His Words Are Spirit and Life

I have to admit that during this past year of my life, from June 09 to May 10, I allowed my spiritual journey to dwindle. I stopped paying attention to the Father and what he wanted out of my life. But this time did show me something important:
That He loves us so much that he was willing to go to great lengths to regain my attention.
Nothing just happens.
Believe that.

He strategically placed certain people in my life to show me that
 I need him, and that he wants a relationship with me. You might be thinking that what's so special about me that would cause the One True God to want to have a relationship with me?
Nothing, or maybe Everything.
I'm His child and I know that He Loves me. If I don't know anything else I can say that He loves me.
I was reading my bible this morning and I stumbled across this scripture:

Psalm 103: 8-12

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
He will not always chide
Nor will he keep his anger forever
He does not deal with us according to our sin
Nor repay us according to our iniquities
For as far as the heavens are above the earth
so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him
As far as the east is from the west
so far does he remove his transgressions from us

I'm working on memorizing it because this is something that I will need to hear from time to time.

I love this song.
Take a listen and let it soothe your soul....



He Wants It All T'day!!
AJ

Relationship 101: How do you know when it's love?

Love is a word that's so over used that it almost seems cliche'. Maybe that statement would be valid if I didn't believe that God is, was, and will always be synonymous with it.
1 John 4:8 clearly states that God is love, and if you don't love then you can't possibly claim to know him. But how is this unconditional love applied to romantic relationships? Isn't it our right to choose with whom we "fall in love".
Is "falling in love" even a real concept?

These are questions that I'm forced to grapple with, while in my current life state.

So when do you know when you love him or her?
Do you get butterflies every time they walk into the room?
Does their touch make your body quiver?Or is it the fact that you keep coming back to each other despite the quarrels, and disagreements? In spite of the frequent tension maybe you've realized that you would rather fight with them, than have quiet with out them.
Is it those moments where time seems to stand still when you hold each other?
And at some point during all of this turmoil you believe that one day you might want to start a family with him or her.
Will you fight for them? Or maybe even give your life so that they wouldn't have to feel an ounce of pain or suffering?

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.John 15:13

Fall Hard
Dive Deep
Submerse yourself in their love

AJ

Find your Love

Television is of the Devil

Catchy title huh? No I don't think that television is of the Devil, I do think, however, that he uses it as a tool to support his purpose on this earth; and that is...drum roll please: To steal, kill, and destroy us John 10:10. Think about it. You can find anything thing from pornography, to killing, music videos, the news and more. (Television can be a powerful tool for ministry as well but that's not the purpose of this post.) What does he steal? You may ask. Our hope. When you turn on the news and all it talks about is the failing economy and crashing stock market, you might feel like your life is hopeless. What does he kill? Our lives. When I say life I mean in a spiritual sense; life is associated with being connected with God, but sin interrupts our communication with God. Death is disconnection from God caused by committing sin. I can't cut on the TV without seeing something that could hinder my walk and cause me to sin, so I immediately turn it off or change the channel. I think that to be a successful believer and have a healthy relationship with God, we have to severely limit the amount of television that we watch. When God speaks it is in a still small voice and he speaks not to our ears but to our hearts, but if we are constantly distracted by the television and things around us, we will never hear him. Take last night for example. I stayed up all night watching The Game re-runs, when I clearly had not spent any quality time with God all day. I ignored the voice of the spirit telling me to cut the TV and computer off and just listen and talk to my father. It is little things like this that will ultimately hinder how far we will grow in Christ. John 3:16, a scripture widely quoted says that God sent his son Jesus to die so that we might be able to have a relationship with Him. All God wants is to have a relationship with us; to talk to us and to fellowship with us. We also have to be careful of the things that we pour into our spirits. We have to be so mindful of what we watch. "I will not look with approval on anything that is vile" Psalm 101:3.



AJ

Who Can I Run to When I need LOVE?

I was listening to this song as I wrote, and He gave me peace. But the song I was originally thinking of was "Who Can I Run To" by Xscape. I think the whole premise behind the song was not having a reliable man by your side to hold you and comfort you. Well ladies if you want a man to fill that void then you will be left dissappointed everytime because no one can fill the void that he has placed in us.

In My Name - Rev. Milton Brunson & The Thompson Community Singers
"In My Name' - Rev. Milton Brunson.
Who can I run to when I'm all alone? Who will comfort me when my tears stain the pillow and I feel like I'm all by myself?
"When my father and mother forsake me then the Lord will take me up...Teach me thy way oh Lord and lead me on a plain path because of mine enemies". Nobody but the Lord can keep us warm at night when we are by ourselves. There have been plenty of times when I was weak but the strength of God brought me through. Each day when I am brought low by my circumstances, God is the One to pick me up and make me feel like everything is going to be alright. Each day I'm blessed to walk on this earth, the Lord is showing me that He is all I need; that I don't need a man to be my strength and to hold me. Because no one can hold me like He can. I'm expecting this love relationship to grow more and more each day. One thing I have learned to say is "Jesus I need you"; because I know that I couldn't make it on my own. I'd make too many mistakes, so He knows I can't be trusted to navigate this life of mines with out Him.
Give it ALL to Jesus
AJ

Could You Really Say Yes..to God?

After years of hearing this song over and over again. We finally get to see the face behind the music. This woman's voice is completely and utterly anointed! Praise God. But more importantly than the voice or melody is the message she is belting out! Will your heart and soul say yes to the Lord when he tells you what following Him will really cost you. It's going to cost friends, family members and strangers looking at you like you might be crazy. You will have to give up sleep, and TV, and just the generally comforts that you normally would take for granted. I have to admit that truly following God is not easy. I absolutely love to watch movies. I pretty much hate to watch television because commercials bite and the programming is horrible. But give me a good movie and I am straight. Well lately I have been reading about how important it is to regulate what we pour into our spirits via TV and music. This cut me deep because it meant that I was going to have to strictly regulate what I watch. Right now I am single and I don't need to watch things that have sex sense, and kissing in them. That really reduces what I can watch because romantic scenes are everywhere. Because I seeking to hear his voice right now, I can't watch any TV at all! And don't even get me started on fasting. I really enjoy food and I know that turning down my plate is apart of crucifying my flesh. But I'm working on it, and in the end I know it will be worth it to hear well done! Well what about right now, you might ask. My right now will severely be enriched because one day I will be lucky enough to hear the voice of God himself! I think that what turns people off from following Christ and truly surrendering to Him is that they are constantly thinking about what they are going to lose. But look at what you have to gain. I hope to get to the place where I am completely and totally living from my heart, and I'm not talking about spontaneity. I'm talking about hearing from God on a day to day minute to minute basis. Walking in health and peace, love and prosperity.


Watch and be moved!

Using Common Sense while interpreting the Bible

Could someone please tell me where in my God's holy Word, does it say use common sense? It has been my experience that the Word of God is not meant to be taken in a literal sense. His word is not meant for the brain, but for the heart. Andrew Womack, author and pastor, wrote "God's word touches your heart. Some people struggle with the Word because they're trying to understand it with their brain. But God's word is written to your heart. If you'll read it with your heart, you'll have understanding. If you just try to pick it apart with your brain, you'll mess up and miss things". His words are so profound. So that brings me back to the common sense part. Why do people say you must have common sense when reading the bible? I mean the man just said that God's word is written to the heart and not the brain so why would someone try to apply earthly knowledge to his Word. You simply can't. Habakkuk 2:4 says that "the righteous shall live by faith." Period. It does not say that only live some days by faith but in difficult situations you have to turn to earthly means of getting you out of trouble. Or when God's Word says that "All things are possible to him that believeth." When you read it are we only supposed to think that this applies to certain situations but not all. Surely, it doesn't apply to raising the dead or walking on water. ALL THINGS! That is what I believe. I have learned to take God at his Word; if he says it in this word then he means it. His Word will not return unto Him void, Isaiah 55:11.
Today, one of my family members informed me that you need humans to help you with IRS problems! WHAT?! You mean to tell me that Almighty God is not big enough to help you with your tax evasion issues? No! God can do all things. Sure he may use a human being to deliver the relief that He sent. But he doesn't need them to fix our problems. That's his job. His strength is made perfect in our weakness!

Living Like I'm Heaven Bound

So I'm a Christian. I don't like to say that (not because I'm embarrassed of my Jesus because I'm not). It's because so many people make claims to know Jesus but they don't actually have a walk with Christ, they sort of have this idea that he MAYBE exists. What I mean to say is when people talk about Christianity and organized religion, I think there is a very big misconception. My Bishop calls it lip-service and no action. My biggest fear is that I will not represent Christ in the right way. This goes beyond my outward actions. What I am talking about is my thoughts, you know, the way I judge people who aren't quite reaching the bar, or the way I watch this hot guy whose walking down the street. Do I lust after him. I don't know what I trying to say, really. I want my heart be right. My bishop, and other established Christians, always talk about Heaven. They dream about it, fantasize, try to fathom what it would will look like when they go and meet the Lord. But I don't, I guess that's because I know that you won't be able to enter the kingdom unless you are without spot or wrinkle. Jesus help me to be without spot or wrinkle! Please clean me up on the inside and wash me on the outside. Deliver me from my thoughts and give me a humble spirit!

I ToOK My LUVe For Granted

I took my love for granted. I took my God for granted; I did not appreciate my Jesus. This summer has been interesting..I had the most awesome semester at school. Upon arrive God blessed me to be surrounded by wonderful young christian men and women. Accountability was soo key!!! Its hard to slack on God at school because there are so many people rooting for you and supporting your walk with Christ. But once the semester ends..YOU'RE ON YOUR OWN!! And truthfully; I haven't been taking care of my responsibilities. I haven't been reading my word as faithfully, or praying. I know that's a recipe for disaster!!! But tonight at bible study my bishop taught us about taking responsibility for our lives and our walks. So today-tonight I made a vow, to myself that I have to make a serious effort to better my relationship with Jesus. Because the reality of it is that he gave his life for me, and I have to give my life for Him. I think that we as Christians just assume that we are going to wake up in the morning, or be around in five years. Human beings make plans but in the end God has the final say. We EXPECT God to protect us, keep us sane, and keep us healthy. What would happen if he suddenly snatched His grace from us??? In hell would we lift our eyes???

Be Blessed