What then shall we SAY to these things

The world was created through words- In the beginning God spoke, and the world began (Genesis 1)

Similarly, our words create our world! We control our emotions, our thoughts, our life’s destination with our words. Don’t say you have no control, god has given you everything you need (2 Peter 1:3).

When we speak words of life, we speak life, when we speak words of death, we speak death…we choose (Proverbs 18: 21; Deuteronomy 13:19).

Eliminate “I’m tired” from your vocabulary. Eliminate “I don’t feel well.” Eliminate everything but God’s word…

So what then shall you say to these things – what things? things that bother, things that hurt, things that condemn, things that weaken – so what shall we say?

Since God is for me, who can be against me (Romans 8), therefore I rejoice in the goodness of God and claim what Jesus died for me to have – peace, health, wealth, patience, joy, self control…etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Use your words wisely – remember that you will give account for every word that you say (Matthew 12:36)

Lord When Will My Life Begin?

So I found myself caught up in the cycle again…

I couldn’t wait to gaduate from High School so that I could begin life in college. I couldn’t wait to complete college so that I could start law school, now after law school, I can’t wait to take the bar exam, can’t wait to start working, can’t wait to get married, can’t wait to have my children—can’t wait to start living…

But you know I missed it somewhere. Jesus said that he came so that I could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). So once I gave my life to Christ, I had already started living— I don’t need to wait for something to transform my life and make me feel complete and whole…If there is something the Lord has inspired me to do, then I can do it now, or wait until the right time, but I need to stop thinking that the grass will be greener on the other side and that as soon as I can get to the other side I will be happier…

Be content my soul– yes things will always get better, because we have the promise of the blessings that God has in store for us (Deuteronomy 28:1-14, Psalm 103, Romans 8)- But the most important thing is that my eyes are focused on God and when that happens, I can’t help but rejoice, because everything else is trivial.

"Who Told you that you were NAKED?"

Many of us are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve…How they bought into the lies of the devil and they ate the forbidden fruit and then hid from God. It’s amazing that when God found them, Adam’s excuse was:

“I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.”

and God’s response was:

“Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?”

I was listening to a talk by Jon Acuff (Author of the Blog “Stuff Christians Like“)  and I have to say that what he said pierced my heart.

Like Adam and Eve we have bought the lie… we continue living in fear instead of boldness…and God gently speaks to us

Who told you you were naked?

Who told you you are not pretty enough, skinny enough, tall enough?

Who told you you are not smart enough, funny enough, charming enough?

Who told you that you will never get a job, or do anything worthwhile?

Who told you that you will never get married?

Who told you that you will never have those children you desire?

Who told you that your marriage will end in divorce?

Why don’t you stop believing the lie today and trust God instead, because to Him, you are clothed in garments of salvation and robes of righteousness and you are so precious to him that if he had to, he would die for you all over again.

~selah~

When Daddy Says No

My brother and sister-in-law had a baby recently and she is the smartest, most beautiful child in the world (and I’m not saying this because I am biased). She is also one of the most well behaved children I know (shout out to two other very well behaved children- ‘Shan & ‘Keerah!).

My niece has learned to trust her parents for food, for shelter, for toys, for everything…she trusts them so much that it doesn’t matter how crazy things are, as long as she is in daddy’s or mommy’s arms she is fine…

I’ve noticed something very interesting about her though- her parents have to tell her “no” all the time. Not because she is always getting into trouble, but because she is a curious child. Sometimes she is okay, but other times she insists on getting her own way… It’s almost as if she doesn’t trust that when her parents say “no” they really are trying to protect her…

It reminds me so much of myself. God does not withhold any good thing from me…I have to say that I am probably the most blessed person I know…yet, when things don’t seem to be going my way, when God tells me to change something, I act as if the only way to salvation is for me to get my own way. I forget that God loves me more than I love myself and that he keeps a picture of me in his wallet (and on his mantle and on his desk at work)… I forget that it hurts him to see me hurt, but that he has my best interest at heart…

So…I’m trying to learn to be more trusting, after all- I am the apple of his eye and he really does complete me!

Sin is Stupid

What win I, if I gain the thing I seek?
A dream, a breath, a froth of fleeting joy.
Who buys a minute's mirth to wail a week?
Or sells eternity to get a toy?
For one sweet grape who will the vine destroy? - Shakespeare

The man who throws his life, family and friends away for one moment of pleasure…

The girl who throws her future away for one moment of pleasure…

The boy who throws everything away for one moment of rage…

The woman who uses what she has to get what she wants but later realizes she has nothing worth anything…

*****

Yeah sin feels good while its going on, yeah you feel like you get some advantage while things are going good…

But sin is stupid, it always leads to destruction, something within you ALWAYS dies (Romans 6:23)

While righteousness (God’s way of doing things)- always leads to life, favor, peace, joy…(Galatians 5:22-23)

So why do I turn so easily away from you God, why do I not focus on you and your grace and your love? Why do I so easily acquiesce to “Tim Tation” and his requests – when my heart’s desire is to give you my all. Oh wretched flesh that I am who will deliver me from this death that I die?

THANKS BE TO GOD FOR JESUS CHRIST- for he has delivered and empowered me…

Sin is stupid, so I choose to walk in wisdom!

Michael Jackson is DEAD.

It’s been over a year now since Michael Jackson Died (June 25, 2009)…and I can still remember the chaos and commotion caused by his death. Many people were sad, depressed and angry. Many people wondered why he had to die…He was so young, so talented, so wonderful…why him?

Yes Michael Jackson was a great singer, dancer, performer, entertainer and all around artist…but he was NOT a great man.

Why is it that we so easily esteem these celebrities for what they portray on TV and completely separate them from their character and their moral failures. I agree no one is perfect, after all even great king David committed adultery and murder, but the important thing is that he realized he was wrong and turned away from it…

This is not a blog to belittle MJ…He did his thing- but doing his own thing was the problem. We need to change our value system and start to see greatness the way God sees greatness. The man and woman that handle their responsibilities and protect their marriage consistently, the worker who is always honest and always hardworking, the child who always honors his parents, the everyday person who obeys the law – those are all examples of great people…

Let us start looking at things in the light of eternity, and not in the light of our feelings, or what Hollywood tells us is great…Test everything under the light of God’s word… Remember the judgment seat of Christ, and how you will give an account of how you spent every second of your life…

Here is a quick and easy test- If anything or anyone gets you excited or gets you talking more than God does…YOU HAVE A PROBLEM.

Review: What's in the Bible

Phil Vischer the creator of Veggie Tales has done it again!

But this time it is bigger and better- If you have not heard of it yet you need to listen up!

The DVDs* are called “What’s in the Bible”

There are currently 3 DVDs out and the 4th is due to be out later this year

My niece and I own the first two DVDs:

  1. DVD 1: In the Beginning
  2. DVD 2: Let my People Go

The humor is great for adults and for kids…I found myself singing along with the characters, with my niece screaming “Bible” in the background (the theme song)- keep in mind that my niece is 1 year old, and I am a bit older.

Most importantly, the DVDs are Biblically sound.

I learned a lot from these DVDs…like “Septuagint!” …”Bless you!” (inside joke)

Go out and get the series…you won’t regret it!

The characters are from the website JellyTelly

(My only concern is that I hope there are more Black characters who are easier to understand)

*I personally purchased these DVDs

"Strictly for Guys"

So I “stumbled” upon a blog the other day that was strictly for guys so of course I was curious

http://strictly4guys.wordpress.com/ (or Click Here)

And the author of the blog had an interesting article entitled

“The Ten Most Dangerous Mistakes YOU Probably Make With Women Part 1

  1. Being too much of a “nice” guy
  2. Trying to convince her to like you
  3. Looking for her approval or permission
  4. Trying to “buy” her affection…
  5. Sharing how you feel to early in the relationship

The author made some really good points but he missed something very important – he did not define “woman” instead he generalized (perhaps based on personal observations)…However I disagree because based on my own personal observations:

Real women do not plan a life with a man based on a “gut level reaction”

Real women respect and appreciate “nice guys” therefore a real man can never be “too nice”

Real women like to be treated well, so while you can’t buy her affections, you can certainly show her that she is worth something to you.

Yes! I agree that Real women do not want a man to share how he feels too early in the relationship – not because they are approached all the time, and you seem like just another guy, but because intimacy is an important thing to women, and if a guy is too quick to share his intimacy, it is only easy to assume that he must have shared this level of intimacy with so many before…

One last note – real women, no matter how attractive they are, do not make it their business to date many guys, because they know their value so instead they are picky and only the exclusive few can make it into their hearts.

No Return if Unwrapped…

I bought a book for school a few months ago and it was shrink-wrapped.

Emblazoned on the front in bold letters were the words

“No return if unwrapped”

So I thought to myself- Not only do I have to pay for this book before I can walk out of this store with it, but I must be committed to purchasing this book, because once I unwrap it I am stuck with it, for better or worse. Granted I may choose to sell it in the future, but I can not return it…

It made me think about womanhood…I wish women would get this attitude that men need to commit to the relationship before they can leave the “store” with them, and to let men know how valuable they are, so that if the men are interested in “unwrapping” they must know that there are ABSOLUTELY no returns, no exchanges…(and no future sales)

Once you decide to pursue a relationship, then you are committing…and once you “unwrap”…you are committed!

This is why it is important to leave all “unwrapping” to a committed married relationship.