Good Name vs. Bad Name

Don’t you just love it when you read a scripture and it just doesn’t make any sense at all. I know some of you are like “Is this girl crazy?”. Just think about it like this. If there were no mysteries to the Bible, then there would be nothing to discover in it. The Bible would be boring if it was completely straightforward. God wants us to not just read the Bible, but to really grasp a deeper meaning. For some reason or another, I have been thinking about a verse in proverbs. “A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, Loving favor rather than silver and gold.”-Proverbs 22:1 This was one of my papa’s favorite verses. All of these years I’ve never really understood what this verse was really saying. I always wondered why it was even my papa’s favorite verse. I guess I wondered why a name was so important and who really decided if that name was good? And then I would think, is it my fault if I am not named a “good” name. All of these questions would go through my mind and continually make me wonder why this verse would even be included in the Bible. So as all of these questions were playing in my mind the other day, the Lord began to reveal to me what it means. This verse was so easily and simply explained in all of few seconds. It was like a light switch had been flipped, scattering the darkness. It just clicked and suddenly made sense. The Lord put it like this, what does your name represent?. And I replied with a slight hesitation, it represents who I am, …? And then He said, exactly!! I felt as though it called for a “Selah” moment; a moment to just let the revelation sink in. So, now read the verse and replace “a good name” with “who I am “. Who I am is to be chosen rather than great riches! Ok, so it still seems a little hazy. Let me explain it like this. Everyday we chose who we are. We are the ones who decide how we act, the words we say, and what we do. We are responsible for ourselves and our actions. The weight of this responsibility is that people are watching us day after day. They are measuring us up against what we believe and what we say we are. The good or bad is not determined by the sound of the name but by the example and content behind the name. This is why it is so important to chose a good name. All the money in the world cannot buy you a great character/witness. It is something that must be earned and worked at. So today, you have a choice, good name or bad name?...Selah

The Process

The process

“When I can’t see His hands, I can trust His heart”-unknown

For those of us who are really and truly seeking after the Lord seem to find ourselves from time to time in “the process”. It’s a time of purification and growth, of sowing and reaping, and of dying to flesh. When you find yourself in the midst of a process, it can be really hard and trying. However, upon realizing that you are actually in a “process”, it can take the pressure off. You realize that you are in the middle of God’s plan. It seems that He is only working in a small way, but in the long run you start looking back and you can’t help but stand in awe of what He’s done. I can look over my past and see the many times where I wondered if God was even there, and see how He was there and that He was setting me up for something even greater.

While I was in Cleveland, TN finishing school, I experienced God like I never have before in my life. I felt freedom, real freedom for the first time in my life. I also began to mature spiritually and learn how to function in a true community of believers. I learned how to love a city and pray for revival to come to it. The funny thing was, the revival had already begun in us. I felt like I was finally coming out of a process. I also learned how to start a process in Cleveland,. The Lord began to teach me to dig holes, meaning to sow prayer in a dry land. But, that wasn’t the end of my process.

I find myself yet again learning about the process. Fast forward three years later and I find myself at what would seem to be back at the beginning. After many attempts at finding a job in Cleveland, I moved back home. It was a very difficult move, but I trust that it was the Lord’s will. I felt like He needed me to come out from the comfort of my community of believers, so that I could learn to stand on my own as a leader. It was the whole mother bird pushes baby bird out of the nest and baby bird flies, cycle of life. Trust me; I left a piece of my heart in Cleveland. But, I know His ways are always higher than mine and I’m seeing that more and more. Through this phase of the process, I’ve definitely learned to give up my dreams and to pursue His.

For me, this process has been extremely difficult, but it’s the part that’s producing the most fruit. I believe I’m now learning to plant seeds. I’ve learned so much about ministry in the time I’ve been back. I’ve been given so many opportunities to plant seeds; from leading worship, teaching drama, teaching discipleship, and so much more. I love it!

You know when I think of process, I think of a puzzle. You see each individual piece: They are misshapen, multi-colored, and unrecognizable. But, as the pieces come together they turn into a work of art and the picture begins to make sense. So many times during the process we look at the puzzle piece and try to understand it, when the Lord is saying trust me, just wait to see the whole picture.

A danger of being in the process is simply becoming stale. It’s the concept of not blooming where you are planted. If you’re not growing you’re dying. When you are going through the process, it’s up to you to make the best of the situation. God doesn’t want us sitting around trying to think of ways to get out of the process or passing the days until it’s over. He wants us to embrace it, to bravely stand with our face towards the wind, willing to make the best of whatever is handed to us.

I’m not saying I’ve completely learned to do this, but I feel as though I am at a place where I’m learning. I know where I am is not where I want to be, but I know I have to go through the process. I’m making the best of where I am. I’m learning, growing changing, and most importantly embracing the process. It’s when we are most surrendered to Him during the process, that He is most able to use us.

I pray that you find hope and encouragement during your own process. Know that you are not alone. And most importantly know that He is worth it and He is with you.

/…………………………………………………………………………………………….

Here are some verses to meditate on:

More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

—Romans 5:3-5

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

—Romans 12:12

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

—James 5:7-8

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

—James 1:2-4

God likes me?!?! He really really likes me?!?!?

The other day while flipping channels, I happened to catch an interview with Michael W. Smith. While, I'm not really a big fan I decided to watch it. I've seen Michael lead worship at The Call and was actually impressed. He's done some amazing stuff, but I just don't care for his vocals. (I'm not trying to hate!:)) Anyways, As I watched his interview something he said really moved me. He said," The biggest thing that changed my life was realizing not only that God loves me, but that he really really likes me"! I hope I quoted that right. It really hit home. It sometimes seems easier to believe God loves us than to believe He likes us. We always think of God's love as though He only loves us because He has to. It's kinda like with family, there is no choice, they are required to love us. But with friends, it's a different story. They choose to like us, as is. They choose to stay around because they like who we are. It made me think of how big God really is. How deep, how wide, and how high is God's love for me! (Ephesians3:18) He not only loves me because He has to, but because He chooses to love me. How great is that? I know He doesn't love the sin in me, but He loves me just as I am: The real me that I'm sometimes afraid to show. So when you feel like you're alone or that no one really cares and understands you remember God does. He not only unconditionally and unfailingly loves you, but He also likes you. HE really does want to spend time with you just because He really likes being around you!!!

Kill, Steal, and Destroy.

Kill, Steal, & Destroy…..

John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

Yes we all know that familiar verse, but do we really know how it applies to our life? The Lord wants to help us to learn strategies from the Word on how to combat the enemy’s attacks. God has supplied us with a sword, but it’s up to us to practice and then actually use it.

2Timothy 2:15: Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

All that being said, let’s dive into some deep waters.
So, what does it mean to kill, steal, and destroy? I’m going to talk about three specific things that the enemy tries to kill, steal, and destroy.


To KILL, according to dictionary.com, means: to deprive life in any manner, to destroy, do away with, neutralize, muffle, or deaden.

1) The enemy wants to KILL your PURPOSE.

What is purpose? You ask. Your purpose is the very reason you were put on this earth. It is the plan that the Lord has designed for you that will bring glory to Him. And, yes, the enemy is out there to kill it. The enemy is going to try everything in his power to get you to neglect and turn away from your purpose. He wants to get you to neglect your purpose by allowing things in your life to become distractions. He will also get you to turn away from your purpose. He will speak lies and say you have no purpose: that your life is useless. So, how do we as Christians combat this attack? First we must keep our eyes on Jesus at all times. This will help keep us from being distracted. Second, we must silence the lies of the enemy. We do this by studying and learning the Word. And of course if we start to fall, we repent and turn from our ways.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.


To STEAL, according to dictionary.com, means: to take without permission, to gain or seize, or to appropriate without right or acknowledgement.

2) The enemy wants to STEAL your Worship.

How arrogant the enemy can be. He would like nothing more than to steal your worship, which would bring glory to him. He wants you to be so distracted, depressed, and selfish that you can’t worship God. Worshipping God is what we were created to do. Everything we do and are should bring glory to God. The enemy is so jealous, that he does everything in his power to steal your worship. So, how can we combat him? We have to maintain a lifestyle of worship. It’s a mindset that we have to constantly keep up. This can be done in many different forms: through prayer, scripture, meditation, or musical worship. When you constantly have your mind focused on God, it’s very hard for the enemy to distract you. It’s also important to live a life of repentance, since sin is what separates us from God.

Isaiah 50:7: Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame

Matthew 4:10b: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only

To DESTROY, according to dictionary.com, means: to reduce, to put an end to , to kill, to render ineffective or useless, or to defeat completely.

3) The enemy wants to DESTROY your MARRIAGE.

Yes I said marriage. This applies to single and married people. Marriage is a reflection of who God is. It has been part of His plan from before there was time. He so elegantly uses marriage as a symbol for the church and Christ. So, what better way for the enemy to attack than to try to destroy this biblical principle. For married couples, this is simple. The enemy wants to put a wedge between you and your spouse. He tries various ways to disturb it’s foundation. Whether it be through, physical or emotional affairs, pornography, or even simple life stuff. Any of these can create distractions, pain, hurt, and resentment. So, as Christians, we must be on guard. As a married couple, you need to make sure you both as individuals are maintaining you relationship with God. This is number one. Second, you need to pray together and seek the Lord together. Thirdly, you need to familiarize yourself with what the enemy looks like. And lastly, forgiveness and love go along way, just ask Jesus. For singles, yes the enemy wants to destroy your marriage even before it begins. He wants there to be sexual confusion, perversion, and sex outside of marriage. He wants you to deal with homosexual feelings, to look at pornography, and to have sex before marriage. He flat out wants you to struggle in all of these areas. Therefore, we as single Christians, have to constantly guard ourselves and to maintain a lifestyle of purity. A lifestyle of purity means being pure in our heart, head, eyes, mouth, and hands.; It’s pure in our love, in what we think, what we see, what we say, and what we touch or do. We also, need to be aware that if we do make mistakes, Jesus is there waiting for us to come back to Him so he can restore us.

Psalm 51:10-17: .Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. .Restore to me the joy of Your salvation And sustain me with a willing spirit. .Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners will be converted to You. Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the God of my salvation; Then my tongue will joyfully sing of Your righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, That my mouth may declare Your praise. For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit ; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

I hope you have been encouraged. It is important that we as Christians recognize the plans of the enemy and take action against him. However, do not let that distract you from worshipping and loving the One who first loved us. Keep focused on Him and fall more in love with Him everyday and you’ll find that you are less and less distracted by the enemy. Memorize scripture: It is the “Sword of the Spirit” and “sharper than any two edged sword. It will protect you from the enemy’s lies. Never give up and always allow the Holy Spirit to correct you. And remember God is a holy God who deserves nothing less than holiness from His people. HE IS WORTHY!

Dear Blog

Dear Blog,

It's been a while since we've seen each other. I'm sorry I've neglected you! But, don't worry I've been working on a new blog. It's just not finished yet. These things take time you know. I promise to do better, to try to fill your pages with amazing writings that woo any reader. I may even add some old posts, who knows. So, my dearest blog, be patient for we shall soon meet again.

Your's dearest,
Fingers to keyboard

Response

The following is a question from a friends blog and then my response. Just thought it was interesting and worth sharing!

"Here is the question I pose to you: Why is it that we continue to have faith in God and continue to believe that this Jesus-walk we have is real? What keeps your faith moving forward and what keeps that heart of yours ticking and bubbling up with Joy when you hear the awesome name of Jesus? What an incredible journey we can be on once we get the answers to these things... because im sure there is a sinner sitting in the same ditch you used to sit in who is crying out for someone to share this same simple revelation to him."-PINFLOW blog http://pinflow.blogspot.com/


My Response

"I was dead 'til you became my life. I couldn't see it 'til you became my eyes."-Bethany Dillon

It's a death and life thing for me. There can be no life without death. And there can be no death without life. I can't know christ, who is life, until I know death, which is dying to self. And the same goes I can't know death, death to flesh, until I have known life, which is christ. For me, I have continued to realize that there is no life without christ.That there is no turning back to the old me. The old me is dead and gone. I keep tasting and seeing that the Lord is good and that is what keeps me hanging on. I believe that it's those that have been truly awakened to the real God who perserve until the end. It's almost an unexplainable feeling why I can't quit. It's the Holy Spirit inside of me that won't let me quit, that keeps this hunger burning and burning. And even when I feel doubt, the Holy Spirit whispers to me and I feel awakened again.

Yes another blog about the election!.

Well can I just say I am tired of politics. I think we have all "beat" this "dead horse". I have tried my best to not waste time writing a blog about it, but here I find myself needing to vent. I have been very surprised at Christians's reactions to the election. Just know I'm not taking either side. Some christians are freaking out like it's the end of the world. To me, it only gives me more hope and trust in God. I'm not bound by our system and Jesus is my only savior!
I just believe that God is going to change our president's heart on the issues that are against what our Bible teaches. God has been known to take what seemed to be meant for evil and turn it into something good. I don't know about you but that's the God I serve. Anyways, I Found this m article on crosswalk. com ...yes it's about the election!...haha I hope we as the church will begin to walk in love,pray, shake off this fear, and fight for the issues that are important. I know that I serve a big God who is more than capable of changing hearts.....Oh yeah and prayer really does change things!....Let's quit trying to debate what person was God's will....that is now the past....let us now look to the future and position ourselves in God's will and pray for our leaders!


America Has Chosen a President
Albert MohlerPresident, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
http://www.%20crosswalk.%20com/news/commentary/11594622/
November 5, 2008

The election of Sen. Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States came as a bang, not a whimper. The tremors had been perceptible for days, maybe even weeks. On Tuesday, America experienced nothing less than a political and cultural earthquake.The margin of victory for the Democratic ticket was clear. Americans voted in record numbers and with tangible enthusiasm. By the end of the day, it was clear that Barack Obama would be elected with a majority of the popular vote and a near landslide in the Electoral College.

When President-Elect Obama greeted the throngs of his supporters in Chicago's Grant Park, he basked in the glory of electoral energy.For many of us, the end of the night brought disappointment. In this case, the disappointment is compounded by the sense that the issues that did not allow us to support Sen. Obama are matters of life and death -- not just political issues of heated debate. Furthermore, the margin of victory and sense of a shift in the political landscape point to greater disappointments ahead. We all knew that so much was at stake.

For others, the night was magical and momentous. Young and old cried tears of amazement and victory as America elected its first African-American President -- and elected him overwhelmingly. Just forty years after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, an African-American stood to claim victory as President-Elect of the nation. As Sen. Obama assured the crowd in Chicago and the watching nation, "We will get there. We will get there." No one hearing those words could fail to hear the refrain of plaintive words spoken in Memphis four decades ago. President-Elect Obama would stand upon the mountaintop that Dr. King had foreseen.That victory is a hallmark moment in history for all Americans -- not just for those who voted for Sen. Obama. As a nation, we will never think of ourselves the same way again. Americans rich and poor, black and white, old and young, will look to an African-American man and know him as President of the United States. The President. The only President. The elected President. Our President.Every American should be moved by the sight of young African-Americans who -- for the first time -- now believe that they have a purchase in American democracy. Old men and old women, grandsons and granddaughters of slaves and slaveholders, will look to an African-American as President.

Regardless of politics, could anyone remain unmoved by the sight of Jesse Jackson crying alone amidst the crowd in Chicago? This dimension of Election Day transcends politics and touches the heart of the American people.Yet, the issues and the politics remain. Given the scale of the Democratic victory, the political landscape will be completely reshaped. The fight for the dignity and sanctity of unborn human beings has been set back by a great loss, and by the election of a President who has announced his intention to sign the Freedom of Choice Act into law. The struggle to protect marriage against its destruction by redefinition is now complicated by the election of a President who has declared his aim to repeal the Defense of Marriage Act.

On issue after issue, we face a longer, harder, and more protracted struggle than ever before.Still, we must press on as advocates for the unborn, for the elderly, for the infirm, and for the vulnerable. We must redouble our efforts to defend marriage and the integrity of the family. We must be vigilant to protect religious liberty and the freedom of the pulpit. We face awesome battles ahead.At the same time, we must be honest and recognize that the political maps are being redrawn before our eyes. Will the Republican Party decide that conservative Christians are just too troublesome for the party and see the pro-life movement as a liability? There is the real danger that the Republicans, stung by this defeat, will adopt a libertarian approach to divisive moral issues and show conservative Christians the door.Others will declare these struggles over, arguing that the election of Sen. Obama means that Americans in general -- and many younger Evangelicals in particular -- are ready to "move on" to other issues. This is no time for surrender or the abandonment of our core principles. We face a much harder struggle ahead, but we have no right to abandon the struggle.We should look for opportunities to work with the new President and his administration where we can. We must hope that he will lead and govern as the bridge-builder he claimed to be in his campaign.

We must confront and oppose the Obama administration where conscience demands, but work together where conscience allows.Evangelical Christians face another challenge with the election of Sen. Obama, and a failure to rise to this challenge will bring disrepute upon the Gospel, as well as upon ourselves.

There must be absolutely no denial of the legitimacy of President-Elect Obama's election and no failure to accord this new President the respect and honor due to anyone elected to that high office. Failure in this responsibility is disobedience to a clear biblical command.Beyond this, we must commit ourselves to pray for this new President, for his wife and family, for his administration, and for the nation. We are commanded to pray for rulers, and this new President faces challenges that are not only daunting but potentially disastrous. May God grant him wisdom. He and his family will face new challenges and the pressures of this office. May God protect them, give them joy in their family life, and hold them close together.We must pray that God will protect this nation even as the new President settles into his role as Commander in Chief, and that God will grant peace as he leads the nation through times of trial and international conflict and tension.We must pray that God would change President-Elect Obama's mind and heart on issues of our crucial concern. May God change his heart and open his eyes to see abortion as the murder of the innocent unborn, to see marriage as an institution to be defended, and to see a host of issues in a new light. We must pray this from this day until the day he leaves office. God is sovereign, after all.

Without doubt, we face hard days ahead. Realistically, we must expect to be frustrated and disappointed. We may find ourselves to be defeated and discouraged. We must keep ever in mind that it is God who raises up nations and pulls them down, and who judges both nations and rulers. We must not act or think as unbelievers, or as those who do not trust God.America has chosen a President. President-Elect Barack Obama is that choice, and he faces a breathtaking array of challenges and choices in days ahead. This is the time for Christians to begin praying in earnest for our new President. There is no time to lose.