someone is threatened or insecure with it, too bad. No one (well, some in my circle do) knows what I have been through, where I have come from, the sleepless nights interceding for others, the seeds sown in Word, Time and Monetary, the times spent fasting and seeking or the tears that have been shed. So why should I shy away when I have paid the price to walk in the Anointing that I walk in, the faith that I walk in? I won’t. Not anymore. And I encourage you to do the same. What price have you paid to get to where you are? Forget what society says or what people will think and just BE!
I believe it is in our times of wilderness, the unclear moments, the times of doubt and hurt that we truly find who we are and what we are made of. Never allow your circumstance, what you have been through or are going through, or what people speak of you to dictate who you are or where you are headed. Stop believing people’s lies. Not everything is as it appears. Misery loves company. Let their misery find other company. If someone walks away let them go. Don’t beg and plead. I’ve been there in my younger age and it is not pretty. Young girl, your worth is far ABOVE rubies. Start acting like it. Surround yourself with people who not only know who you are but appreciate you. Find your Dream Mates. Dream Mates speak the same and see the same as you. They don’t manipulate and see what they think you are seeing or speak what they think you are speaking or want to hear. I would rather have (3) people in my circle that know who I am, where I am headed and appreciate me than (50) people telling me “Bless You” and this and that for show and talking about me behind my back. Know who you are, speak consistently to who you are. See yourself where you are headed and walk in it before you get there. Don’t allow seasons of waiting or disappointments to throw you from this place. What we speak are seeds sown and seeds can only blossom and grow if they are watered. YOU are somebody. And if you are happy with you then don’t care what others think. Stop trying to please everyone and please yourself, please Him.
For a while, thanks to past (meaning years ago) relationships, I shied away from allowing my passion and love to come out in other relationships. On my last job I shied away from my Anointing and my gifts so as not to step on people’s toes. Thanks to people in certain sectors I shied away from doing me on the outward. However, in the midst of this past month I’ve come to realize this is who I am. Friends of mine have been telling me in the season I am in to settle what God promised me but to be honest what I really needed to settle is who God has called me to be and what He has called me to do. I had to accept that this is who I am and I am actually OK with it. I was created to be a comparable help to someone, just because this past individual couldn’t understand, accept, handle, or whatever doesn’t mean I should shy away from it and not take the risk to fully give of myself again to someone who deserves it and wants it. I came out of someone, I was seen in someone from the beginning and partook of that empowerment and I don’t care how long it takes, I will be re-joined (because that is what happens when you locate the one that came out of you or you came out of, a re-joining) to whoever he is. He could be a bum on the street, with all the Word I have out there, when it is time, he will be a King. I am passionate about (2) things in life, Love and Ministry. It is in these places that I am my best. If I am not in these places I feel unsatisfied, not alive, I feel lost. And the reason I can say that is because I have already dwelt in these places. I’ve seen what it looks like and experienced it. I’ve experienced what I thought could only exist for others even though I knew it existed. Whatever / whoever you are passionate about just do it. And if haters block or talk let them block and talk. Sometimes people hate simply because they know who you are and what you represent and they want to be there. Without putting in the work. Life is too short so do you (as my boy would always tell me) and do it well!
I know, because of conversations with many, that a great deal are tired, questioning, and I am sure at some point all of us have gotten tired, doubted, been hurt, been the one doing the hurting, missed the mark, made a mistake, had to deal with insecurities, shame, fear, guilt, pride, lost of identity, (feel free to input yours here), etc. But that is life. It is in these that we also find healing, faith, certainty, courage, strength, peace (feel free to input yours here), etc. So instead of complaining, hiding or questioning EMBRACE and EMERGE into the beautiful individual you were called and destined to be. Be not just joyful but HAPPY! Get out of your valley, whether it is an unhealthy relationship, your emotions, debt, depression, (feel free to input yours here) and ENJOY waking up every day and all the opportunities that day may hold. Rise, take up your bed and WALK!
I truly believe that 2011 is going to be the year that Jehovah Himself steps in and shows Himself as King and in His Sovereignty. For too long, especially the church, we have been mistreating God’s chosen, God’s gifts and appointing those with no Anointing to handle the things of God. That has to change in order for His work to be done and if we won’t do it then He will step in and do it Himself.
I chuckled because I think it funny that SO many jumped on “The Secret” bandwagon when “The Secret” is just Biblical Principles under a marketing idea that would sell to a bigger audience. As well as that the whole Name & Claim tactic, like some faith messages can borderline witchcraft if not careful. Before one can do any of this, whether through the latest trend, or through faith one must know what the Will is for their life. Not what Will they make because of desires and bad choices but the true Will otherwise you may end up with something you thought you wanted only to realize you don’t want it. (That is a whole other message/blog)
It then made me think of others boldness in what they believe and who they are. The Secret, good energy, Gumby (Inside Joke – LOL), etc. and how sometimes I shy away from who I really am because we can never be sure how others will respond or because we don’t want to step on anyone’s toes. And to be honest, a part of me shied away because life’s circumstances and twists have had me questioning who I really am. Am I really called to do what so many have spoken into me? Do I really want this? Do I really want that? Is this the truth? Is that a lie? Circumstances that contradict who you are, what you know, what you are made of and where you know you are to be will do this. Being around negative people, people who don’t know who you are and / or remaining in unhealthy relationships will do this. Life can do this. Life gets tiring. And I recently have gotten tired. I know I am in a transition, a wilderness so to speak but I’m just tired. And because of how I flow I am constantly being pulled on to pray for this individual, fast for this individual, agree with this individual, and deal with this individuals problems and that will tire a person out, especially when they are in this place of transition / wilderness. People often assume for those of us who flow like this that we don’t ever need to refill or have someone pray and hold our arms up. It’s not an easy balancing act to be everything to everybody and be who you need to be self but I have faith it can be accomplished. Otherwise Proverbs 31 wouldn’t exist. ;)
Anyway, the more I thought of all this the more I thought, “Screw what people think. I respect others and their choices they can respect mine or have nothing to do with me.” THIS is what works for ME! I have tried it and I have found it to work and be true. Moving 3000 miles from home at the age of 18 not knowing anyone will force you to grab on to something. For me that was faith in the God I was introduced to growing up by my Nonna and my parents. And I have held on to that faith and it is that faith that keeps me when at times I feel lost or feel like I can’t go on. I’ve tried to get away from it and to be completely honest, at times have not been feeling it and questioned it. But in the end it is the light that ignites the fire in me. This IS who I am. This IS how I live and I refuse to shy away from it. This is how I look, how I am shaped and I am not going to make excuses for it. I have died too many deaths and been on the cross too many times to get where I am. If someone doesn’t like it or if someone is threatened or insecure with it, too bad. No one (well, some in my circle do) knows what I have been through, where I have come from, the sleepless nights interceding for others, the seeds sown in Word, Time and Monetary, the times spent fasting and seeking or the tears that have been shed. So why should I shy away when I have paid the price to walk in the Anointing that I walk in, the faith that I walk in? I won’t. Not anymore. And I encourage you to do the same. What price have you paid to get to where you are? Forget what society says or what people will think and just BE!
I believe it is in our times of wilderness, the unclear moments, the times of doubt and hurt that we truly find who we are and what we are made of. Never allow your circumstance, what you have been through or are going through, or what people speak of you to dictate who you are or where you are headed. Stop believing people’s lies. Not everything is as it appears. Misery loves company. Let their misery find other company. If someone walks away let them go. Don’t beg and plead. I’ve been there in my younger age and it is not pretty. Young girl, your worth is far ABOVE rubies. Start acting like it. Surround yourself with people who not only know who you are but appreciate you. Find your Dream Mates. Dream Mates speak the same and see the same as you. They don’t manipulate and see what they think you are seeing or speak what they think you are speaking or want to hear. I would rather have (3) people in my circle that know who I am, where I am headed and appreciate me than (50) people telling me “Bless You” and this and that for show and talking about me behind my back. Know who you are, speak consistently to who you are. See yourself where you are headed and walk in it before you get there. Don’t allow seasons of waiting or disappointments to throw you from this place. What we speak are seeds sown and seeds can only blossom and grow if they are watered. YOU are somebody. And if you are happy with you then don’t care what others think. Stop trying to please everyone and please yourself, please Him.
For a while, thanks to past (meaning years ago) relationships, I shied away from allowing my passion and love to come out in other relationships. On my last job I shied away from my Anointing and my gifts so as not to step on people’s toes. Thanks to people in certain sectors I shied away from doing me on the outward. However, in the midst of this past month I’ve come to realize this is who I am. Friends of mine have been telling me in the season I am in to settle what God promised me but to be honest what I really needed to settle is who God has called me to be and what He has called me to do. I had to accept that this is who I am and I am actually OK with it. I was created to be a comparable help to someone, just because this past individual couldn’t understand, accept, handle, or whatever doesn’t mean I should shy away from it and not take the risk to fully give of myself again to someone who deserves it and wants it. I came out of someone, I was seen in someone from the beginning and partook of that empowerment and I don’t care how long it takes, I will be re-joined (because that is what happens when you locate the one that came out of you or you came out of, a re-joining) to whoever he is. He could be a bum on the street, with all the Word I have out there, when it is time, he will be a King. I am passionate about (2) things in life, Love and Ministry. It is in these places that I am my best. If I am not in these places I feel unsatisfied, not alive, I feel lost. And the reason I can say that is because I have already dwelt in these places. I’ve seen what it looks like and experienced it. I’ve experienced what I thought could only exist for others even though I knew it existed. Whatever / whoever you are passionate about just do it. And if haters block or talk let them block and talk. Sometimes people hate simply because they know who you are and what you represent and they want to be there. Without putting in the work. Life is too short so do you (as my boy would always tell me) and do it well!
I know, because of conversations with many, that a great deal are tired, questioning, and I am sure at some point all of us have gotten tired, doubted, been hurt, been the one doing the hurting, missed the mark, made a mistake, had to deal with insecurities, shame, fear, guilt, pride, lost of identity, (feel free to input yours here), etc. But that is life. It is in these that we also find healing, faith, certainty, courage, strength, peace (feel free to input yours here), etc. So instead of complaining, hiding or questioning EMBRACE and EMERGE into the beautiful individual you were called and destined to be. Be not just joyful but HAPPY! Get out of your valley, whether it is an unhealthy relationship, your emotions, debt, depression, (feel free to input yours here) and ENJOY waking up every day and all the opportunities that day may hold. Rise, take up your bed and WALK!
I truly believe that 2011 is going to be the year that Jehovah Himself steps in and shows Himself as King and in His Sovereignty. For too long, especially the church, we have been mistreating God’s chosen, God’s gifts and appointing those with no Anointing to handle the things of God. That has to change in order for His work to be done and if we won’t do it then He will step in and do it Himself.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
I've come to realize...
Recently, I went back through the time line of the past so many years of my life. Decisions made, words spoken, revelation received, seeds sown, etc. My life seemed to have been moving in so many areas and then all of a sudden it seemed like the motion stopped or went in another direction or even more so went backwards.
For some time I didn’t ask the tough questions out of fear of what the answers would be. It is funny though how He knows even our thoughts. Without even speaking the questions He knew what they were and through reading and studying I got my answers without even having to speak the questions.
When you seek His Word things aren’t always as black and white as religion makes them to be. There is so much more depth and truth. Much that we don’t like to talk about or even teach because it isn’t the black and white message religion teaches us. We wonder, "Can that really be God's mindset behind that Word?" Why yes, it can!
I’ve come to realize that in some situations, what we deal with is not a result of our choices / decisions but of those connected to us. How do we know the difference? Guilt doesn’t exist just the need for a solution.
I've come to realize, through re-reading Kathryn Kuhlman’s story, that disobedience can cause one to be in situations / deal with situations they were never supposed to be in / deal with. Disobedience leaves room for props and counterfeits, spirits to enter into one's atmosphere. (And remember, counterfeits look like the real thing but they will hold no real value even though they can be used for a purpose. I believe some situations look like repeat cycles in people's lives because the first time around they were dealing with the counterfeit.) Now, even though His Grace & Mercy still covers, one will never experience the fullness until one comes to complete surrender and out of their disobedience. It wasn’t until Kathryn came out of her disobedience that her ministry surpassed where it had been before she lost everything, and that she moved in an Anointing she had yet to experience. It also shows there is life after death!
Through the story of Ruth I've come to realize, among other things, that stuff must be done in ORDER, otherwise it can make a complete mess and cause one to spend years repairing what they spent prior years to build. Also, if you are not aware of what is happening on the other side of your situation the best thing to do is Ruth 3:18, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man (situation) will not rest until he (it) has concluded the matter this day.” There are times when space is necessary, sometimes not always embraced, but necessary. Necessary so that ORDER can put in place. However, if not careful during this time space can become a place of uncertainty, confusion, etc. because it is sometimes a space of wilderness and it can cause people to make permanent decisions in temporary situations so guard yourself and your vulnerability during this time.
Lastly, during this past month I’ve come to realize that it one thing to know but it is a whole other thing to do something with what one knows. I personally think Christians get fed way too much. The next Word comes before they have even digested, and dare I say, worked the last Word given. Let’s work the answers to our questions (even if uncomfortable) and move in the knowledge / revelation we receive (even if uncomfortable). Otherwise, what’s the point to all of this?
For some time I didn’t ask the tough questions out of fear of what the answers would be. It is funny though how He knows even our thoughts. Without even speaking the questions He knew what they were and through reading and studying I got my answers without even having to speak the questions.
When you seek His Word things aren’t always as black and white as religion makes them to be. There is so much more depth and truth. Much that we don’t like to talk about or even teach because it isn’t the black and white message religion teaches us. We wonder, "Can that really be God's mindset behind that Word?" Why yes, it can!
I’ve come to realize that in some situations, what we deal with is not a result of our choices / decisions but of those connected to us. How do we know the difference? Guilt doesn’t exist just the need for a solution.
I've come to realize, through re-reading Kathryn Kuhlman’s story, that disobedience can cause one to be in situations / deal with situations they were never supposed to be in / deal with. Disobedience leaves room for props and counterfeits, spirits to enter into one's atmosphere. (And remember, counterfeits look like the real thing but they will hold no real value even though they can be used for a purpose. I believe some situations look like repeat cycles in people's lives because the first time around they were dealing with the counterfeit.) Now, even though His Grace & Mercy still covers, one will never experience the fullness until one comes to complete surrender and out of their disobedience. It wasn’t until Kathryn came out of her disobedience that her ministry surpassed where it had been before she lost everything, and that she moved in an Anointing she had yet to experience. It also shows there is life after death!
Through the story of Ruth I've come to realize, among other things, that stuff must be done in ORDER, otherwise it can make a complete mess and cause one to spend years repairing what they spent prior years to build. Also, if you are not aware of what is happening on the other side of your situation the best thing to do is Ruth 3:18, “Sit still, my daughter, until you know how the matter will turn out; for the man (situation) will not rest until he (it) has concluded the matter this day.” There are times when space is necessary, sometimes not always embraced, but necessary. Necessary so that ORDER can put in place. However, if not careful during this time space can become a place of uncertainty, confusion, etc. because it is sometimes a space of wilderness and it can cause people to make permanent decisions in temporary situations so guard yourself and your vulnerability during this time.
Lastly, during this past month I’ve come to realize that it one thing to know but it is a whole other thing to do something with what one knows. I personally think Christians get fed way too much. The next Word comes before they have even digested, and dare I say, worked the last Word given. Let’s work the answers to our questions (even if uncomfortable) and move in the knowledge / revelation we receive (even if uncomfortable). Otherwise, what’s the point to all of this?
Sunday, October 3, 2010
He Who Is Without Sin.....
I believe most believers are in denial and most non-believers are quite delusional when it comes to those of us who have a relationship with the Lord, not a religion, but a relationship.
To think because we say we believe in The Trinity, the Bible and all that it contains that we are exempt from making mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark is delusional to the non-believer and denial to the believer.
It seems that as soon as one declares the above they are put on this pedestal by both believers and non-believers yet as soon as they makes a mistake/bad choice/miss the mark they get kicked off of it. Just because believers believe what they believe it doesn’t mean they are perfect, have got it together or get it right all the time. They deal with everything the non-believer deals with, however, depending on their place of position, with a platform as well as the responsibility knowing that their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark doesn’t just affect them but everyone connected to and around them. For some this is thousands of people. This already is not an easy thing to carry, and both believers and non-believers make it that much harder by posting these individuals faults on every social network and media outlet. Religion punishes them by forcing them to remain in and be surrounded by their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark while Kingdom forgives them. We must understand that we, believers, will never be perfect. It’s a fact, we are human and we are going to sin/err so we may as well come out of denial / delusion and except this. It happens. It exists. The first word in Man/Woman of God is Man/Woman. And if someone claims to be a believer their relationship with God is just that, their relationship with God. We have no idea the cost some pay to truly walk in what God called them to do. The only thing that should matter to the believer or non-believer is, ‘are they doing what God called them to do?’ If they are, then allow the Holy Spirit to deal with them and the rest. After all, one never knows when they too may be in the hot seat and we reap THAT which we sow. Despite our mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark there is always a way out, even if we find ourselves in that same mistake/bad choice/missing the mark more than once.
The perfect example of this is the story of Kathryn Kuhlman, one of the greatest healing evangelists of all time. At the hype of her ministry she lost everything. She met a man and despite pleadings and warnings from those who cared for her, despite the promptings of the Holy Spirit within her telling her that it was a mistake, despite having no peace and not being able to find the will of God she married him. Her story further goes on to share how she lost her church, close friends, ministry and how even her relationship with God suffered due to putting her desires before His. Even though she immediately knew it was a tragic mistake she felt there was no turning back and so she stayed for years in what she called the deepest and darkest valley of her life. Of course because of the grace of God people were saved and blessed under her ministry during this time but the life went out of both she and her husband. No matter how she tried to rationalize her decision, the truth gripped her heart like a vise. Because of her own stubborn will, she had drifted from God's call and was dying (spiritually). The call on her was so deep, so irreversible, that after so many years she could stand the misery no more, she was fooling herself. She was preaching and seeking God's blessing without living God's precepts. She had sinned. She was tired of trying to justify herself. She finally confessed her transgressions and received the assurance of God's forgiveness. She gave up everything, including her marriage and died (spiritually). She became a seed willing to fall into the ground and be buried. It is here that she came out of the wilderness and moved into the promise land with her ministry superseding where it was when it was at its hype. Those who knew Kathryn will even testify that she didn’t truly move in the Anointing she was moving in when she passed on (physically) until she came out of that deep and dark valley of her life.
We all have CROSSES to bear in our lives. But our crosses are just that, our crosses. It is that place where the Holy Spirit deals with you (individual) and puts His finger on those places or that place in your (individual) life that needs changing / fixing, that place where more of self (individual) needs to die, that place where you (individual) might have been operating in disobedience (like Kathryn). I used to believe that Kathryn went through what she went through because she joined herself to the wrong person because I had never heard of a marriage being referred to as sin. But as I study her ministry/life more I realize it was mainly her disobedience. Disobedience can cause you to deal with things you should have never had to deal with, it can cause you to be blindsided and deceived. Her life reminds me that there is life after death (spiritual). So grateful religion didn’t force her to stay in the state she was in because I truly have learned from her life and her ministry even though I have never met her or sat under her ministry. Had she remained in that who knows how many lives would have missed out.
Without condoning some of these mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark we need to leave room for individuals to have them. If we did, I believe we would see more things become right and more individuals truly delivered, healed and set free. I often wonder how many people are choosing to live in the wilderness, like Kathryn did for some time. I wonder how many have remained in their mistake/bad choices/missing the mark, like Kathryn, trying to justify who they are, rationalizing what they did, living a double life out of fear of being stoned. We need to practice the greatest commandment, which is love, so that these individuals who are in the wilderness can have the boldness and the courage to break out of their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark (wilderness) and enter into their Promise Land.
Truth is, and believers know this, once God forgives it is as if it never happened, only people or the individual can keep it alive. Kathryn chose not to, ”At one point the Lord asked her, ‘Kathryn, have I forgiven you.’ She answered, ‘Yes.’ God said, ‘I have forgotten it, and in My book it never happened.’ From this moment on, until late in her life, Kathryn never spoke of the matter, treating it as God said He had.” Let’s do the same.
To think because we say we believe in The Trinity, the Bible and all that it contains that we are exempt from making mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark is delusional to the non-believer and denial to the believer.
It seems that as soon as one declares the above they are put on this pedestal by both believers and non-believers yet as soon as they makes a mistake/bad choice/miss the mark they get kicked off of it. Just because believers believe what they believe it doesn’t mean they are perfect, have got it together or get it right all the time. They deal with everything the non-believer deals with, however, depending on their place of position, with a platform as well as the responsibility knowing that their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark doesn’t just affect them but everyone connected to and around them. For some this is thousands of people. This already is not an easy thing to carry, and both believers and non-believers make it that much harder by posting these individuals faults on every social network and media outlet. Religion punishes them by forcing them to remain in and be surrounded by their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark while Kingdom forgives them. We must understand that we, believers, will never be perfect. It’s a fact, we are human and we are going to sin/err so we may as well come out of denial / delusion and except this. It happens. It exists. The first word in Man/Woman of God is Man/Woman. And if someone claims to be a believer their relationship with God is just that, their relationship with God. We have no idea the cost some pay to truly walk in what God called them to do. The only thing that should matter to the believer or non-believer is, ‘are they doing what God called them to do?’ If they are, then allow the Holy Spirit to deal with them and the rest. After all, one never knows when they too may be in the hot seat and we reap THAT which we sow. Despite our mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark there is always a way out, even if we find ourselves in that same mistake/bad choice/missing the mark more than once.
The perfect example of this is the story of Kathryn Kuhlman, one of the greatest healing evangelists of all time. At the hype of her ministry she lost everything. She met a man and despite pleadings and warnings from those who cared for her, despite the promptings of the Holy Spirit within her telling her that it was a mistake, despite having no peace and not being able to find the will of God she married him. Her story further goes on to share how she lost her church, close friends, ministry and how even her relationship with God suffered due to putting her desires before His. Even though she immediately knew it was a tragic mistake she felt there was no turning back and so she stayed for years in what she called the deepest and darkest valley of her life. Of course because of the grace of God people were saved and blessed under her ministry during this time but the life went out of both she and her husband. No matter how she tried to rationalize her decision, the truth gripped her heart like a vise. Because of her own stubborn will, she had drifted from God's call and was dying (spiritually). The call on her was so deep, so irreversible, that after so many years she could stand the misery no more, she was fooling herself. She was preaching and seeking God's blessing without living God's precepts. She had sinned. She was tired of trying to justify herself. She finally confessed her transgressions and received the assurance of God's forgiveness. She gave up everything, including her marriage and died (spiritually). She became a seed willing to fall into the ground and be buried. It is here that she came out of the wilderness and moved into the promise land with her ministry superseding where it was when it was at its hype. Those who knew Kathryn will even testify that she didn’t truly move in the Anointing she was moving in when she passed on (physically) until she came out of that deep and dark valley of her life.
We all have CROSSES to bear in our lives. But our crosses are just that, our crosses. It is that place where the Holy Spirit deals with you (individual) and puts His finger on those places or that place in your (individual) life that needs changing / fixing, that place where more of self (individual) needs to die, that place where you (individual) might have been operating in disobedience (like Kathryn). I used to believe that Kathryn went through what she went through because she joined herself to the wrong person because I had never heard of a marriage being referred to as sin. But as I study her ministry/life more I realize it was mainly her disobedience. Disobedience can cause you to deal with things you should have never had to deal with, it can cause you to be blindsided and deceived. Her life reminds me that there is life after death (spiritual). So grateful religion didn’t force her to stay in the state she was in because I truly have learned from her life and her ministry even though I have never met her or sat under her ministry. Had she remained in that who knows how many lives would have missed out.
Without condoning some of these mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark we need to leave room for individuals to have them. If we did, I believe we would see more things become right and more individuals truly delivered, healed and set free. I often wonder how many people are choosing to live in the wilderness, like Kathryn did for some time. I wonder how many have remained in their mistake/bad choices/missing the mark, like Kathryn, trying to justify who they are, rationalizing what they did, living a double life out of fear of being stoned. We need to practice the greatest commandment, which is love, so that these individuals who are in the wilderness can have the boldness and the courage to break out of their mistakes/bad choices/missing the mark (wilderness) and enter into their Promise Land.
Truth is, and believers know this, once God forgives it is as if it never happened, only people or the individual can keep it alive. Kathryn chose not to, ”At one point the Lord asked her, ‘Kathryn, have I forgiven you.’ She answered, ‘Yes.’ God said, ‘I have forgotten it, and in My book it never happened.’ From this moment on, until late in her life, Kathryn never spoke of the matter, treating it as God said He had.” Let’s do the same.
Friday, July 23, 2010
The past 30 days!
The past month or so, for me, has been filled with so many emotions and questions. Just when it seemed I had found my place, the vision clearer than ever, the expectancy dial turned up as far as it could go and that which seemed to have died in me resurrected everything “appeared” to either come to a halt or change direction. I say appear because usually how things appear are not how they truly are. If they were, the Bible would not have to inform / instruct us that we are to walk by our Faith (our conviction / persuasion + corresponding action) and not by our Sight (what we see).
I was completely blindsided, even though I should have seen how I was being prepared for this. The Word will always come before the season, the confusion, the trial, the challenge, etc. The Word is given before so it can keep one through the season, the confusion, the trial, the challenge, etc. But of course, as always, my emotions became more dominant than the Word. And I take blame because I was speaking more to my emotions than I was to my Spirit. Whatever one feeds on is what will have dominion within them. My mind had a field day with me, all the “what ifs” came out, all the questions regarding choices and decisions, the creation of things that weren’t really there or happening. I felt like I was back in 2006 again, literally because life seemed to be repeating itself after it had seemed that life had gotten so far from that time. This allowed for me to be very analytical and start analyzing every relationship, choice, decision, words spoken, prayers prayed and seeds sown over the past 4 years. Hope was making it’s departure, as it seemed that individuals who don’t have the relationship I know I have, or the faith that I have, those with wrong motives were succeeding. I became vulnerable which had me yearning for something familiar, something safe, even if it meant settling or opening doors that I knew were closed for a reason, doors that I knew would only bring more pain. However, when one is vulnerable they could be compared to an alcoholic or any other type of addiction because they will seek for that which will satisfy the pain not realizing that it will only satisfy the pain for the moment, it will never deliver one from the pain. Sometimes emotional pain, I believe, can be more intense than some physical pain. This is why it so crucial, as I was reminded before I did anything stupid, to guard one’s self when in a vulnerable state AND why it so crucial to never choose a mate when in a vulnerable state because when you come out of that state (and YES, you will come out) you will be wondering what you did because what might have been good in that person for the moment, may not be what is needed for your life time.
I finally shut down my thoughts and my emotions long enough to just be, and it is here that I realized that we all have the power to CHOOSE and the power to CHANGE! I once saw this posted, “If the people around you won’t change, change the people around you.” I’m over making excuses for people and why they are they way they are. I too could have chosen to do things during this time of vulnerability that would have led to repetitive cycles, patterns or mistakes but I chose different. However, had I succumbed to vulnerability and possibly made a choice that thrust me back into a repetitive cycle, pattern or past mistake there is always the choice to get out. God does not force us to stay in our mistakes, we do either because of guilt, fear or pride and yes, while He may (allow) us to go through repetitive cycles, I believe that is in hope that we will get sick and tired of being sick and tired and change. God can’t force us to do anything otherwise He would be going against free will. I also realized that I had become comfortable in some situations not realizing becoming comfortable can handicap not only one’s self but others. I realized that I was wavering in certain areas because I hadn’t (settled) that those areas were Him. I also realized I wasn’t being consistent in what I know to do to keep me prepared for the journey or the battle because I was tired and sometimes that happens, we get tired. But that is when we need to remind ourselves to not grow weary in well doing, and to remain balanced. For those of us who are constantly being pulled on by others and constantly giving of ourselves to others it is especially important to refill and to have times when we can just be.
Today, this revelation has now replaced all of what I was “feeling” with peace. The truth is, despite how things appear of feel I, and others, are closer than we have ever been to stepping into that place ordained before the foundations of the Earth. It is just that time, which is why there is so much distraction, which is why the warfare has intensified. However, do not allow the distractions or warfare to cause you to retreat or step out of place and possibly forfeit destiny. Press through, Trust God and not Man, and Believe in the face of Adversity. Don't allow anyone to keep you from truly experiencing His BEST! And I mean truly experiencing it. If there is one thing that Christians have mastered it is Faking. This walk isn't about being perfect it is about being available. Embrace where you have been, where you are at (the good and bad, the right and wrong) but most importantly where you are headed.
I was completely blindsided, even though I should have seen how I was being prepared for this. The Word will always come before the season, the confusion, the trial, the challenge, etc. The Word is given before so it can keep one through the season, the confusion, the trial, the challenge, etc. But of course, as always, my emotions became more dominant than the Word. And I take blame because I was speaking more to my emotions than I was to my Spirit. Whatever one feeds on is what will have dominion within them. My mind had a field day with me, all the “what ifs” came out, all the questions regarding choices and decisions, the creation of things that weren’t really there or happening. I felt like I was back in 2006 again, literally because life seemed to be repeating itself after it had seemed that life had gotten so far from that time. This allowed for me to be very analytical and start analyzing every relationship, choice, decision, words spoken, prayers prayed and seeds sown over the past 4 years. Hope was making it’s departure, as it seemed that individuals who don’t have the relationship I know I have, or the faith that I have, those with wrong motives were succeeding. I became vulnerable which had me yearning for something familiar, something safe, even if it meant settling or opening doors that I knew were closed for a reason, doors that I knew would only bring more pain. However, when one is vulnerable they could be compared to an alcoholic or any other type of addiction because they will seek for that which will satisfy the pain not realizing that it will only satisfy the pain for the moment, it will never deliver one from the pain. Sometimes emotional pain, I believe, can be more intense than some physical pain. This is why it so crucial, as I was reminded before I did anything stupid, to guard one’s self when in a vulnerable state AND why it so crucial to never choose a mate when in a vulnerable state because when you come out of that state (and YES, you will come out) you will be wondering what you did because what might have been good in that person for the moment, may not be what is needed for your life time.
I finally shut down my thoughts and my emotions long enough to just be, and it is here that I realized that we all have the power to CHOOSE and the power to CHANGE! I once saw this posted, “If the people around you won’t change, change the people around you.” I’m over making excuses for people and why they are they way they are. I too could have chosen to do things during this time of vulnerability that would have led to repetitive cycles, patterns or mistakes but I chose different. However, had I succumbed to vulnerability and possibly made a choice that thrust me back into a repetitive cycle, pattern or past mistake there is always the choice to get out. God does not force us to stay in our mistakes, we do either because of guilt, fear or pride and yes, while He may (allow) us to go through repetitive cycles, I believe that is in hope that we will get sick and tired of being sick and tired and change. God can’t force us to do anything otherwise He would be going against free will. I also realized that I had become comfortable in some situations not realizing becoming comfortable can handicap not only one’s self but others. I realized that I was wavering in certain areas because I hadn’t (settled) that those areas were Him. I also realized I wasn’t being consistent in what I know to do to keep me prepared for the journey or the battle because I was tired and sometimes that happens, we get tired. But that is when we need to remind ourselves to not grow weary in well doing, and to remain balanced. For those of us who are constantly being pulled on by others and constantly giving of ourselves to others it is especially important to refill and to have times when we can just be.
Today, this revelation has now replaced all of what I was “feeling” with peace. The truth is, despite how things appear of feel I, and others, are closer than we have ever been to stepping into that place ordained before the foundations of the Earth. It is just that time, which is why there is so much distraction, which is why the warfare has intensified. However, do not allow the distractions or warfare to cause you to retreat or step out of place and possibly forfeit destiny. Press through, Trust God and not Man, and Believe in the face of Adversity. Don't allow anyone to keep you from truly experiencing His BEST! And I mean truly experiencing it. If there is one thing that Christians have mastered it is Faking. This walk isn't about being perfect it is about being available. Embrace where you have been, where you are at (the good and bad, the right and wrong) but most importantly where you are headed.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Who is the Virtuous Woman of Proverbs?
In Proverbs 31, unlike the remainder of women in the Bible, the woman described does not have a specific name, which to me states that any woman can be her and should strive to be her because she is amazing.
She operates in nothing below excellence and is a woman of value, she has worth. (vs.10) I believe her worth is compared to exceed that of a precious stone because she is a rare find, and the more rare and scarce something is the more precious it becomes. Her mate feels secure with her. He feels safe putting his confidence in her, he feels he can depend on her and she won’t let him down, he entrusts her with his vision, his strengths, his weaknesses, his insecurities. He is not afraid to be vulnerable in front of her. (vs. 11) She respects her mate and has a desire to please and assist him. She doesn’t do things intentionally to hurt/upset him or those around him. She undergirds her mate in prayer and sets the atmosphere in their home so that when he is done fighting the day to day he can come home and be at peace. She loves him unconditionally and she is not contentious. (vs. 12) She knows how to obtain the necessities needed to run her household and is not lazy. She is not afraid to work. She willingly moves in her role and position with grace.(vs. 13) She has knowledge/wisdom on how to handle the finances and how to invest. She has the understanding of sowing and reaping and continues that cycle so that a continuous profit is being brought into her household. She also uses her gifts and talents to produce income for the family, if need be. (vs. 14, 16, 24) Spiritually this woman is one who spends time in prayer, fasting, worship and the study of the Word. She lives a life of consecration. She ensures that not just the natural man is filled within her household but that the spirit is fed as well. And not only does she provide this for her household but for those connected to her household. (vs. 15) She fastens herself not with her own strength but the strength of the Lord, His Word and His Principles and she strengthens herself in all areas, Physically, Spiritually, Financially, Mentally and Emotionally. (vs. 17, 25) She is a woman who knows who she is and knows who she is in the Anointing. She has confidence and therefore, no one can put out the fire that is within her, she shines wherever she is at, even in seasons of darkness. (vs.18) She is a woman of ownership and influence. She is warm and inviting. She extends herself to others and an example to other women. She is the center that holds everything around her together. (vs. 19) She is not selfish, she gives of herself and sows into the lives of others, especially those less fortunate than she in money and what money can’t buy. She knows she has been blessed to be a blessing. She also sows/volunteers within her community. She is charitable. (vs. 20) She is fearless. She does not fear when trials or tribulations hit her home because she knows her household is covered in the Blood. (vs.21) She is royalty. (vs. 22) She is a comparable helpmeet to her mate that doesn’t minister to his function but ministers to him so he can function. Her mate is known in what he does. He excels in his function. (vs.23) She understands the power of the tongue and uses her words to edify and encourage, not to tear down. She is slow to speak and quick to listen. She speaks from a place of wisdom and not from her emotions. She speaks intelligently. (vs. 26) She keeps a watchful eye over her household. She ensures that they keep their faith first and in the forefront. She ensures that her household does not grow weary in well doing, get comfortable or settle but that they always reach for their full potential and move in what they are called to do. She keeps out strife and keeps everyone in agreement. (vs. 27) Those who know her, including her mate, recognize and appreciate who she is and they tell her so and this encourages her for when times can be challenging. Her mate knows she was designed especially for him because she came out of him. And though there are many women out there, to her mate, she surpasses them all. (vs. 28, 29) She is not deceitful. She does not pretend to be something she is not. She is beautiful, but her true beauty lies within. She has a true relationship, not a religion with God. (vs. 30) Lastly, this woman produces. There is fruit seen in what she puts her hands to, evidence. And the fruit will speak for her. She will not have to defend herself or prove herself. (vs. 31)
I always question why the Scripture starts with “Who can find a virtuous woman?” I think it is because she is so hidden in God that the man has to seek God to find her. Unfortunately, today’s women have made it so easy for men that one can understand why they would prefer to not seek for the virtuous woman. The wait in being found can be discouraging to the one striving to reach the balance of the virtuous woman and many times cause her to lower her standards, settle and/or retreat. And the number of those retreating, I believe, in the past years has increased and opened the door to her death. She is so far and few between.
Well, TODAY, it is time to stop settling, raise the standard and open the door to her resurrection. If we don’t, the next generation of young women will have no example except what they see on TV and let’s be real, who wants their daughter, friend or sister to get their life lessons from “Snookie”.
She operates in nothing below excellence and is a woman of value, she has worth. (vs.10) I believe her worth is compared to exceed that of a precious stone because she is a rare find, and the more rare and scarce something is the more precious it becomes. Her mate feels secure with her. He feels safe putting his confidence in her, he feels he can depend on her and she won’t let him down, he entrusts her with his vision, his strengths, his weaknesses, his insecurities. He is not afraid to be vulnerable in front of her. (vs. 11) She respects her mate and has a desire to please and assist him. She doesn’t do things intentionally to hurt/upset him or those around him. She undergirds her mate in prayer and sets the atmosphere in their home so that when he is done fighting the day to day he can come home and be at peace. She loves him unconditionally and she is not contentious. (vs. 12) She knows how to obtain the necessities needed to run her household and is not lazy. She is not afraid to work. She willingly moves in her role and position with grace.(vs. 13) She has knowledge/wisdom on how to handle the finances and how to invest. She has the understanding of sowing and reaping and continues that cycle so that a continuous profit is being brought into her household. She also uses her gifts and talents to produce income for the family, if need be. (vs. 14, 16, 24) Spiritually this woman is one who spends time in prayer, fasting, worship and the study of the Word. She lives a life of consecration. She ensures that not just the natural man is filled within her household but that the spirit is fed as well. And not only does she provide this for her household but for those connected to her household. (vs. 15) She fastens herself not with her own strength but the strength of the Lord, His Word and His Principles and she strengthens herself in all areas, Physically, Spiritually, Financially, Mentally and Emotionally. (vs. 17, 25) She is a woman who knows who she is and knows who she is in the Anointing. She has confidence and therefore, no one can put out the fire that is within her, she shines wherever she is at, even in seasons of darkness. (vs.18) She is a woman of ownership and influence. She is warm and inviting. She extends herself to others and an example to other women. She is the center that holds everything around her together. (vs. 19) She is not selfish, she gives of herself and sows into the lives of others, especially those less fortunate than she in money and what money can’t buy. She knows she has been blessed to be a blessing. She also sows/volunteers within her community. She is charitable. (vs. 20) She is fearless. She does not fear when trials or tribulations hit her home because she knows her household is covered in the Blood. (vs.21) She is royalty. (vs. 22) She is a comparable helpmeet to her mate that doesn’t minister to his function but ministers to him so he can function. Her mate is known in what he does. He excels in his function. (vs.23) She understands the power of the tongue and uses her words to edify and encourage, not to tear down. She is slow to speak and quick to listen. She speaks from a place of wisdom and not from her emotions. She speaks intelligently. (vs. 26) She keeps a watchful eye over her household. She ensures that they keep their faith first and in the forefront. She ensures that her household does not grow weary in well doing, get comfortable or settle but that they always reach for their full potential and move in what they are called to do. She keeps out strife and keeps everyone in agreement. (vs. 27) Those who know her, including her mate, recognize and appreciate who she is and they tell her so and this encourages her for when times can be challenging. Her mate knows she was designed especially for him because she came out of him. And though there are many women out there, to her mate, she surpasses them all. (vs. 28, 29) She is not deceitful. She does not pretend to be something she is not. She is beautiful, but her true beauty lies within. She has a true relationship, not a religion with God. (vs. 30) Lastly, this woman produces. There is fruit seen in what she puts her hands to, evidence. And the fruit will speak for her. She will not have to defend herself or prove herself. (vs. 31)
I always question why the Scripture starts with “Who can find a virtuous woman?” I think it is because she is so hidden in God that the man has to seek God to find her. Unfortunately, today’s women have made it so easy for men that one can understand why they would prefer to not seek for the virtuous woman. The wait in being found can be discouraging to the one striving to reach the balance of the virtuous woman and many times cause her to lower her standards, settle and/or retreat. And the number of those retreating, I believe, in the past years has increased and opened the door to her death. She is so far and few between.
Well, TODAY, it is time to stop settling, raise the standard and open the door to her resurrection. If we don’t, the next generation of young women will have no example except what they see on TV and let’s be real, who wants their daughter, friend or sister to get their life lessons from “Snookie”.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Don't Be Undone By Saying "I Do"
Recently, I have had a great deal of people contact me with questions regarding relationships.
These notes were taken from a series titled, "Are You Fit to be Tied" and I mean literally taken from one of the messages in the series. (Sorry, got to keep MY stuff under wraps until MY book is finished.) This is good stuff though, just a little tidbit, but good stuff.
-----
There is a Biblical Purpose for Marriage
Matthew 19: 1-12
Regarding Divorce, "Now, if you are already married let me make this very clear. Nothing I say from this point on is a justification for you to get out of a marriage. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7, 'Are you bound to a wife? Do not SEEK to be loosed.' Now, he didn't say you CAN'T get loosed, he said don't SEEK to be. Don't be looking for an opportunity. He says, 'Are you loosed from a wife? Don't SEEK to be bound.' Nothing I say is justification for anybody to get out of a situation that you are in. The Lord will deal with you about that."
"If you are single or divorced or unmarried, it is you most importantly that I need to talk to so that you do not make the mistakes or the errors or carry the delusions and the myths that a lot of married people sitting next to you wish they had not carried before they got into that mess their in." "And a lot of us have gotten into it because of what we were not taught or because what we were taught was so wacky that we didn't know how to figure out myth and truth."
Matthew 19: 11
Even the truth will not be accepted by some people because they think they know how things should be and line up. (Religion)
Genesis 1: 26-28
The God who makes man is plural, more than one part. He makes man in His image. All of Him. Makes man similar to Him. He must be similar and resemble so he can have dominion. Man is created with more than one part. He created man, male and female, He created them and empowered them to prosper.
Genesis 2: 4-9 / 15-25
Woman is not called woman because she is a man with a womb, but because she came out of man's womb. God created man male/female and blessed them. But there was only one man. He blessed both because the woman was in the man from the beginning. So when He blessed him He blessed her because HE saw her in him from the beginning.
The man goes to sleep, the Lord takes the woman out of him and allows him (man) to name her. He calls her womb-man because she came out of his womb.
When is it time for a man to marry?
When he locates the woman who came out of him. When he finds the woman that came out of him. This is why when it is right you feel like you have known her all your life. You feel like you do not have to get to know each other. You feel as if stuff just clicks because the reality is you all have been hanging out together. It's not just the domestic and physical that draws you as a man it is because she has been in you all along.
Marriage should only occur when you find the one that's been in you.
You know because it's like you didn't have a beginning. You did not just start getting to know each other. It is like you have known them all your life. This is NOT A FEELING, it IS A SENSE. There are things she doesn't have to learn about her man. There are things you don't have to teach. Some things may have to be learned but there is a sense that you know that man and that he knows you. IF you do not have this woman, no matter how good it is temporarily it isn't going to work.
*If the woman hunts for the man she sets herself up to be used and abused. It is the man that hunts for her.
Before Sin - You could not miss it or make an error in finding your mate. There was no uncertainty or interference. There are no other voices. Man is not moving by feelings but by the Spirit of God.
After Sin - You can miss it or make an error. There is uncertainty and interference. There are other voices. They do move by feelings. And there are a lot of choices. Plus, religion says if you can't stop having sex you need to marry that person. Or, if you got her pregnant you need to marry that person.
You must ask yourself if she came out of you. Is there, between you, this knowing of one another? And it takes TIME to determine this. This MUST be certain.
God bases marriage on your word not His Word. You should get married when you are ready to keep your word to that person.
Sin has the ability to harden your heart to discern who the right one is. This is why Moses permitted divorce.
"If you didn't know God before you got married, if you didn't know the Word before you got married, if you did not know how to discern these before you got married it is possible that you made a huge, huge, huge mistake. Religion condemns you for this but God made allowance for that."
The man leaves the home for the purpose of joining to the one that came out of him.
What God has joined together let no man put asunder - This Scripture is taken from the thought that the two were joined because she was the one taken out of him. However, if there is a marriage and this is NOT the fact/truth, then a marriage license does not join them, it is just paper and possible to be in a marriage that is actually adulterous because it is a union that He did NOT join.
Marriage before God is to actually be the RE-JOINING. The Earthly joining of something that was already. And when that happens and the other items are met than God says, "Are you ready to keep your word?" Because all this stuff is now in order. If you aren't done doing your thing, playing around, messing around, don't stand at an alter and start your marriage with a lie.
Saying I do means I will continue to. It isn't an event, it is a process of choices that God intends you to meet and keep.
These notes were taken from a series titled, "Are You Fit to be Tied" and I mean literally taken from one of the messages in the series. (Sorry, got to keep MY stuff under wraps until MY book is finished.) This is good stuff though, just a little tidbit, but good stuff.
-----
There is a Biblical Purpose for Marriage
Matthew 19: 1-12
Regarding Divorce, "Now, if you are already married let me make this very clear. Nothing I say from this point on is a justification for you to get out of a marriage. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 7, 'Are you bound to a wife? Do not SEEK to be loosed.' Now, he didn't say you CAN'T get loosed, he said don't SEEK to be. Don't be looking for an opportunity. He says, 'Are you loosed from a wife? Don't SEEK to be bound.' Nothing I say is justification for anybody to get out of a situation that you are in. The Lord will deal with you about that."
"If you are single or divorced or unmarried, it is you most importantly that I need to talk to so that you do not make the mistakes or the errors or carry the delusions and the myths that a lot of married people sitting next to you wish they had not carried before they got into that mess their in." "And a lot of us have gotten into it because of what we were not taught or because what we were taught was so wacky that we didn't know how to figure out myth and truth."
Matthew 19: 11
Even the truth will not be accepted by some people because they think they know how things should be and line up. (Religion)
Genesis 1: 26-28
The God who makes man is plural, more than one part. He makes man in His image. All of Him. Makes man similar to Him. He must be similar and resemble so he can have dominion. Man is created with more than one part. He created man, male and female, He created them and empowered them to prosper.
Genesis 2: 4-9 / 15-25
Woman is not called woman because she is a man with a womb, but because she came out of man's womb. God created man male/female and blessed them. But there was only one man. He blessed both because the woman was in the man from the beginning. So when He blessed him He blessed her because HE saw her in him from the beginning.
The man goes to sleep, the Lord takes the woman out of him and allows him (man) to name her. He calls her womb-man because she came out of his womb.
When is it time for a man to marry?
When he locates the woman who came out of him. When he finds the woman that came out of him. This is why when it is right you feel like you have known her all your life. You feel like you do not have to get to know each other. You feel as if stuff just clicks because the reality is you all have been hanging out together. It's not just the domestic and physical that draws you as a man it is because she has been in you all along.
Marriage should only occur when you find the one that's been in you.
You know because it's like you didn't have a beginning. You did not just start getting to know each other. It is like you have known them all your life. This is NOT A FEELING, it IS A SENSE. There are things she doesn't have to learn about her man. There are things you don't have to teach. Some things may have to be learned but there is a sense that you know that man and that he knows you. IF you do not have this woman, no matter how good it is temporarily it isn't going to work.
*If the woman hunts for the man she sets herself up to be used and abused. It is the man that hunts for her.
Before Sin - You could not miss it or make an error in finding your mate. There was no uncertainty or interference. There are no other voices. Man is not moving by feelings but by the Spirit of God.
After Sin - You can miss it or make an error. There is uncertainty and interference. There are other voices. They do move by feelings. And there are a lot of choices. Plus, religion says if you can't stop having sex you need to marry that person. Or, if you got her pregnant you need to marry that person.
You must ask yourself if she came out of you. Is there, between you, this knowing of one another? And it takes TIME to determine this. This MUST be certain.
God bases marriage on your word not His Word. You should get married when you are ready to keep your word to that person.
Sin has the ability to harden your heart to discern who the right one is. This is why Moses permitted divorce.
"If you didn't know God before you got married, if you didn't know the Word before you got married, if you did not know how to discern these before you got married it is possible that you made a huge, huge, huge mistake. Religion condemns you for this but God made allowance for that."
The man leaves the home for the purpose of joining to the one that came out of him.
What God has joined together let no man put asunder - This Scripture is taken from the thought that the two were joined because she was the one taken out of him. However, if there is a marriage and this is NOT the fact/truth, then a marriage license does not join them, it is just paper and possible to be in a marriage that is actually adulterous because it is a union that He did NOT join.
Marriage before God is to actually be the RE-JOINING. The Earthly joining of something that was already. And when that happens and the other items are met than God says, "Are you ready to keep your word?" Because all this stuff is now in order. If you aren't done doing your thing, playing around, messing around, don't stand at an alter and start your marriage with a lie.
Saying I do means I will continue to. It isn't an event, it is a process of choices that God intends you to meet and keep.
Tiger, Jesse, (Insert Name Here)
I will probably get some heat for this post but when has that ever stopped me? :)I figure since everyone else is giving their “opinion” on the matter I might as well also.
In situations like such, while the media chooses to put the spotlight on the men, there are also women out there doing the same thing.
Stating the obvious, these men are gifted at what they do and known for their craft. But the truth is, what these men do for a living is NOT who they truly are. A man’s function is separate from his person. Just because a man may be excellent in his craft it doesn't mean that he will be excellent at life. To expect this will only lead to disappointment. Regardless an individual's gifts are without repentance. I don't believe the two should be mixed. If the media is covering the Masters, cover the Masters, not the individual and his mistakes.
The other obvious is yes, these men were married when they indulged on their world tours. Sadly, they are not the first or the last who will indulge while married or in a significant relationship. Truth is, just because these men, along with their significant others and the media made their marriages “appear” perfect doesn't mean that is what was going on behind closed doors. Unless we are there with them day in and day out we truly don’t know what these couples deal with within their marriage. Now, I am in NO WAY condoning the cheating. The right thing to do if this were the case would be to separate or divorce before going on a world tour, even if one or both were checked out of the marriage already. Regardless, I am simply saying that things sometimes aren’t always as they appear, especially with high profile individuals who are put on a pedestal. We somehow forget that they are human and like the average individual more than we think.
I will also go on to say that I am not too sure that these guys have a “sex addiction” problem. I do think their problem was getting married. Hey, if you are a guy (or a woman) that enjoys having intimacy and not being tied down because you like the variety or because having more than one woman makes you feel like a man, in control, powerful, fills some kind of void or insecurity then go ahead, be safe, enjoy, but own up to it and don’t get married. Don’t drag someone else into it whose desires are different than yours. I believe that these types of the male species think that getting married will “cure” them, help them deal with their ways because their ways are frowned upon by society. I think I heard that Jesse James was quoted to say, “She is going to make me an honest man”. Unfortunately, as we see, that is not the case. Only the individual can fix this aspect and it can only be fixed if the desire is there to fix it. If for some reason they are OK with the way they are they need to remain playing the field. While in the field I realize this guy will come in contact with that one who stands out from the rest and that the selfish side of him might not want to give her up for fear they may not meet someone like her again. The answer to this is not to attempt to make her fit within your lifestyle, thinking one day you will stop and settle down. As much as she stands out from the rest, if you are not ready to keep it in your pants and be with only her for the rest of your days then give up the selfishness and let her go. If it is meant to be maybe at the right time opportunity will rise again. Or, try something new. Attempt to be honest and share with her who you are, where you are at and what you deal with and then allow her to make her own decision based off your truth rather than a bunch of lies. Everyone is covered in that scenario.
Now on to the women, I have been cheated on in PAST relationships and I believe that EVERY woman, whether they want to admit to it or not, know or have some intuition when their man is creeping. Even if you have a great entertainer on your hands there is still that sense that something just isn’t quite right. However, women have mastered denial so they tuck it away, wishing it away, ignoring it and avoiding it rather than deal with it head on. A great deal of times we see the red flags but choose to believe that those red flags can change. What we really need to ask before getting serious is, “If this NEVER changes am I going to be OK with it.” In my situations I dealt with it head on and my great entertainer denied it and told lie after lie. When this happens, you have to make a choice whether to trust and continue on or leave. I know leaving isn’t easy but for some reason, and this may just be me, despite how hard / emotional / scary it is, being alone but free sounds way better than being in a relationship and bound. On the other hand, IF the man makes it known it isn’t working and states clearly how they feel and the woman chooses to stay in it, well, I wish I could have sympathy for the outcomes but I can’t, been there in the PAST too (got to make it clear or people will attach this to one’s current situation), hoping “he would see who I really am and change his mind, his ways”, somehow he never did, and Thank Jesus he never did! LOL! Now I get what my friends mean when they say they are happily separated or divorced. LOL!
Last but not least let’s speak on these other women. To the one’s that did come forward, thank you for exposing who you really are, gold digging groupies who care more about the things, spotlight and 5 minutes of fame than the individual. For you, this was all about you being able to say that you had intimacy and some sort of something with “so and so”. It was about living a lifestyle that you were to lazy or faithless to receive on your own. I guess the bright side is that before something completely craze happened where one of you might have actually ended up connected to them the whole situation was exposed, at quite a cost, but possibly less than had you connected yourself to one of them for say…18 years. Better luck next time. To the one’s that did NOT come forward, IF you truly cared and loved and thought you were being told the truth and had something special, basically deceived, either by your doing because of your heart or by the doing of him, well, I hope you at least get a sincere apology. Let’s be real, some guys will say whatever they know they have to say to get whatever it is they want.
So there you have it. I guess my peeve with this is the judging aspect. To that, "He that cast the first stone...." We are all human and we all make mistakes, some at a higher price than others. We must remember that no matter how elevated we become we are still human and as quickly as we received is as quickly as we can lose. And regardless to what people or the media portray you can never truly know what two people are going through unless they invite you into it or you are there with them day to day. And let's be grown for a minute. Sometimes people make mistakes when joining themselves to a mate. It happens with celebrities, Presidents, normal individuals, in the church and out of the church. What it comes down to is how you deal with your mistakes. People's personal lives are just that, THEIR personal lives. Let's leave it that way. After all, if I am a golf fan, all I care is that my fave golfer is playing golf. I really don't care to hear about his sex life or even about his family. The ONLY reason Tiger, Jesse, etc. got exposed is because they are in the spotlight. So save your oohs and aahs, this stuff, unfortunately happens more often then not.
In situations like such, while the media chooses to put the spotlight on the men, there are also women out there doing the same thing.
Stating the obvious, these men are gifted at what they do and known for their craft. But the truth is, what these men do for a living is NOT who they truly are. A man’s function is separate from his person. Just because a man may be excellent in his craft it doesn't mean that he will be excellent at life. To expect this will only lead to disappointment. Regardless an individual's gifts are without repentance. I don't believe the two should be mixed. If the media is covering the Masters, cover the Masters, not the individual and his mistakes.
The other obvious is yes, these men were married when they indulged on their world tours. Sadly, they are not the first or the last who will indulge while married or in a significant relationship. Truth is, just because these men, along with their significant others and the media made their marriages “appear” perfect doesn't mean that is what was going on behind closed doors. Unless we are there with them day in and day out we truly don’t know what these couples deal with within their marriage. Now, I am in NO WAY condoning the cheating. The right thing to do if this were the case would be to separate or divorce before going on a world tour, even if one or both were checked out of the marriage already. Regardless, I am simply saying that things sometimes aren’t always as they appear, especially with high profile individuals who are put on a pedestal. We somehow forget that they are human and like the average individual more than we think.
I will also go on to say that I am not too sure that these guys have a “sex addiction” problem. I do think their problem was getting married. Hey, if you are a guy (or a woman) that enjoys having intimacy and not being tied down because you like the variety or because having more than one woman makes you feel like a man, in control, powerful, fills some kind of void or insecurity then go ahead, be safe, enjoy, but own up to it and don’t get married. Don’t drag someone else into it whose desires are different than yours. I believe that these types of the male species think that getting married will “cure” them, help them deal with their ways because their ways are frowned upon by society. I think I heard that Jesse James was quoted to say, “She is going to make me an honest man”. Unfortunately, as we see, that is not the case. Only the individual can fix this aspect and it can only be fixed if the desire is there to fix it. If for some reason they are OK with the way they are they need to remain playing the field. While in the field I realize this guy will come in contact with that one who stands out from the rest and that the selfish side of him might not want to give her up for fear they may not meet someone like her again. The answer to this is not to attempt to make her fit within your lifestyle, thinking one day you will stop and settle down. As much as she stands out from the rest, if you are not ready to keep it in your pants and be with only her for the rest of your days then give up the selfishness and let her go. If it is meant to be maybe at the right time opportunity will rise again. Or, try something new. Attempt to be honest and share with her who you are, where you are at and what you deal with and then allow her to make her own decision based off your truth rather than a bunch of lies. Everyone is covered in that scenario.
Now on to the women, I have been cheated on in PAST relationships and I believe that EVERY woman, whether they want to admit to it or not, know or have some intuition when their man is creeping. Even if you have a great entertainer on your hands there is still that sense that something just isn’t quite right. However, women have mastered denial so they tuck it away, wishing it away, ignoring it and avoiding it rather than deal with it head on. A great deal of times we see the red flags but choose to believe that those red flags can change. What we really need to ask before getting serious is, “If this NEVER changes am I going to be OK with it.” In my situations I dealt with it head on and my great entertainer denied it and told lie after lie. When this happens, you have to make a choice whether to trust and continue on or leave. I know leaving isn’t easy but for some reason, and this may just be me, despite how hard / emotional / scary it is, being alone but free sounds way better than being in a relationship and bound. On the other hand, IF the man makes it known it isn’t working and states clearly how they feel and the woman chooses to stay in it, well, I wish I could have sympathy for the outcomes but I can’t, been there in the PAST too (got to make it clear or people will attach this to one’s current situation), hoping “he would see who I really am and change his mind, his ways”, somehow he never did, and Thank Jesus he never did! LOL! Now I get what my friends mean when they say they are happily separated or divorced. LOL!
Last but not least let’s speak on these other women. To the one’s that did come forward, thank you for exposing who you really are, gold digging groupies who care more about the things, spotlight and 5 minutes of fame than the individual. For you, this was all about you being able to say that you had intimacy and some sort of something with “so and so”. It was about living a lifestyle that you were to lazy or faithless to receive on your own. I guess the bright side is that before something completely craze happened where one of you might have actually ended up connected to them the whole situation was exposed, at quite a cost, but possibly less than had you connected yourself to one of them for say…18 years. Better luck next time. To the one’s that did NOT come forward, IF you truly cared and loved and thought you were being told the truth and had something special, basically deceived, either by your doing because of your heart or by the doing of him, well, I hope you at least get a sincere apology. Let’s be real, some guys will say whatever they know they have to say to get whatever it is they want.
So there you have it. I guess my peeve with this is the judging aspect. To that, "He that cast the first stone...." We are all human and we all make mistakes, some at a higher price than others. We must remember that no matter how elevated we become we are still human and as quickly as we received is as quickly as we can lose. And regardless to what people or the media portray you can never truly know what two people are going through unless they invite you into it or you are there with them day to day. And let's be grown for a minute. Sometimes people make mistakes when joining themselves to a mate. It happens with celebrities, Presidents, normal individuals, in the church and out of the church. What it comes down to is how you deal with your mistakes. People's personal lives are just that, THEIR personal lives. Let's leave it that way. After all, if I am a golf fan, all I care is that my fave golfer is playing golf. I really don't care to hear about his sex life or even about his family. The ONLY reason Tiger, Jesse, etc. got exposed is because they are in the spotlight. So save your oohs and aahs, this stuff, unfortunately happens more often then not.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
The Instruction for the Season!
This season is so interesting for me.
I have peace in the most un-peaceable situations. I have a sense of clarity in the most confusing situations. I’m speaking, no, I’m thinking, and seeing the manifestation, the answer, the solution to what I speak and even think with quicker rapidity.
At the same time I feel as though I am at a standstill in certain areas of my life and of course there is that daily struggle of knowing who I am, what I am made of and not yet fully walking in it.
Now for those who know me, when I find myself in a place like this I seek. And in seeking this is what I found, the instruction for the season so to speak.
1.) Pay closer attention in prayer/worship and to that and those which surround you for we are in a new season where now we must be living and going about our days on purpose for THE purpose.
2.) Trust can’t be in that which is tangible, in emotions/feelings/thoughts, people, lifestyle, opinions (our own and others), or what situations appear to be. Trust has to be in that which is stable and can’t fail, which for me is my faith in God.
3.) Hearts and postures need to be right. This is not a season of emotions/feelings. Even in the most difficult situations with the most difficult people one must walk upright and in love. Despite whether it feels good or not. There are times and seasons for everything and what may have been allowed in one season may not be allowed in this season. Know where the grace is resting. The reigns are tighter so to speak and it is not to be business as usual. For the moment anyway.
4.) Stop playing the victim. Put on your grown up pants, face the reality of your situation (rather than live in the denial of it), admit to your mistakes (rather than put the blame on others) and allow the TRUTH to set you free, literally for some.
5.) Work the principles and sow with a purpose. Name your seed and be specific and consistent until you see the full harvest.
6.) Become a man/woman of integrity, character and of your word. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Don’t settle. A man/woman’s gifts may make room for them but it is their character that will keep them there.
7.) Prepare yourself (inside and out), your dwelling place and your finances. Get stuff right and in order.
8.) Embrace SPACE / DISTANCE for we have not been this way before.
9.) Write the end of your story, literally, then Speak it, Believe it, Walk in it and watch it manifest
KNOW that we are in a New Day, a New Year, a New Age and no experience will be the same this year, every day will be different with different instructions, different declarations and different opportunities. It is no longer about what He said, it is about what He is sayING. Fresh Rhema for where you are at. Focus one day at time, forget the past and don’t be concerned with tomorrow for even the past which is present will be new, though it might not possibly make it to your tomorrow. Do not fear for the transitions of this year will be smooth and seamless. Situations and cycles that appear to be the same as those from your past, and those which will even end the same as those from your past will have different results. Doing things out of routine this year will be of no effect. We won’t last off yesteryear’s Word, instruction or Anointing. If we are not seeking daily, hearing daily and obeying daily we will possibly miss it. Everything is new and fresh despite what it appears. Wake up with that expectation ready to see what the day holds and know that if you are praying His will to be done then all that happens in that day is His will, yes, even the heartache and the tears.
I have peace in the most un-peaceable situations. I have a sense of clarity in the most confusing situations. I’m speaking, no, I’m thinking, and seeing the manifestation, the answer, the solution to what I speak and even think with quicker rapidity.
At the same time I feel as though I am at a standstill in certain areas of my life and of course there is that daily struggle of knowing who I am, what I am made of and not yet fully walking in it.
Now for those who know me, when I find myself in a place like this I seek. And in seeking this is what I found, the instruction for the season so to speak.
1.) Pay closer attention in prayer/worship and to that and those which surround you for we are in a new season where now we must be living and going about our days on purpose for THE purpose.
2.) Trust can’t be in that which is tangible, in emotions/feelings/thoughts, people, lifestyle, opinions (our own and others), or what situations appear to be. Trust has to be in that which is stable and can’t fail, which for me is my faith in God.
3.) Hearts and postures need to be right. This is not a season of emotions/feelings. Even in the most difficult situations with the most difficult people one must walk upright and in love. Despite whether it feels good or not. There are times and seasons for everything and what may have been allowed in one season may not be allowed in this season. Know where the grace is resting. The reigns are tighter so to speak and it is not to be business as usual. For the moment anyway.
4.) Stop playing the victim. Put on your grown up pants, face the reality of your situation (rather than live in the denial of it), admit to your mistakes (rather than put the blame on others) and allow the TRUTH to set you free, literally for some.
5.) Work the principles and sow with a purpose. Name your seed and be specific and consistent until you see the full harvest.
6.) Become a man/woman of integrity, character and of your word. Mean what you say and say what you mean. Don’t settle. A man/woman’s gifts may make room for them but it is their character that will keep them there.
7.) Prepare yourself (inside and out), your dwelling place and your finances. Get stuff right and in order.
8.) Embrace SPACE / DISTANCE for we have not been this way before.
9.) Write the end of your story, literally, then Speak it, Believe it, Walk in it and watch it manifest
KNOW that we are in a New Day, a New Year, a New Age and no experience will be the same this year, every day will be different with different instructions, different declarations and different opportunities. It is no longer about what He said, it is about what He is sayING. Fresh Rhema for where you are at. Focus one day at time, forget the past and don’t be concerned with tomorrow for even the past which is present will be new, though it might not possibly make it to your tomorrow. Do not fear for the transitions of this year will be smooth and seamless. Situations and cycles that appear to be the same as those from your past, and those which will even end the same as those from your past will have different results. Doing things out of routine this year will be of no effect. We won’t last off yesteryear’s Word, instruction or Anointing. If we are not seeking daily, hearing daily and obeying daily we will possibly miss it. Everything is new and fresh despite what it appears. Wake up with that expectation ready to see what the day holds and know that if you are praying His will to be done then all that happens in that day is His will, yes, even the heartache and the tears.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Wholeness is Key to Sustaining Thee
It has been a minute, quite a long one, since I have written and the reason is simple, I was empty. The New Year for me didn’t symbolize newness, it symbolized that nothing appeared to be changing. Everything felt and looked the same. It was so disappointing. I sensed an intangible transition begin but without any logistics regarding the transition I didn’t pay as close attention or seek the way I should have regarding it. As usual I began to question everything and everyone around me, including me and decisions and choices I had made along the way. I didn’t want to be around people, I didn’t want to speak with anyone, and I didn’t want anyone giving me a “Word”. I just wanted to be alone. I was barely getting through the days. I was in an unfamiliar place yet again. Crying at the drop of a hat. I know what was attempting to come on me but even in that state I refused to let it become my companion.
At some point throughout the first two weeks, when I felt like the light inside was about to go out, that still, quiet voice raised itself up and explained to me that there was nothing and no one that could help me but ME. I had to put my grown pants on and just start doing what I knew to do. I forced myself to encourage myself, I forced myself to speak the Word, I forced myself to pray in the Spirit and daily I felt my strength come back, daily I was supplied with what I needed to get me back on track. My baby steps turned into giant leaps. Through this time I was ministered to about wholeness and the importance of wholeness in one’s life, especially in the life of the 21st century woman. I was shown where I had become dependent on people and situations and anytime one does that they are setting themselves up for possible disappointment. I had lost my balance and began putting all my time and focus into situations and people, not always getting the same in return, and thereby becoming empty. I wasn’t re-filling what I was releasing.
Interesting enough, I found I wasn’t alone. Many others were coming to me feeling the same way. Looking for an answer. I know the answer. There comes a time when one has to mature, put their grown pants on and face themselves and the reality of their situations. Christians have a tendency to live in denial, wait for God to do it and put the blame on others. There comes a time when one has to declare victory over life’s challenges, despite how it appears or what it feels like. There comes the time when one has to rely on the Spirit within to encourage and not other people. Most importantly there comes the time when one has to be honest with God and with themselves about what is and what is not working in their lives, about what is bearing fruit and about what is drying everything up. Sometimes God turning a situation around is making the way of escape.
Life in general teaches us to be dependent on something or someone to survive. Some women and possibly men find their dependency in their mate, their family or possibly their children. Some people find their dependency in their place of fellowship or their business / job and some people find their dependency in their lifestyle. The question then becomes, “If all of these things were taken, leaving one by themselves, what would there be left to depend on?” The answer, there would be nothing to depend on except self and that which self has built within. So the next question is, “How are you built?”
Being dependent on people, positions and things can cause one to become paralyzed, it can cause one to continue in the same cycle, it can cause one to stay in unhealthy situations and it can cause one to never grow. It can bring complacency. It can cause one in the lowest of moments to just settle for the first thing that comes along.
True dependency must be in self and that which self believes in, whatever that belief is. One can have the nicest of things and what would appear to be the perfect situation, job, family, they can have amazing talent but if they are not whole, if they do not make up the components of wholeness, such as integrity, the fruits of the Spirit and character then there is just an empty vessel beautified with nice things. People put so much energy into making life appear to be what it is not and they work so hard for things when in the end none of that is what matters. I am not saying it is not great to have the things that one desires but when it causes you to step outside of who you are, when it begins to control your actions, when it causes one to sense that they are irreplaceable or when it causes you to exalt things above what or who you believe in it then can do one more harm than good. With all of life’s twists and turns we must have that foundation of wholeness so that we don’t become loss.
Self-examination is key. Regardless of what people think, other people can’t control people and they can’t control one's destiny. People can be manipulated or deceived by other people but never controlled. What can control an individual is fear, doubt, unworthiness, negative thinking, etc. Rise up in faith and become who you are supposed to be, walk like it is done, talk like it is done, find your balance. Stop looking for others to validate you. Stop looking for God to speak to someone concerning you. At some point you should grow enough in your walk where you hear God just fine for yourself. We must ensure that we are in the right place doing the right thing with the right people around us. We must ensure that we are no longer wasting time with things and people that aren’t feeding our destiny. We must stop looking to others to build us up, to encourage us, to make us feel secure, and to bail us out. I want whole people around me, I want a whole mate, and I believe it exists. I don’t believe that you have to have different people to encompass the different areas of wholeness. I believe the right mate will encompass them all. But the truth is, if you are not whole yourself how can you recognize the right people, mate, things and decisions in life?
We are so close, if not already entering into what has been destined for us. Being whole emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually and even financially is key to entering in and being able to be sustained in that which was destined for you.
For me, I don’t want to have to depend on a relationship to justify me or to provide for me. I prefer to be in a relationship that I can enjoy, that I am an asset to and know that if something were to ever happen where I ended up alone I wouldn’t have to worry because my dependency was not in that relationship or what it provided. I never want to be in a place where I am dependent on my job or the things and people around me. I don’t want to have to settle because of dependency. I’d rather know how to minister to my mate (the right mate) so he can function, how to balance the day to day, be an asset to that which I connect to, a giver, a wisdom seeker and an encourager. The 21st century woman is whole and complete, lacking nothing and this is not only who I desire to be it is who I am and I am going to start wearing her well!
At some point throughout the first two weeks, when I felt like the light inside was about to go out, that still, quiet voice raised itself up and explained to me that there was nothing and no one that could help me but ME. I had to put my grown pants on and just start doing what I knew to do. I forced myself to encourage myself, I forced myself to speak the Word, I forced myself to pray in the Spirit and daily I felt my strength come back, daily I was supplied with what I needed to get me back on track. My baby steps turned into giant leaps. Through this time I was ministered to about wholeness and the importance of wholeness in one’s life, especially in the life of the 21st century woman. I was shown where I had become dependent on people and situations and anytime one does that they are setting themselves up for possible disappointment. I had lost my balance and began putting all my time and focus into situations and people, not always getting the same in return, and thereby becoming empty. I wasn’t re-filling what I was releasing.
Interesting enough, I found I wasn’t alone. Many others were coming to me feeling the same way. Looking for an answer. I know the answer. There comes a time when one has to mature, put their grown pants on and face themselves and the reality of their situations. Christians have a tendency to live in denial, wait for God to do it and put the blame on others. There comes a time when one has to declare victory over life’s challenges, despite how it appears or what it feels like. There comes the time when one has to rely on the Spirit within to encourage and not other people. Most importantly there comes the time when one has to be honest with God and with themselves about what is and what is not working in their lives, about what is bearing fruit and about what is drying everything up. Sometimes God turning a situation around is making the way of escape.
Life in general teaches us to be dependent on something or someone to survive. Some women and possibly men find their dependency in their mate, their family or possibly their children. Some people find their dependency in their place of fellowship or their business / job and some people find their dependency in their lifestyle. The question then becomes, “If all of these things were taken, leaving one by themselves, what would there be left to depend on?” The answer, there would be nothing to depend on except self and that which self has built within. So the next question is, “How are you built?”
Being dependent on people, positions and things can cause one to become paralyzed, it can cause one to continue in the same cycle, it can cause one to stay in unhealthy situations and it can cause one to never grow. It can bring complacency. It can cause one in the lowest of moments to just settle for the first thing that comes along.
True dependency must be in self and that which self believes in, whatever that belief is. One can have the nicest of things and what would appear to be the perfect situation, job, family, they can have amazing talent but if they are not whole, if they do not make up the components of wholeness, such as integrity, the fruits of the Spirit and character then there is just an empty vessel beautified with nice things. People put so much energy into making life appear to be what it is not and they work so hard for things when in the end none of that is what matters. I am not saying it is not great to have the things that one desires but when it causes you to step outside of who you are, when it begins to control your actions, when it causes one to sense that they are irreplaceable or when it causes you to exalt things above what or who you believe in it then can do one more harm than good. With all of life’s twists and turns we must have that foundation of wholeness so that we don’t become loss.
Self-examination is key. Regardless of what people think, other people can’t control people and they can’t control one's destiny. People can be manipulated or deceived by other people but never controlled. What can control an individual is fear, doubt, unworthiness, negative thinking, etc. Rise up in faith and become who you are supposed to be, walk like it is done, talk like it is done, find your balance. Stop looking for others to validate you. Stop looking for God to speak to someone concerning you. At some point you should grow enough in your walk where you hear God just fine for yourself. We must ensure that we are in the right place doing the right thing with the right people around us. We must ensure that we are no longer wasting time with things and people that aren’t feeding our destiny. We must stop looking to others to build us up, to encourage us, to make us feel secure, and to bail us out. I want whole people around me, I want a whole mate, and I believe it exists. I don’t believe that you have to have different people to encompass the different areas of wholeness. I believe the right mate will encompass them all. But the truth is, if you are not whole yourself how can you recognize the right people, mate, things and decisions in life?
We are so close, if not already entering into what has been destined for us. Being whole emotionally, mentally, physically, spiritually and even financially is key to entering in and being able to be sustained in that which was destined for you.
For me, I don’t want to have to depend on a relationship to justify me or to provide for me. I prefer to be in a relationship that I can enjoy, that I am an asset to and know that if something were to ever happen where I ended up alone I wouldn’t have to worry because my dependency was not in that relationship or what it provided. I never want to be in a place where I am dependent on my job or the things and people around me. I don’t want to have to settle because of dependency. I’d rather know how to minister to my mate (the right mate) so he can function, how to balance the day to day, be an asset to that which I connect to, a giver, a wisdom seeker and an encourager. The 21st century woman is whole and complete, lacking nothing and this is not only who I desire to be it is who I am and I am going to start wearing her well!
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