Saying No to Religion, and Yes to Jesus

Part of my family and I spent the morning volunteering at a local food pantry.  I spent the time getting to know people, hearing their stories, and re-introducing them to Jesus.  I say re-introduce because Jesus is so familiar, and yet so unknown.  Most people have been inundated with religious jargon, that seems completely irrelevant to our lives.  We've heard that Jesus died on the cross on our sins.  People know they should go to church, pray, read their bibles and try to be good people.  Religion is all about trying to be good.  Over and over I've heard  people talk about going back to church so they can start living better, or get themselves right.  Others go to church so that they hear an encouraging message that will jump start them for the week, then they go back to life as usual.  I spoke with a lady today who was more concerned about God answering her prayers than God himself.  "Yes, I believe God answers my prayers because I always see a rose when he does."  That's cool, but do you know God?  Why would God do something so personal, if he didn't want you to know Him intimately? 

(Many of us want God to answer our prayers, but we're uninterested in actually knowing Him. He's just our Genie-in-a-bottle.)

The American culture is full of religion.   So many of us put on religious masks that keep us from encountering the real Jesus.  We can say the "right" words.  We pray the "right" prayers.  We can quote scripture, and sing the "right" songs.  We go to church and participate in church activities.  But... do we know God(aka Jesus)?

How, you ask?

Great question.  How do you get to know anybody you want to know?  It's quite simple.  By spending time with him or her.  Get alone and spend face to face time getting to know God.  That requires, quite obviously, a recognition that there is a God to be known.  If you don't believe that God exists, why would you ever attempt to spend time with Him?  Once alone, talk to God.  We call that prayer.  If you're going to talk to God, you must believe that He's listening.  Why would you waste time talking to someone who can't hear you, or who doesn't care to listen?  Next you must listen to Him.  That's right, listen.  Of course, that means that He speaks.  Not only does that mean He speaks, but He wants to speak to each of us personally.  He speaks through His words.  Many of His words are written in the Bible.  He reveals to us who He is.  He shows is ways of working in the world.  He gives us examples of others who were His friends.  He teaches us much about ourselves and the world. 

He will speak specifically to us.  About our lives. About our destiny.  About our circumstances.  About who we are.  His words aren't simply printed words on a page, they are words that are overflowing with life, and meaning.  They are relevant and true.  They go beyond our natural understanding. They go deeper than deep.  Those who continue to dive into His word daily find themselves discovering treasure after treasure. There's an endless supply! 

God also speaks to our Spirits in ways that cannot be explained in words.  He speaks in our minds.  He speaks through creation.  He speaks in dreams and visions.  He speaks  in the silence.

And once He's spoken, we must believe His words to us.  What's the use in listening, if you won't believe? And what's the point of believing, if you won't do what He tells you to do?

We can also know Jesus by being around others who know Him--His children.  His children are also known as "the church".  God wants us learning together, praying together, and serving together.  TOGETHER is the key word.  He doesn't want us on our own.  In fact, He promises a special manifestation of His presence when we gather together.  I can't completely explain it, but I've experienced it many, many times.  When we come as humble seekers of the true and living God, expecting Him to speak to us and to do something special among us, He does.  Often, we come with our own agenda, that we expect Jesus to follow.  We often gather with others in order to check off our, Went-to-church-this-week box, rather than with the desire to meet with Jesus, and pour out our love and devotion to Him.

Don't abandon gathering with other true followers with Jesus.  Just find some true followers to gather with.  God will guide your search. He doesn't want you alone.

I'm currently reading a book that is encouraging me in my search to know the "real Jesus".  I want to know Him for myself.  So I'm reading the gospels with new ears, and new eyes, asking God's Spirit to show me the real Jesus.  The author of this book encourages His readers to do the same.  We've painted this flat, uninteresting, powerless, and quite frankly, impersonal Jesus.  We've made Him distant and unapproachable, sorta like the Pope.  That's not the real Jesus!  The real Jesus was continually surrounded with sinners.  Prostitutes. The despised. Thiefs. The sick. The demon possessed--crazies. The destitute. The broken. The  poor. Jesus welcomed these people in His presence.  Jesus isn't somewhere up in the clouds, unapproachable by us.  He wants us to know Him and to live in a continual relationship with Him. 

The last lady I spoke with today talked about her frustration with her church.  She wants more.  She thought that there was more. 

There is.

Religion doesn't fill the deepest longings of our souls.

Jesus does.

Say yes to the real Jesus.

He wants you to know Him.

40 Days of Discovery- Day 36

Honestly, I've lost track of the days.

Today was a difficult day.  A day that I felt unmotivated, uninspired,and  tired, tired, tired of the same old struggles.  Tired of being tired.  Tired of waiting. 

But I keep pressing.  I keep praying.  I won't stop until I touch the hem of His garment.

And tonight I heard the voice of my Jesus.  It wasn't anything new, really.  It was his reassurance.

He loves me.
He has a plan for me--and it is GOOD!

He said that he's preparing me.  He said I'm like an unwrapped gift under the christmas tree.  Really?  A gift?  Sometimes I feel like I'm all wrapped up--but not in a good way. Sometimes I feel like I just want to break free.  But from what?  There's so much inside of me that wants to be free.

The Father says that feeling of not being content where I am is from Him.  He doesn't want me settling.  He doesn't want me comfortable being less than His best.

I thank you Father.  I thought I was losing my mind today.  Yes, I am hormonal and I'm sure that was  part of the problem, but I thank you that there is more.  I'm thankful for my family, for my children, for the opportunity to serve them, but I was made for more than cleaning, cooking and homeschooling.  I was made for more.

And if I don't embrace ALL of me, then none of me will be effective.  
I'm a better mom, wife, teacher, etc. when I'm walking in my full calling.  I know that there is more.  I just don't know what that looks like in this season of life.  But the Father assures me, that I will have enough time, and energy to do ALL that He's called me to do.  I believe I'll have more energy than I have now.

   

40 Days of Discovery- Day 7

Today's been a good day.  I had the privilege of praying for someone who is struggling to forgive himself for past failures.  What good news I had for him.  I was able to share from my own experience.  I was able to speak truth from God's word.  It's amazing how many of God's people still can't believe that God's grace is truly sufficient for our failures.  It's amazing that the enemy continues to hold God's people hostage with regret, unforgiveness, and guilt.  And Jesus set us free!  What a liar the enemy is!  And I'm not believing his lies anymore!  And I'm praying that God's people would no longer believe his lies.  We are free!  We been bought with the precious, and perfect blood and body of Jesus Christ.  There is no other sacrifice needed.  We don't need to punish ourselves. That's been taken care of by Jesus.

You're free!  I say it again.  You're free!

That is, if you've received His gift of freedom through Jesus.  God doesn't force His good gifts on you.  He only offers.  You must receive.  It's that simple.

I was thinking today that if I were to have a conversation with Jesus, and I came to Him asking Him to forgive me for my sins, mistakes, failures, rebellions.... How would He respond?  First, I know He wouldn't be shocked.  He knows my failures, and weaknesses far better than I.  Second, He wouldn't rebuke me.  I'm reminded of how he responded to sinners when He walked on this earth.  Those who came to him in humility with repentance received forgiveness.  His response was so simple, "Go and sin no more." or "Your sins are forgiven."  I love Jesus' simplicity.  I believe He would say the same thing to me. I imagine Him lifting my chin up and  looking me straight in the eyes. He would look at me as if looking into the very depths of my soul.  He would not let me look away as He lovingly pronounced  "You're forgiven.  Go and sin no more."  Then He would embrace me as His daughter, His dearly beloved daughter.  I believe I would leave His presence lighter than air.  My heart would be at rest.  I would know that His love for me hasn't diminished one bit.  And then I would make it my life's aim to serve Him-- the Great King.

Indeed, this conversation has happened, and continues to happen.  And that is why I love Him!

Another thought I pondered today:

Focusing on ourselves does nothing good.  When we focus on our strengths, and successes we become prideful.  When we focus on our failures, mistakes, and weaknesses , we sink into despair.   When we focus on Jesus, we will have the right perspective of ourselves.  We are free to receive His power in our weakness, and His redemption for our failures.  We can rejoice for the marvelous gifts we've been given.  We can offer Him praise for His lavish grace.  And we can live our lives as servants of this All-powerful, and benevolent King!  Amen!

40 Days of Discovery- Day 1

Today I began a 40 day journey of discovery.  As I walk on this journey I'd to invite you to join in.  On each day of my journey I'd like to share something that may encourage, uplift, or perhaps even make you say, "ouch!" or "hmm".  So what is the destination of this journey?  Closer intimacy with The Lover of My Soul.

An excerpt from my journal entry today:

Fill my mouth with your rich and filling goodness.
Fill my hands with your everlasting presence
Fill my ears with melodies from Heaven
Fill my eyes with beautiful, glorious Heavenly treasures and make all earthly things pale in comparison

You must do these things, else earth's pull on me is too strong to overcome.  The trinkets it offers will shine too brightly in my eyes.  And I will cling too tightly to those I love, demanding that they give me happiness, and satisfaction.  I've tried it so many times, and it's left me frustrated and discouraged.  And its worn them out!

Read a quote today from Paul J. Tillich.  He wrote an article called: "To Whom Much was Forgiven"  Here's the quote:  "...forgiveness makes love possible.  We cannot love unless we have accepted forgiveness, and the deeper our experience of forgiveness is, the greater our love."  He was speaking in the context of the woman who poured out the alabaster jar on Jesus, anointing His body for burial.  I thought it was a thought provoking quote.  I'm still pondering its meaning.

May You Discover the True and Living God in unexpected places today.

Shalom.

2012, It's Time!

Can you hear the cries?

Cries for mercy
cries for deliverance
cries for healing
cries for hope...

Can you see the hopelessness in the eyes
                                                   of Mother who can't feed her children?
                                                   of  prisoners of abuse, addiction, fear...

Can you feel the beating heart of the forgotten?
                                        Those persecuted for their belief in Jesus?
                                        Children whose parents have died of aids?
                                        Widows who've had their property taken away?
                                         Little girls in hidden places forced to do things
                                                                                  that a little girl should never know?


Can you hear their prayers for help?

What if you are the answer to their prayers?  What if you are the one who a person or a people group is waiting for in order to hear the message of freedom?  of healing? of hope?

Will you accept this mission?

What if you are the one God has chosen to heal the sick, feed the hungry, set the captives free...

What if...

All of your life you've been being prepared for this moment.  Even as you were formed in the womb.  Every incident, accident, and planned event was carefully orchestrated by Elohim to bring you to this place.


Will you forgo your own agenda for the rest of your life, laying it down at the feet of our Supreme Commander?  He has a special mission for you!

Will you say yes?

Don't worry, He has thoroughly equipped you for EVERY good work and He promises to empower you and be near you every step of the way.  As you work along side of the King of the Universe, you will be satisfied with His precious presence and be allowed to know Him intimately.  How generous our God is to give us the honor and privilege of joining Him in His most sacred and beautiful work--rescuing and redeeming all mankind.

So what are you waiting for?

YOUR HEART LONGS FOR MORE. 

YOU WERE MADE FOR  MORE.

It's 2012!  It's time!

May your year be full of the presence of Yahweh and may you live your life for His perfect purposes.

The Twelve Days of Christmas

As our gift to our friends, and family, we're presenting "The 12 Days of Christmas".  Instead Leaping Ladies, or turtle doves we're giving you songs from the Baptiste family.  We're off to a great start and I'd like to invite all of my blog followers to join us.

Go to:  http://www.youtube.com/user/aleciabaptiste?feature=mhee

I hope you enjoy the songs.  Please feel free to invite friends, and family as you enjoy the festivities.

I pray that your Christmas season is saturated with the presence of Emmanuel.

Merry Christmas!

The Little Pebble and the Majestic Waterfall Part 4

After the Water Fall's grand and majestic entrance, it spoke to all who were gathered there to meet it.  As it spoke, every creature stood in solemn silence each hanging on its every word and feeling a personal intimate connection with the Water Fall.  This was because the Water Fall spoke to each creature tenderly in its own heart's language.

This is what the pebble heard.

"I am so glad that you are here.  It has been my heart's desire to have you here with me forever.  You will live with me enjoying my protection and the glorious riches of my gifts.  All that you desire is yours. You have done well, Little Pebble.  I am pleased with you.  Now you will live in this glorious paradise with me forever along with all who have lived obediently before me.  I will be your King and you will be my servants, ruling in my glorious kingdom forever.  This is your reward."

Every creature bowed in humble adoration to the King, with hearts that were filled with thanksgiving.  Then with one voice every creature began to sing a song to the Great Water Fall.  It was a song sung with such earnestness, with such joy, with complete and utter abandonment.  Each creature was compelled to give the best that it had to offer, singing with every available instrument, and in complete harmony and unity with one another.  There was no competition among them.  Each one willingly stepped aside in order to allow the other to express its own uniquely beautiful offering of love and devotion to the Water Fall.    And the Water Fall was worthy of hearing each distinct expression of gratitude.  Every single note. Oh what a glorious sound it was!  This new song had a myriad of languages, melodies, styles, rhythms, parts, harmonies and melodies that human ears have yet to hear.  There are no earthly comparisons, except to say that there was a small part of every song ever sung in that one song.

And there they lived forever, completely loved, completely satisfied and in  perfect peace in the Glorious presence of the Majestic Water Fall.

The End.

The Little Pebble and the Majestic Waterfall part 1

This is the first of several posts of a story I've written, inspired by the Holy Spirit, tentatively called The Little Pebble and the Majestic Waterfall.  This may end up being my next book.  Stay tuned.

There was once a little pebble, simple and ordinary and rough around the edges.  It was a tiny pebble and actually quite ugly.  This pebble lived beside a Great Majestic Waterfall.  Oh what a beautiful, and magnificient waterfall it was.  That waterfall thundered day and night singing its glorious song.  Oh, how the pebble marveled in hearing that sublime melody.  Oh how that pebble loved that glorious Water Fall.  So one day that little pebble decided it wanted to do something beautiful for the waterfall to show its love and devotion.  But what could it do?It could not sing and if it could, its tiny voice would never be heard over the thunderous voice of the Mighty WaterFall.  This little pebble thought and thought and thought until it hurt all over.  It couldn't come up with even  idea on how it could  show its love and devotion to the waterfall.  So it began to weep pitifully.  Suddenly through its sobbing cries it heard the Mighty Waterfall ask a question as it sang.

"Why are you crying?"

The pebble stopped immediately.  Was the WaterFall talking to it--the little pebble?  Couldn't be.  So the pebble didn't reply.  Again the Water Fall replied,

"Why are you crying?"

The pebble froze.  Its heart began to race.  It looked left, and then right.  The waterfall had spoken to--it.  "What do I do now?" the pebble thought.  A wise and noble bird sitting in a nearby tree responded, "Answer Him.  Answer to Great Water Fall, little pebble."

So it did.

"Oh, Great Water Fall, I am crying because I have nothing to give you.  I want to show  you my love and devotion, but what can I give one so great as you?"  The Great Water Fall laughed  thunderously with such joy and glee that it actually frightened and shamed the little pebble.   "I knew it," thought the pebble to itsself.  I was foolish to think I could ever give the Great Water Fall anything worthy of Him.

"Nonsense!" the Water Fall bellowed.  The pebble was startled.  "I have been deeply desiring a gift from you little pebble.  You have something beautiful to give."

"Me?"  said the Pebble completely puzzled.  "What do I have?"

"I want you little pebble.  You are my prized possession."

The pebble was speechless.  After thinking to ittself, for what seemed like hours (but it was actually only a few minutes), the little pebble replied.  "So.... you want me?" the pebbled asked timidly.

"Yes."

"You want me?" the pebble asked again, this time feeling a bit more confident.

"Absolutely!"

"You want me!"  the pebble shouted with joy and gladness of heart.  He had something to give the Great Water Fall.  Oh how the little pebble beamed with happiness.  The Great Water Fall had seen it and even desired it.

Then unexpectedly the Great Water Fall quieted down to a faint whisper.  "Little Pebble, would you give yourself to me, for you are a gift I greatly desire?"  I love you, little pebble and I want to do great and wonderful things with you--things which you could never imagine."

In that moment of quietness, the pebble deeply connected with the Water Fall in a new way.  It had experienced the love of the Water Fall.  It had not known that it could be loved.  It was only a pebble.  It have never known love.  It had seen what it thought was love, but it had never experienced it--until now.  Well, I really cannot fully explain how the pebble felt at that moment, but I will try.   That pebble felt, whole, brand new and more alive.  Yes, that pebble felt--ALIVE!

"Oh, yes, Great Water Fall!  I want to give myself to you!"

"Jump in the river" whispered the Water Fall.

Well, you've never seen a pebble more determined to get to the river.  That pebble had really never moved very much.  I mean...it moved a bit here and there, but it was usually because the wind had blown it or some creature had dislodged it from its position.  That poor pebble tried with all of its might to move itself to the river, which was only  a few feet away.  It struggled and strained, and managed to barely move.  It persisted, trying and trying and trying until it was utterly exhausted.   The little pebble began to slip into utter despair.  It felt completely helpless and hopeless.

"Little pebble," said the Water Fall tenderly, "will you give yourself completely to  me..."

The pebbled interrupted, "I've already tried, and I can't!"  Oh what sorrow the pebble felt.   To be so close to experiencing life's greatest joy, only to have it snatched from its grasp was more than the pebble could bear.

"Little pebble, I wasn't finished.  If you will cease striving, I will help you.  I, myself, will bring you to the water, and I will do something beautiful for you.  I will make you a beautiful gift--a worthy offering that I may enjoy forever."

"Ok,"  the pebble replied unassuredly.  " I don't understand what you ask of me, but I will give myself to you.  It is obvious that I cannot do this without help."

Suddenly, the Water Fall rumbled, laughing a deep hearty laugh with such joy that it tickled the pebble.

"Be still and watch what I will do!"

Collaboration

   
I was recently blessed with the opportunity to collaborate with some wonderful artists on some art projects.  I've never done anything like this before.  When Kathy first asked me about being a part of the collaboration, I was excited and honored that she would ask me.  But as the time approached for us to begin the collaboration, I began to get nervous.  This was totally out of my comfort zone!  I didn't know what to expect.  There was no plan.  And I had no control over what would happen. I had to trust that God had a plan.
     The first day we met, I remember the anxiety I felt.  I was like, "I'm here.  Now what?"  We prayed.  And God did a marvelous work through us.  We brought our scraps, and leftover pieces and over the course of a month, we're created 6 beautiful works of art.  I'm amazed!  Each piece is so different.  We each contributed in some way, to each piece.  And each person's contribution was absolutely vital to creating that final product.

Interestingly, we are each very different.  We come from different ethinic and cultural backgrounds.  We each work in different mediums.  Our styles are very different.  Even our methods of creating art are different.  But you wouldn't believe how much harmony we've had.  The Spirit of God has worked through each of us enabling us to work with oneness of mind.  We committed ourselves to be servants, listening to the Spirit and being sensitive to the ways that He was moving.

     Did we agree at every moment?  No.  But we always came to an agreement in a peaceful manner.  Sometimes it took time to hear what the Spirit was saying.

     I can honestly say that I could never have created anything like these pieces alone.  Now it almost feels strange working alone in my studio on my personal pieces.  I miss that interaction and feedback.

It's been fun!  And I've learned so much and grown through the process.

I have been given a small glimpse of what God wants to do in His people on a larger scale.  He wants us working together, each bringing our little bit to the table in order to create a Great Feast.  We can't do it alone.  We must be willing to give...and receive.   And in the process each of us will be changed.  Paul says in Ephesians that we become more whole, for you supply what is lacking in me, and I in you.   The church becomes a fuller expression of the Magnificient Glorious Infiinite God.  The knowledge of His glory becomes more complete and more fully displayed.  How exciting!

We need each other.  God wants to use us working together to do something beautiful for Him.

Let's collaborate.

the blessing of confessing

Recently, the Holy Spirit led me to have a devotional with my kids on how to deal with sin.   So we talked about what happens to us when we sin(or think we've sinned).  We feel ashamed, afraid, guilty...  When we choose to stay in the the dark, rather than coming out into the light and confessing, Satan keeps his finger on us.  His power is strongest in  the darkness.  He tries to keep us hiding--with lies of course.  We hide in so many ways.  By making excuses.  By blaming others. By ignoring our sin. By keeping our sin a secret.  When we refuse to admit our sin, confessing it to God and each other, it hurts us.  We can experience no peace or rest in our hearts.  We live a life of guilt, shame and fear.  We lose our intimacy with God.  That sin creates distance in our relationship.  Not only do we lose intimacy with God, but we lose intimacy with others.  Unconfessed sin can even cause health problems.  If sin continues on unconfessed, it leads to isolation.  Because we're still trying to hide.  It's a downward spiral.  Does that sound like a life you'd like to live? 

But there is a remedy.  God has given us a gift.  It is the gift of forgiveness.   But we can only receive forgiveness if we are willing to confess.  We must come out of the darkness, into the light of truth.  We must call our sin by its name--sin.  We must refuse to compromise, or making excuses for our sin.  Just admit it.  God already knows.  It's amazing what happens when we confess our sins.  The process of healing and restoration begins.   Our hearts can again be filled with peace.   Our intimacy with God is restored.  Our intimacy with others can be restored.  We can live again in community.  Even our physical bodies can experience healing. 

God's forgiveness is total and complete.  He separates our sin as far as the east is from the west.  We are washed completely.  There is no need to continue punishing yourself.  There's no need to continue meditating over that mistake thinking of all the things you could have done differently.  Yes, there may be business that needs to be done.  The Holy Spirit may give you instructions to work toward reconciliation.  He may give you instructions to make restitution.  You will need some accountability in  place to help you in your area of weakness.  But understand, that you're already forgiven. Receive it.  Live like you're forgiven, because God says that you are.  I admit that I really struggle with this.  I have struggled with perfectionism my entire life, so when I fail, I can't let myself "off the hook".  Even after I've gone to God for forgiveness, I continue to punish myself chasing down that sin like a pit bull refusing to let it go.  I'm learning how to live in His grace more and more.

Paul said the more sin increased, the more His grace increases.  That scripture gets under the skin of us rule-keepers, because we think that we're giving people a "license to sin".  But even Paul talks about the foolishness of this line of thinking.  Why would anyone want to sin saying grace will cover it? Why would I want to live in guilt, fear, and shame when I can live free?  It was for freedom, that He set us free!

Lastly, I asked each of my kids if there was some person they trusted enough to confess their sins to.  It's important to have those person's in place before we sin, because it's hard enough to confess without having to add looking for a person we trust.  I now see the value in Catholics going to priests for confession.  What a blessing to have a fairly easy way to go and confess to someone you trust. But confession must go past admitting our sins.  We must also allow others to hold us accountable.  That requires an intimate relationship.


So after having our devotional and praying together, I had the opportunity to experience the blessing of confessing.  One of my children came to me asking if he could speak with me privately.  Of course.  So we went into my bedroom and he proceeded to confess a secret sin.  His heart was so broken over his sin and he felt that he had disappointed me. This may sound crazy, but it what such a joyous moment for me.  I was able to give him the gift of forgiveness and unconditional acceptance.  We sat together and embraced, as he cried.  I told him I loved him and that I totally forgave him.  He prayed and asked God for forgiveness.  Then I told him that he didn't need to think about that anymore.  It was done and over.  He was forgiven.  Now, there was business that needed to be done.  There were some things that I needed to do, so that he wasn't tempted to sin in that way again.  But it wasn't to punish him.  It was to help him.  And amazingly, he gladly received my help.  It actually seemed like a relief to him.  Later that day, I asked him how he felt.  He said he felt much better.

I pray that you may experience the blessing of confessing the next time you sin.

GAL 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 1JN 1:8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. [9] If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. [10] If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives.

 James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.

2CH 7:13 "When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain (hmm... sounds like a drought), or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, [14] if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. [15] Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place. [16] I have chosen and consecrated this temple so that my Name may be there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

My Song

There's a song that begins to stir in my heart,
that begins to surface as I think on the goodness of God.
As I meditate on His goodness,
His grace,
His love,
His Holiness,
His purity...
A poetic prose begins to rise from my soul
It's been hidden there waiting to be found
It's composed by the Holy Spirit and uniquely song by me.
It is a song that's being song in the heavenlies
by the angels
and by saints throughout the ages
This song is a song our hearts have been waiting to sing
Like a woman with child who eagerly awaits the moment of giving birth
She eagerly anticipates the joy of holding her sweet baby in her arms
But there is discomfort,
there is pain to endure
MUCH PAIN
But in the end, it's worth it
for in her arms is a baby
Oh the joy to hold that precious baby!
This song is our baby
Our heart anticipates giving birth to this melody
As we experience life this song grows within us
developing, gaining understanding, maturing
And often there is much pain that must be endured in order to give birth to this song
But Oh the joy that is felt
Oh the relief that the song has finally been freed.
for this song was meant to be song
An unsung song is a travesty.
We must sing our song.
I must sing my song.

Heavenly Father, enable us by your Spirit to sing beautifully, powerfully, truthfully, pouring ourselves out, holding nothing back, singing in this life until all that we know by faith becomes clearly known.

Blessings on Your Life

All these blessings will be upon you and be your constant companion IF YOU OBEY Yahweh (the unchanging, ever-present, self-existing one; the one who reveals Himself to His people) :

You will be blessed wherever you are, whether in the city or in the country.

You will be blessed to bear many children.

And all of your work will produce MUCH  fruit.  Your business will flourish, and your ministry will be effective.

You will always have plenty of food to eat.  Every need will be met with abundance.

It matters not if you are coming or going, blessing will always be near.

Those who rise up against you in order to harm you will be defeated before your very eyes.  Yes, they will come to you in confidence and strength, but they will run from you like roaches scattering when the light turns on!

Your investment and savings will be blessed.  Every venture, and business idea will be successful.

The Lord will set you apart from others as special.  You have a special purpose—a holy calling.  But you must:

Obey ALL of the Lord’s commands.  You must walk in His ways.  His ways are not the ways of man.

Then all people on the earth will see that you are a child of the Most Holy.  They will be afraid to do you harm.  YET you will find favor with them because they think so highly of you. 

You will have ABUNDANT PROSPERITY!  You will overflow with every good thing.  The Lord will open the gates of Heaven and pour out so much blessing that you don’t have the capacity to hold it all.  Everyone you encounter will benefit from your overflow.   You will be a channel of blessing to your extended family, your community, the nation and even the world!

He will send EVERY needed resource in order for your work to prosper.  He will provide the right environment for you to succeed.  All of your efforts will be productive and effective.  (The curse of sin has no power over your work.  Hallelujah!)

You will have so much that you can give freely to many who are in need, and never have need yourself to borrow from others.  You will provided exactly what you need AT THE RIGHT TIME! No Loans!  No Credit cards!  No Debt!  Ever!

You will be a leader, not a follower.  You will set the trend for others to follow.

But you must focus your thoughts on giving your full and complete devotion to none other than God—carefully listening to His voice and following all His instructions exactly.  (Don’t worry about whether it makes sense.)  

If you do, You will always be at the top and never at the bottom!

Pay attention.  Focus.  Don’t get off track.  Don’t be distracted by the world’s promises of pleasure, immediate gratification, or its promise of popularity or quick success.  Don’t follow any of their methods of using debt, deception, using people for their own selfish gain, devaluing the work of others in order to make the largest profit margin, or abusing the environment.  Don’t use their marketing schemes that appeal to man’s sinful cravings, stirring up desires in people in order to get more sales.  Don’t do it!  Resist greed, wastefulness, and overspending.  

Pursue God.  Not the blessings.  For God, Himself is the blessing, the treasure, the inheritance.  In Him we have ALL that we desire and need.

WAIT ON HIS BLESSINGS, for His blessings always come without regret. They always come at the proper time. His blessings, truly satisfy.

A modern day paraphrase of Deut 28: 1-14 (with a few other scriptures added)

An Oasis in the Desert

 Isaiah 58:11 The LORD will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
  You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
With the recent drought in Texas, I've found myself blessed to enjoy more flowers this year than I ever have.  God has given me an "Oasis in the Desert".  Don't get me wrong, all my grass is brown, and my poor little veggie garden has struggled to survive, but my flowers are flourishing.  I thought you might enjoy some of my photographic art featuring my flowers.

I pray that God Himself will satisfy your needs in this recession, and drought.  May He make you an Oasis in the desert-- a place where many will be refreshed, and healed.

What Have we done to "the least"? Part 1

James 1:27 Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

 

The true test of the church is how we serve "the least" among us.  "The Least" is defined as the poor, minorities, disabled, children without fathers(or mothers), the widow (including the divorced), mentally-ill, refugees, homeless--anyone that doesn't fit the majority profile.  Anyone who finds him or herself among the disadvantaged in a culture.  These people struggle to survive in communities.  They are often invisible to the majority.   They are invisible in part because "the least" try to blend in with the majority.  They are invisible in part because the majority can choose not to interact with them.  Honestly, "the least" in a society make us uncomfortable.  It's much easier to encourage or even force those who are different from us to conform.  "Become one of us, then we can love you."  It's  hard to love people who are "different".

How can we as the church serve "the least" in our communities, in our cities and the world, when we don't serve" the least" in our on church body--those sitting beside us on the pews?  How can we convince the world that God loves them and that we genuinely care for them, when we can't love and accept those whom we call brother or sister?  I'm thinking that this isn't a new issue in the body of Christ for James talks about this issue in his letter.

JAS 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don't show favoritism. [2] Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. [3] If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, "Here's a good seat for you," but say to the poor man, "You stand there" or "Sit on the floor by my feet," [4] have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?

james 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love your neighbor as yourself," you are doing right. [9] But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

I know what you're thinking.  "I would NEVER do that!"  Well--we do it in our churches ALL of the time.  We're just unaware of what we're doing.  When we choose the style of music that we worship to based on the majority of our member's preferences, we choose to show favoritism toward the majority culture. The preferences of  "the least" in our church are ignored.  "The least" is forced to conform, or leave. No wonder churches are so segregated.  (When I say majority culture, I refer here to the majority culture of the particular local church and its surrounding community.)  When we focus all of our efforts on reaching the majority, "the least" among us are devalued.  Take note that even James recognizes that the poor man is welcomed into the meeting, but he is pointing out how the poor man is treated when he gets there.  

How do we treat "the least" in our worship services?

Aiming the bulk of our resources towards the majority works great in a business, but not in God's economy.  God is a God who leaves the 99 (the majority) to rescue one (the least).  God Himself rejoices over one who receives the gift of salvation.  This is because every person is valuable to God.

MT 25:40 "The King will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

 Interesting that Jesus calls "the least" His brothers.  It's also interesting that he didn't say, whatever you did for "some" of the least, or "most" of the least,  but "one" of the least.  Jesus seems to be emphasizing that every single person matters to God.  Overlooking one person grieves the heart of God.

 MT 25:45 "He will reply, `I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

 How are we treating Jesus in our churches?