Because I Can!

How many of you have a surplus of things? Clothes, cars, cleaning supplies, curtains, perfume, etc.? Do you sit around thinking about buying more? Does buying more things truly fill the void in your life? If not, why do you continue doing it? Some would answer, "I enjoy shopping"! Another answer would be, "I have extra money to spend, so why not spend it on me"! I have also heard, "It makes me feel better when I'm upset"! I'm not done, I have one more: "It's my money"! OH?

I do not own the rights to this photo

I know of two things indulgence does!  It increases the clutter in your home, that causes stress and confusion; and the other one is, it depletes the bank account - if you live from paycheck to paycheck!

All of the bills are paid, and low and behold, you have some extra money this month! The first thing most people do is say, "I am going shopping to buy me something"! The thing you are living without, you truly survived and did not miss it; therefore, it's a want, not a need! I am not saying you cannot give to yourself either; but when you have too much, there needs to be a pruning of it (removing it so it does not cloud you, your house, and your peace of mind) 

Although this pantry is designed and stocked by professionals it is balanced and free of clutter!

I do not own the rights to this photo

This could be new to some, but when you do have an excess of money, truly do an inventory of what you truly need, make sure it's purchased, and put the extra money in a savings account so when God commands you to bless someone, pay a bill in full, etc., you are able to be obedient to His Word! 

It never crosses any one's mind these days to "buy" something for a stranger! I know some have given money, food and blankets, but I'm talking about truly buying someone a suit (everything down to the shoes) or buying a bed and mattress to a Mother who has given all to her children and she sleeps on the floor! You can even have abundance to purchase a car for someone! I know you are saying, "What"? Yes, this is possible! Remember, with man you can do nothing; but with God all things are possible!

Couple buys stranger a car after seeing him walking home from a long day's work!

I do not own the rights to this photo

But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil. Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” (Luke 6:35-38 ESV)

Giving to others truly fills the void you have as well as keeps a balance in your life. It feels good too! When you get that "feel good" feeling, you want to do it more, until you develop a change of heart that understands true blessings are not how much we accumulate; but how many lives we bless! 

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common. And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold and laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need. (Acts 4:31-35 ESV)

Cattle "Herding"!

If you are indulging in pornography and purchasing sex magazines, you are contributing to a large billion dollar industry that enslaves young woman and men against their will! They are being hunted down like animals as well as treated as so! When you hunger for sex in all the wrong places, it increases the demand to entrap innocent lives; in addition to shattering yours!

Take a look at this website: http://www.a21.org/content/human-trafficking/gl0ryw to listen to the stories of the young ladies who were rescued from "sex trafficking"; and the trust and love (God's love) it took for them to regain their dignity and a fulfilling life!

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read.  And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21 ESV)

Sex has become a recreational commodity used to debilitate our girls and boys; and those who indulge in it ~ that never satisfies! Satan has a stronghold on you; therefore, you too are a prisoner to the industry!

Let marriage be held in honor (esteemed worthy, precious, of great price, and especially dear) in all things. And thus let the marriage bed be undefiled (kept undishonored); for God will judge and punish the unchaste [all guilty of sexual vice] and adulterous. (Hebrews 13:4 AMP)

Sex is turning our world upside down at the expense of young lives; and some never get out "alive" to tell their story! Surrender your life to Jesus, who is your only hope; and it will free you from living two lives! It is imperative that we all contribute to end this horrific industry of "sex trafficking"; and bind Satan too! 

That each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor,

Not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will,

That no man transgress and overreach his brother and defraud him in this matter or defraud his brother in business. For the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we have already warned you solemnly and told you plainly.

For God has not called us to impurity but to consecration [to dedicate ourselves to the most thorough purity].

Therefore whoever disregards (sets aside and rejects this) disregards not man but God, Whose [very] Spirit [Whom] He gives to you is holy (chaste, pure). 
(I Thessalonians 4:4-8 AMP)

My Strength is Failing!

Accepting Jesus as your Lord and Savior to many who have problem after problem, is like holding on to a rope; while hanging over a cliff! You look down and know if you “Let Go”, you will fall to your death! All the strength you have begins to dissipate! You can no longer keep holding on! 

When you do finally let go, you will die – a necessary death to self! You call out, “JESUS HELP ME “; and He does! He's always ready and waiting for you to call on Him; and let Him, in His strength, pull you up! 

8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (II Corinthians 12:8-9 NKJV)

It's a simple solution - "Let Go, and Let God"!

6 But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) 7 “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). 8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard?[c] And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. (Romans 10:6-17 ESV)

Do I Fit?

What does it take to be a true friend? Are you there through thick and thin, good times and bad times, and winning and losing? You give and take in love! In any true friendship; one compliments the other! There is a balance that is meant to be that way; but we have to first acknowledge our differences and weaknesses; and focus on the positive in each other! When we do, we take notice of the gifts in our spouse and grab hold, so you both can magnify it; and diminish the other!

It's like the missing piece of a puzzle, that is an old cliche; however, it is the only example I can use to allow you to get the picture of marriage. God made woman out of the rib of Adam. They are opposites, but the ribs fit perfectly together to make one! She is what he needs, and he is what she needs! There, it fits perfect! 

We all have this gift in us called intuition! It assist you with choices that can help or hinder your growth and relationships! If you are not aware of it, tune in to that channel and turn up the volume so that you can!  

You cannot tell that person they are not what you need or want, if you are broken into pieces yourself! No, we are not perfect; but we serve a God who is and with his help, we allow Him to mold and shape us into a "best friend" we want to be and should be, so that we draw that same energy, likeness and maturity to us! 

Relationships do take time and an effort on your part to be the best you can be! 

Marriage is not antiquated, old school, or obsolete! It is a sacred unity bestowed on us from the love of God to produce seeds of greatness! His love is so powerful, nothing can penetrate it! It is love that created you, and anything God creates, it's created for success, not failure! 

²² Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord.²³ For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior.²⁴ Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

²⁵ Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, ²⁶ that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, ²⁷ so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. ²⁸ In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. ²⁹ For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, ³⁰ because we are members of his body. ³¹ “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” ³² This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. ³³ However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV)

It's important to elaborate on sex before marriage! It is not penetrating into the minds of others, when we say fornication - so I'm going to present it to you this way "IT'S SIN"! Sin is sin whether we want to justify the levels of it. Some believe murder is more profound than over eating! NOT, both lead to destruction and God views them all as SIN!. However, when we become born again, we are forgiven of our sins; but we also choose to do what’s right in the eyes of God! 

                                                                             I Corinthians 6:18

Everything we do and do not do, God sees and knows our needs, but if you will not allow Him to get involved, then there will always be a disconnect in your relationships and marriages (True Friendship) that you feel has no hope ~ Think again! God is a God who can do anything but fail! 

Muted or Ignored?

Father I am sitting here feeling sad and defeated; yet there is no reason why!

I see many foster children without a Mother or Father!

“I came into DYFS when I was 2 years old. My mother, she got caught with robbery trying to take care of us. I've been in over 60 places; in foster homes, ...

I see young and old women incarcerated from bad choices; because they don’t know

any other way to obtain the provisions they desire!

I see children who never miss a day of school; because that’s their only source of food!

I see young woman addicted to drugs, hoping it will eliminate the pain and shame they encounter from being forced to sell their precious bodies!

I see young men and women coming home from war, deeply depressed, handicapped and forgotten by many of the sacrifices they make to keep our country safe!

I see selfish people who have an abundance of money; but a poverty stricken soul!

How can I sit around dejected when there is much work to do?

It’s because I am not leading a life worthy of the divine calling to which I have been called!

I therefore, the prisoner for the Lord, appeal to and beg you to walk (lead a life) worthy of the [divine] calling to which you have been called [with behavior that is a credit to the summons to God’s service,

² Living as becomes you] with complete lowliness of mind (humility) and meekness (unselfishness, gentleness, mildness), with patience, bearing with one another and making allowances because you love one another.

³ Be eager and strive earnestly to guard and keep the harmony and oneness of [and produced by] the Spirit in the binding power of peace.

⁴ [There is] one body and one Spirit—just as there is also one hope [that belongs] to the calling you received—

⁵ [There is] one Lord, one faith, one baptism,

⁶ One God and Father of [us] all, Who is above all [Sovereign over all], pervading all and [living] in [us] all.

⁷ Yet grace (God’s unmerited favor) was given to each of us individually [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and bounteous] gift. (Ephesians 4:1-7 AMP)

"Gather" at the Cross!

Nowadays, many families do not use china to celebrate holiday gatherings! When we were growing up, our Grandmother did! Grandpa expected all of his children and grandchildren home every holiday (which was approx 22 adults and 34 grandchildren); except Christmas! Christmas was celebrated together, a week before the holiday, at a club house in Indianapolis; so each family could be at their own home! 

So every 4th of July, Easter, and Thanksgiving, we ate on china; not paper plates! I asked her, after I was old enough to understand, why she didn't use paper plates; after all, you can throw them away and it's easier to clean up! She responded, "I want to use my china while I'm alive! Why have something if you don't use it? I know when I die, somebody else will enjoy it; so if I have it now, I'm going to enjoy it now"!

Over the years of reading and meditating on the Word, God serves us His best also - His only begotten Son! We tell ourselves, I'll wear that mink coat one day when I go somewhere nice, or I'll  use my beautiful dining room one day when I host a New Year's Day dinner, and on and on! No, use it now, wear it now, and enjoy it now! Whereas; many of us, not taking into consideration, our time here on earth is brief! 

 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:31-32 ESV)

I often look to yesterday to understand today! If we think about it, paper plates are not as sturdy and reliable as china! It didn't take long either to wash, dry, and put them away for the next gathering; because everyone rolled up their sleeves and helped! How many of us hoard our best in a closet for another day; and do not enjoy it now? 

It's because we are more concerned about what people think, than pleasing and serving God! To utilize the best is not bragging, but showing appreciation and gratitude to God for His provisions and love; and others will benefit too! How, you ask? Because they will want what you have; and when they ask, your response will be, "God blessed me with this"! If they do not know Him, they will want to!

Who has believed what he has heard from us?
    And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
2 For he grew up before him like a young plant,
    and like a root out of dry ground;
he had no form or majesty that we should look at him,
    and no beauty that we should desire him.
3 He was despised and rejected by men;
    a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces
    he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

4 Surely he has borne our griefs
    and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
    smitten by God, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.
6 All we like sheep have gone astray;
    we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
    the iniquity of us all.

7 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
    yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter,
    and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
    so he opened not his mouth.
8 By oppression and judgment he was taken away;
    and as for his generation, who considered
that he was cut off out of the land of the living,
    stricken for the transgression of my people?
9 And they made his grave with the wicked
    and with a rich man in his death,
although he had done no violence,
    and there was no deceit in his mouth. (Isaiah 53:1-9 ESV)