Do you bring Him Glory?

All things belong to Him.... My brothers and sisters, those of you that claim Him as Savior, do these words ring out to you? That in all things we are to bring Him glory. Do you spend each day determining in every moment to bring God glory. Sometimes we falter but He is always waiting, waiting to restore us. Where can you go, that God is not there? No, where! What can you do that God does not know? Nothing! What can you say that God cannot hear! Nothing.... He knows all!
When I was a little girl, my father was such a disciplinarian that when my sister and I did something that we were not supposed to do, everyone would say, wait till your dad comes, I am going to tell him. Remember, a few days ago, I spoke about fear. Well, can I tell you that filled me with fear. And you know what that fear produced? Lies... Somehow it was not translated that daddy brought love, even though I knew he loved us, I only saw discipline and do I bring afraid would lie and can I tell you, it did not make the situation better. I remember hearing the clink of the belt buckle as it hit the metal rod in the closet..... Oh my!  I was crying before he even returned!!
My relationship with God is not like that! I realized that I do not have to lie to Him, to others about anything... You see He orders our steps. He is God! So I strive to bring Him glory. His love transcends anything and everything. He is everything, creator, sustainer, deliverer, Father! Our desire should be to bring Him glory in all that we do!

Scandal.........Gossip, Talebearers, Slanderers, Secrets

One of the most successful shows on television today is SCANDAL......Think about it!! Most successful.

 

 

Have you ever been hurt, when you found out people you love and who claim to love you, have been talking about you, when you are not around. Sharing your supposed wrong doing ( and I say supposed because they almost never come to you to ask about it); your actions, even your motives for doing something. Thoughts are made up by those in the presence of that conversation and you are judged by those things.

 I have!!

 And I know you have been to?

 And I have also been guilty?

 But realizing when I am on the receiving end of it, how I feel destroyed by knowing this, I have sought, and asked God to help me to not practice in theses types of conversations. Speculations about someone's motives, actions or thoughts!! This one is hard, because our human nature does not want to examine ourselves, our faults; we want to murder another person because we believe that we are better, or we don't do that, have not done that! My flaws are not so noticeable, but man what they do? 

 

Here are some :Step to be sure you are not involved in gossip:

Do not associate yourself with one who is a known gossip

When someone starts to gossip — change the subject

If you are not part of the problem or part of the solution, stay out of it

If you have fallen into the bad habit of gossiping — ask God to change your heart

When you have been the victim of gossip — confront the parties that spread the rumor

 

Finally here are some bible verses that speaks about this: 

Leviticus 19:16 You shall not go around as a slanderer among your people, and you shall not stand up against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD.

Proverbs 11:13 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy in spirit keeps a thing covered.

Proverbs 20:19 Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler.

Proverbs 26:20-22 For lack of wood the fire goes out, and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases.  As charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, so is a quarrelsome man for kindling strife. The words of a whisperer are like delicious morsels; they go down into the inner parts of the body.

Jeremiah 6:28 They are all stubbornly rebellious, going about with slanders; they are bronze and iron;  all of them act corruptly.

Jeremiah 9:4 Let everyone beware of his neighbor, and put no trust in any brother, or every brother is a deceiver, and every neighbor goes about as a slanderer. 

Deceit, Backbiting, Busybodies, Malicious Gossips & Whisperers

Psalms 41:7 All who hate me whisper together about me; they imagine the worst for me.

Proverbs 25:23 The north wind brings forth rain, and a backbiting tongue, angry looks.

Romans 1:28-32 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.

2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish—that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder.

1 Timothy 3:9-11 Deacons likewise must be dignified, not double-tongued, not addicted to much wine, not greedy for dishonest gain. They must hold the mystery of the faith with a clear conscience. And let them also be tested first; then let them serve as deacons if they prove themselves blameless. Their wives likewise must be dignified, not slanderers, but sober-minded, faithful in all things.

1 Timothy 5:13-14 Besides that, they learn to be idlers, going about from house to house, and not only idlers, but also gossips and busybodies, saying what they should not. So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.

2 Timothy 3:1-5 But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people.

Titus 2:2-3 Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good,

Read more: http://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/gossip-bible-verses-15-helpful-quotes/#ixzz3mCAQfWi3

Changing the Default Settings

The Default Settings: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2

Pastor Rob – “all humans, babies are born and are hard wired with the default setting of sin! He reminded us do you have to teach children to say NO! – You have to teach them to say yes…

This default settings came because of the fall of man, because of Adam’s sin. Each of us and our children when we entered this world came with that default setting to do sinful things, things that go against God’s word, his glory. The sad thing is that most times we are so accepting of it and we feed it. As we feed it our children and we ourselves grow and we continue to say no to God’s way of doing things. We believe if we live a good moral life, that that’s ok; the reality is we can’t. The ugly always comes up. You see the ugly is easy, our default settings and our switches go there easily.

 You say wow! Never really thought about it, what can be done!

The bible in the New Testament tells us to renew our minds and not be conformed to this world.

Prayer: acknowledge who God is. That he is the “I AM” and accepting Him as your savior (you see we all need a Saviour) that He was born, died, buried and rose again and is in heaven. “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” ALL – of us need a Saviour

Teach: We are to teach our children who God is, what He has done, what He will do! "You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. "You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. "You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates….Deuteronomy 11:19-20

The bible says to “Train up a child in the way they should go and when they are old they will not depart” Our job is to train them, they may stray, you see the default settings that we all have, sometimes our switch gets stuck there for a minute but then the truth kicks in; if we have Jesus as our Saviour and we turn to Him, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

It’s easy to just accept the default settings, it’s really does not require such work; it’s already there and set up but this default setting can only bring death. Today is the acceptable time to change those settings.

Do You Really Love Me?

"So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Tend My lambs." He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep." He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?" Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You." Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.…" John 21:15-17

Jesus' conversation with Peter, about whether Peter loved him or not and then Jesus telling Peter what it would look like if He truly loved him. What it is he should be doing.

It is the same for us, Jesus says to us, Do you love me? and we say of course Lord, we love you. and He replies take care of my people.  Our actions must match our words. We go to a service or two on Sunday or Saturday and we sing praises to Him and then we leave and what? We go about our own business. When do we tend His sheep. Now, please understand this interchange was a confirmation of Peter's role in the church. He was being established as the "rock" on which Christ will built his church.

I think of the my relationship with my husband and we tell each other we love one another but if this is not backed up with some action then we begin to wonder, to falter in our belief of that love. Each night, when we are getting ready to turn in for the night, we would get water to put on our night tables. Many nights, I will go up and my glass is already poured, I did not ask him to do it, he just did. This may be small to some but, to me it shows he was thinking about me and was preempting my needs. His actions lined up with his words for me.

There are so many needs in our world, so many hurting, so many in need of a touch, of the truth of God's love and it is our place to "tend His sheep." This is not an easy mandate, but it was not meant to be. It is our job to obey His commands and to reach those that are lost!

Desire, Love, Intimacy - Relationship

As a wife, it has been hitting me more and more how much I love my husband. We are going into our twentieth year and I can truly say that our love has just grown more and more.

Reminder: Don't get me wrong, we are not perfect, our love did not begin in a perfect way but thanks to God,  "who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us". Thanks only to God who could take two unholy, unrighteous, needy, sinful beings and help us to be examples of his grace, his love; only to Him, our heavenly Father, be thanks given.



But, because of His work in us, our desire, love and intimacy has grown. I am not the same woman my husband met all those years ago and he is not the same, physically, emotionally etc. The first years of our marriage was so hard, we almost did not make it. We made so many mistakes and errors and we allowed pride and selfishness to rule and so we almost lost it. As a wife I tried to be a good wife but I was clueless, had no idea. I was wrestling my own demons, that I could not acknowledge or identify. My ability to love someone else was non-existent. Oh!, I thought I knew how to love but I did not.

You see, I had to come face to face with the one who is the creator of love. I cam face to face with him; after my last suicide attempt. I had been locked-up in the Rand Memorial Psych unit for my own protection. I came face to face with my Savior, my Lord. I had been given a tape player of verses by my then Pastor and one verse stood out to me in that horrify, crazy time. This verse reached out from that tape and grabbed me; "But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold"...I had felt that I was in a constant fire. I held on to that, that I could "come forth as gold" It was not a glamorous thought, I just did not want to live a tortured life anymore, and so I clung.

That clinging, has given gold in so many ways, it is unexplainable. My relationship with my husband is only one of those areas. Our love seems fresh and new but we have been together over 20 years. "The Mystery" Every day is new. Sometimes we can think about calling the other one and the other one calls, its crazy. We are in sync. We are not filled with as much pride anymore, we are not as selfish as we were, we seek to meet the other's needs. We allow God laws and words to define our movements, thoughts and actions. I am in awe.

This is our marriage, an earthly thing, something still imperfect but, there is something so much greater, something that allows us to experience this. The Father's Love - He desires love and intimacy with us ; a true relationship!

How deep the Father’s love for us,
How vast beyond all measure,
That He should give His only Son
To make a wretch His treasure.
 

Father Unknown

 

This may not be your reality but to some little girl or boy; this is how they see their birth record listed. Father: UNKNOWN...Let that really sink in for a while. Father: UNKNOWN

Ok, thought about it? Does it disturb you? Does it make you think? Does it propel you to action?

Why? why is the father unknown. Yes, I know there can be and are some situations where there has been violence, captivity, abuse; this post is not addressing those instances. We want to look at the situations where the two people made a decision to come together in a sexual connection. A delibrate act that ended in a pregnancy, a child.

Many times, these things happen in a vortex of hormones and no thought to tomorrow, next week, next month, next year. An act that takes a few minutes of intended pleasure and has serious consequences. Another person's life. How does a child feel where they see this record? What must they think of themselves? 

In this life we have allowed our feelings to control our actions. We do what makes us feel good for the moment without ever thinking about the consequences. This is not what God intended for us. He is the example of a Father. He created us for a purpose greater than the sum total of our feelings. If we can just get to know Him, trust Him and love Him then we would not have this; 'Father: UNKNOWN"

He is our Father, Abba Father. His word says before our parents decided to commit this act He knew, before you were formed in your mother's womb He knew you, He knows the number of head on your head.  Today you may be searching for that Father. He is here! He is waiting. He says if any will open the door I will enter. Also there is nothing that can separate you from His love. 

Today, you can fill that space on your birth certificate on your heart with: Jesus

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

My Child,

You may not know me,
but I know everything about you.
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up.
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways.
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered.
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image.
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring.
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived.
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation.
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake,
for all your days are written in my book.
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth
and where you would live.
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made.
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother's womb.
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born.
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented
by those who don't know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry,
but am the complete expression of love.
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you.
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child
and I am your Father.
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could.
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father.
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand.
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs.
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope.
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love.
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you.
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession.
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul.
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things.
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart,
you will find me.
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you
the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires.
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you
than you could possibly imagine.
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager.
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you
in all your troubles.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted,
I am close to you.
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb,
I have carried you close to my heart.
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away
every tear from your eyes.
Revelation 21:3-4

And I'll take away all the pain
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed.
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being.
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you,
not against you.
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression
of my love for you.
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love.
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus,
you receive me.
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I'll throw the biggest party
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father,
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child?
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you.
Luke 15:11-32

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

Multipliation and Love - What Do They Have In Common?

As I look at this title today, I am thinking about what happens when we multiply two numbers together, we get bigger numbers; the correlation is the same; when we love the way Jesus loved us numbers increase. In today's society we have seen and heard often of the generational gap, of how we are losing the young people. Could it be that we have missed the boat, we have not loved and taught the way we should.

In a message by Dr. Rex Major, last week at  Grace Community Church, he challenged the congregation to look outward. He said that everyone has become with themselves and the problem of SELF- IDOLATRY is permeating our society. Think about that in mathematical terms; 1x1=1.

In the scriptures we are told to love one another and more specifically to women that w are to teach the younger women.  i have said this before and will continue to say it; the world has no problem teaching the youths, so we can sit by and let their thoughts, ideas, morals and agendas win or we can join the war and fight for our people.

One example I will give; in the life of my daughter for instance, there came a time in our relationship where she needed to hear that other women believed the same way I was and so I deliberately set out to place other older women in her life, who could mentor her and help. I knew these women and knew their beliefs. We did life together, so there was a trust level in place. One such woman was Erin. Erin, whom I love you so much. We met in her mid-twenties when she and her new husband Zawadi moved into our neighborhood. We spent alot of time together.

I helped her out as a new wife, to navigate the home, a husband and work. She in turn poured into my daughter. they would have Saturday dates and Audra knew I trusted Erin and so she felt free to talk to her about things that were happening in her life. In later years, I would share with Audra how I wanted other older women to speak into her life. That relationship with Erin and Zawadi multiplied and grew to numbers still unknown.

Another is Keema, we met at a crisis pregnancy center. She and her husband Tom were about to have their fourth child and were new to the area. We cared and loved them as our family. Today, as we speak, my daughter is with them and their five children doing life and they have taken her in and mentoring her, and in turn she is loving their five children. Another example of the multiplication by love in action.

Look at your life and see if you can identify the examples of multiplication by love; I know of other peoples' stories but don't have permission to share them and so I shared mine. Their are people who need us to really out and touch them, to love them, to mentor them.
How many people are you mentoring today?  In the words of my spiritual father; Selah! Think and Act on these things