I signed up to Die.....This place is not my home

(updated blog from 2013)
Thi'sl a Christian artist wrote these words in his song I signed up to die: "I signed up to die. Death don't have a hold on me, So death don't put no fear in me. I don't think that you hearin' me I signed up to die. When I lay down on that bed I'm gon' open up my eyes and my Lord gon' be there. I signed up to die" 

This song challenges me every time I hear it.  I was blessed with the opportunity to speak at one of our 6pm services this month. The scripture I was asked to speak on was John 12:25 New King James Version "He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life."

I believe it is important to read scripture in context and understand what was going on in the culture at that time. To be a follower of Christ meant persecution, suffering, and often death.  The promise for their salvation was literally them losing their life. When Jesus asked His disciples were they willing to forsake all and follow Him, it REALLY meant forsake ALL and follow Him. When many converted to "The Way" it meant their families disowning them and many of them losing their natural inheritance.  

Today many turn to Christ because they feel it will make their lives better. For many, their faith in Christ is about gaining more than losing or letting go of anything or anyone.  I was thinking about this and I thought "Lord what did I sign up for? Why do I call you my Lord and Savior? Am I in this so you can do "great" things for me? Lord will I only stand for you and speak truth when everyone around me agrees with me?". I had to ask myself some hard questions. I came to a very hard conclusion too. I have some more surrendering and "hating" life in this world to do!!!

This reality shakes me because I also know the time is now to surrender ALL. The Lord is beginning to separate the "wheat" from the "tare" ( Matthew 3:12). It will be evident who stands for Jesus and his ways and who stands for worldliness. It will also be evident who is lukewarm. ( Revelation 3:15-19). Right now many are comfortable with serving Jesus because our "needs" are being supplied and no one is "head hunting" us, however we must discern the time and season we are in. We must discern what time and season we are entering into. There are parts of the world where the church is being persecuted but America has not seen this level of persecution yet (www.persecution.com).

Times of real trials, tribulations and persecution are coming to America. Times are approaching when the world will kill us for what we believe. Our businesses will be shut down for what we believe. Pastors will be arrested and charged for preaching against cultural norms. We will be placed in jail and be on trial for the things we believe. Who will stand during this time or who will back down? Who will go to jail for standing against the world's agenda? Who will look in the face of real opposition and STAND for HOLINESS AND TRUTH?

Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing some of your closest friends? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means alienation from your family? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means loss of your reputation? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing your job? Are you willing to follow Jesus if means going to the nations even in the midst of terrorism attacks? Are you willing to follow Jesus if it means losing life? Are you willing to rejoice because you know these things must come to past? Time will tell why we all signed up to be a follower of Christ Jesus.

Matthew 10:17-22 ”Behold I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.”

When I Grow Up!

When I was a child, the most important question was "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Thinking about it now it's funny; I always said a teacher. I went to college for business and communication because I was chasing the corporate job. Now 10 years later after graduating from college with a business degree and communication minor, I am a teacher in "real" life as an occupation and I teach as a ministry calling. I am 33 years old, but I still have some growing to do. In seeking this growth, I have a new answer to this question.  I want to be a "tree of righteousness". I want everything I do to come from being planted by the Lord. 

Isaiah 61:3 ".....they may be called trees of righteousness,The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

At the end of my life I want to be called righteous. I want the Lord to be glorified in the way I lived in front of the world and in secret.

In order to be a tree planted by the Lord there are some requirements: 

1- Watch who has my ear, my heart, and my company 

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Ps 1:1

 We have to watch where we are receiving counsel from. Ungodly means "denying or disobeying God; immoral or evil." I have heard some good advice from people who are not saved or people not living "fully committed" to Jesus Christ. If I want to be a tree planted by the Lord, I have to watch who I allow to speak into my life. The bible tells us to test the spirit and see if it lines up with biblical teachings. (1 John 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 5:20-21; 2 Corinthians 11:13-15) Scornful means showing contempt. Scornful people are condescending, disrespectful, insulting, prideful and act superior to everyone else. When I read this definition I had to first examine my own heart. I can not be a scornful person or keep company with scornful people. Do not be misled, it is true bad company corrupts good habits. Think about how influenced you are by the company you keep. Have you said something out of your normal vocabulary and thought "where did I get that from?" Have you been in the midst of conversation and someone says you sound like "XYZ"? We are naturally influenced by the people and the environment around us. That is why we must watch who we connect with and where we go. We can also be the influence. It's a two-way street. Just make sure you do not find yourself on the wrong path with the wrong person driving your emotions and decisions. (1 Corinthians 15:33) Watch your ears, guard your heart, and keep good company! 

2-  Delight in the Word and keep it before me at all times 

But delight in the law of the Lord, And in His law meditate day and night. Ps 1:2

To meditate on something means to think deeply about it; to ponder on it; or to focus your mind on it. We have to make sure the Word of God is the final authority in our life. I can not tell you how many times I have had the opportunity to do things that were permissible but not beneficial or constructive to my walk with Christ. (1 Corinthians 10:33) If you want to be planted by the Lord and called righteous, I think the One who is righteous and holy should determine what is beneficial for your Life. My measuring stick is the word of the Lord not what people tell me or what everyone is doing. We are told in 2 Peter to make our calling sure! (2 Peter 1:10) Have you ever heard some one say "work the word and the word will work for you?" Once we have received Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior we are saved. It is by Grace that we are saved not by works that we should boast in ourselves. (Ephesians 2:8-9) After we give our life to Jesus, we must be fruitful in our faith. 

2 Peter 1:5-9 "But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins."

We must keep working the word so that we can walk out our salvation. 

When we Watch our ears, heart & company and keep the Word of the Lord before us at all times, we will then be like a tree planted! 

He shall be like a tree planted  by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper. Ps 1:3

When I grow up I want to be a tree of righteousness. I want to be planted by Lord. I want be unmovable and unshaken by the world around me. I want to bear fruit that remains. I want my life to be a reflection of the heart of God. I want to hear him say Well done my GOOD and FAITHFUL SERVANT! For me it's not enough to be known as good person. I want to be a good and faithful servant of the Lord. 

What do you want to be when you grow up?

Keep Going!

"Refreshing coming and we need to expect the Lord to do a new thing." My sister gave me this word last week. The Father is so faithful! The word came last week but it for this week! 

Some of you may be feeling weary or just restless waiting on the Lord. I say to you keep waiting and do not grow weary in doing good! (Galatians 6:9) Keep running your race. Hebrews 10:36 reads “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of the God you may receive what is promised.”  I often pray for the gift of endurance. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trail, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love Him. (James 1:12)

Receive a second wind! Stand and fight against temptation! Stand and fight against fear! Stand and fight against your own selfish desires! Stand and fight for the will of the Lord! The Race is not to the swift or the battle to strong, nor does food come to the wise or wealth to the brilliant or favor to the learned; but time and chance happens to them all. (Ecclesiastes 9:11)

Life happens!!! Time and chance happens to all people. As long as we are on this earth and living in the flesh, everyday will not be perfect. The only perfect thing we can rely on is Jesus Christ. We must know our current suffering is not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.(Romans 8:18)   

Hold on and receive a second wind!  I pray you will be filled with the knowledge of the Father’s will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy . (Colossians 1:9-11) 

In the end we get God!

My mother-in-law always says that she is "living the vapor". Over the past two weeks this has been ringing in my heart. I have been awakened in the middle of the night by the thought of death and examining how I live day-to-day. The scripture that comes to mind is Matthew 16:26. "For what does a man profit, if he gains the whole world but loses his own soul? Or what will a man give as an exchange for his soul?"

I have quoted the first part of Matthew 16:26 many times. The real question is, "what have I given in exchange for my soul". I have been asking myself hard questions because in the end we will not take anything with us. As believers, we should be living to get God!

Are we living everyday knowing our life is just a vapor?

I understand more and more everyday Matthew 6: 25. “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?


Matthew 6:33-34 reads "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

How do we get to this reality? How do we stop worrying about temporary stuff? How do we really seek the Kingdom of God first, when there are so many things fighting for our affections? How do we not worry about tomorrow, when we have a three or five month vision? 

Matthew 6 breaks it down for us. 

1. Do what you do for God! 

When we reach out beyond ourselves without any recognition and without expecting anything in return, there is a blessing in it for us. The Father will reward us for what we do in secret. We tend to want more money, more friends, more platforms, etc. because we want to be seen as successful. We should be doing everything  we do for Christ. 

2. Go in the room, shut the door and pray. 
I just watched the movie War Room. It was a great movie and really reminded me about the power of seeking the Father in secret. We must have our own relationship with the Father! We learn how to seek the Kingdom by going in the room, closing the door and pressing into the place of prayer. The Father will show us what is important to Him. I strongly believe if we submit our plans and daily schedule to Him, we would not feel as overwhelmed. Prayer helps us to take it one day at a time. All we need is our "daily bread". 

3. Fast secretly
I love corporate fasting but there is great reward when we fast secretly. The Corporate fast is for a corporate breakthrough & vision. Our individual fast is for our personal growth in Christ. Fasting helps the flesh walk in self-control. I can confess this is something that I have struggled with. It is hard for me to fast consistently but when you train your flesh in secret to walk in self-control, it will be easy to walk in self-control when tempted openly. When I am fasting I can hear clearer and I can feel the presence of God throughout the day. I can also handle the cares of life better. So I encourage you and myself:) to fast. 

4. Give Out 
The more you give the more you receive! (Luke 6:38) You see how blessed you are when you are giving out to others around you. When you are selfish and self absorbed, you miss the goodness of the Lord all around you. 

5. Watch what has your attention because it has your heart. 
What you behold you will become. The company you keep will become who you are. What you have your eyes on will become your God. If you are looking to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of your faith, you will become more like Him. 

6. Know who your God is and serve Him alone. 
We have so many things in this world fighting for our heart, fighting for our thoughts, fighting for our gifts, fighting for our love and affection. We must know we serve Jesus Christ. He gave it all for us! In return He ask us to love Him with all our heart, mind, and soul. (Matthew 22:37). You can not love God and the world. We have to make a choice. 

Remember tomorrow is not promised. What are you doing with the vapor you have been given? For me, I do not want to be remembered for my material possessions. I do not want to be remembered for graduating high school, getting a college degree and pink being my favorite color. I want to be remembered for the way I loved the Father and the way I loved people. I want to be known for seeking first the Kingdom of God. What will you be remembered for? Keep in mind we are in the world but not of the world. 

Let's serve Jesus Christ with the end in mind! 

James 4:14(NKJV) "whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away."

My Response Matters

Have you ever been hurt, angry, fearful, rejected, or disappointed? Most of the time we focus on the emotions versus the will of the Lord.

Your response is what really matters to the Father. I am not saying the other person is not accountable for their actions but your heart position before God is determined by your response to them.  1 Corinthians 13:11 reminds us "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I responded like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me." This is an awesome scripture because it follows Paul telling us how to love. We say we love people all the time but in our immaturity we really fail the love test most of the time.

Some of the greatest blessings from God are the relationships He allows us to have. Many times the relationships closest to us are challenged by trials and tribulations. Of course this is obvious to some. A stranger can not hurt you like your spouse or children nor disappoint you like a friend. The truth is as long you are in relationships with humans, you will experience hurt, anger, fear, rejection, disappointment and much more.

The question is not who hurt you or what they did, it is more about how you react when it happens. As we grow, these are some suggestions:

1- Slow your roll
James 1:19-20 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God."

2-Watch your words
Ephesians 2:29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

3- Speak Truth in Love
Zechariah 8:16 "These are the things that you shall do: Speak the truth to one another; render in your gates judgments that are true and make for peace;

4- Protect your heart 
Zechariah 8:17 ^"do not devise evil in your hearts against one another, and love no false oath, for all these things I hate, declares the Lord.”

Proverbs 4:23 "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life"

5- Get it right the same day
Ephesians 4:26 "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,"

Some relationships are for a season but anger (a.k.a. offense) should not be the reason a relationship ends. In all times seek peace and it's okay to agree to disagree. Remember, it does not make someone your enemy because you have different views. Even when someone is your enemy the word of God is very clear. Do not repay evil with evil.

Romans 12:16- 21 "Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

Guard your heart! Your response matters!

Stamped Approved!

"Lord not my will but Your will be done!"
"Lord it is my desire to please You in every way!"
"Lord make me a vessel fit for Your purpose!"

Have you ever prayed any of these things? Almost every time I open my mouth to pray these words come out. As I was praying and reading this week, the Holy Spirit has really been ministering to me that the Lord knows who are His. Those who are His wear a stamp labeled 'Approved'".

My prayer this week from 2 Tim 2:19-25 Complete Jewish Version

• Lord let my life be built on a firm foundation. Know me by name and stamp me 'Approved'.  

2 Tim 2:19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words:

“The Lord knows his own,” and, “Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord
stand apart from wrongdoing.”

 

• Lord let me be a vessel of honor and not of dishonor. Give me the grace to keep myself free from defilement so I can be a worker honorable and ready for every kind of good work.

2 Tim 2:20-21 In a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. That is, some are meant for honorable use and some for dishonorable. ²¹ If a person keeps himself free of defilement by the latter, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work.

 

• Lord I choose to flee youthful lust and pursuits. I will choose to pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 

2 Tim 2:22 So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace. 

 

• Lord let me watch my words and stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies
• Teach me how to be kind,  & how to be a good teacher
• Lord it is hard on the flesh but teach me how to forgive quickly and not be resentful when I am mistreated
• Even when I find myself in conflict with a someone, teach me to be gentle in my correction.
• Father you sent your son to die for our sins, so we can be restored. Let me always walk in restoration with others.

2 Tim 2: 23-25 But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies — you know that they lead to fights, ²⁴ and a slave of the Lord shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and not resentful when mistreated. ²⁵ Also he should be gentle as he corrects his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the opportunity to turn from their sins, acquire full knowledge of the truth,

Let us all desire to be stamped approved by Father!

Seek the Lord NOW while He is NEAR!

All week I have been hearing "Will you seek me will ALL your heart, mind and soul?"

I want to encourage us to be seekers! Throughout scripture seeking the Lord is best described as setting your mind and heart on God. We must be INTENTIONAL about setting our mind and heart on Christ. We must focus on him. When we seek God with all of our heart, mind and soul our responses will change, our relationships will change, our ministry will change, everything about us will change. WHY, because we are living a God focused life.

What happens when we seek God intentionally?
1- We find Him: Jeremiah 29:13 "You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart"
2- Our needs are supplied: Matt 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you."
3- We learn the goodness of the Lord: Psalms 40:16 "But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!”'
4- When seeking is added to repentance, forgiveness and healing takes place: 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

The enemy of our soul knows the power we will have if we really started seeking the Lord. The devil is always trying to distract us with the cares of this world. We must make a conscience decision to seek the Lord.

John Piper founder and teacher of desiringGod.org and chancellor of Bethlehem College & Seminary said "The heavens are telling the glory of God. So we can seek him through that. He reveals himself in his word. So we can seek him through that. He shows himself to us in the evidences of grace in other people. So we can seek him through that. The seeking is the conscious effort to get through the natural means to God himself — to constantly set our minds toward God in all our experiences, to direct our minds and hearts toward him through the means of his revelation. This is what seeking God means."

What is crowding your heart and mind right now? What has your attention?  What controls your emotions? What controls the way you spend your finances and time? What is the driving force behind your daily decisions? Does God's opinion have any weight in our everyday lives? These are some of the many questions we all must ask ourselves. The answers to these questions are our measuring stick. The answers will help us to determine if we are seekers of God or not.

We must seek the Lord now while he can be found. The world has a lot of temporary pleasures that will attempt to momentarily satisfy us. The Lord is giving us an invitation to have pleasures forever more!

I encourage you to make a conscience decision to seek the Lord! Isaiah 55 reads: (NLT)

“Is anyone thirsty?
    Come and drink—
    even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
    it’s all free!
² Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
    Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
    You will enjoy the finest food.

³ “Come to me with your ears wide open.
    Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
    I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
⁴ See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
    I made him a leader among the nations.
⁵ You also will command nations you do not know,
    and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

⁶ Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
⁷ Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

⁸ “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
⁹ For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

¹⁰ “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry.
¹¹ It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it.
¹² You will live in joy and peace.
    The mountains and hills will burst into song,
    and the trees of the field will clap their hands!
¹³ Where once there were thorns, cypress trees will grow.
    Where nettles grew, myrtles will sprout up.
These events will bring great honor to the Lord’s name;
    they will be an everlasting sign of his power and love.”

Christians and Social Media

Over the weekend I have been thinking about social media platforms & maybe getting a Twitter account for GUTS. I know believers have been called to influence the Media. I also believe social media is one of the ways to spread the Gospel to all the world. One time I did a study on the seven spheres, also known as the seven mountains of influence in our culture. These seven mountains are business, government, media, arts & entertainment, education, the family and religion.

Social Media is one of the most influential platforms in our culture today. Because of this, we must stop using social media to help advance the "Kingdom of Self" and the Kingdom of Darkness.

In the culture today when a young black man is shot by a white police officer, before it hits the news it's viral on Twitter, Facebook & YouTube with millions of viewers. An artist in the entertainment world releases a new picture of  her butt in a G-string & the pictures hit instagram, Twitter, and YouTube with thousands of likes.

For the church, you post a scripture and you might get a couple of likes. You post a comment lashing out at some church  or a leader in the church & people are quick to comment. For many believers, you see a "Godly post" on Monday after Sunday's message but by Wednesday everything goes carnal.

How should we use social media? Should our social media be filled with pictures of our face? Should we spend more time reposting words of man or should it be the word of God? Should we spend more time trying to prove a point to someone or should we spend more time pointing people to Christ.

My sister said something so powerful to us last night. "It's not social media that is bad, it's the people on social media that is bad." I believe that we have been called to influence social media. With that being said, if we are going to be on any social media platform our voice must sound different.

God communicated to His people through many different ways. I believe social media is an avenue we can use to reach millions of people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. What does it look like for a believer to use social media to advance the Gospel? I do not have a cookie cutter explanation but the Word of God speaks for itself.

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, “Your God reigns!” (Is 52:7)

 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound; (Is 61:1)

 

We can influence social media if we:

1- Bring the Good News of Jesus Christ

2- Proclaim peace

3- Preach good tiding of good things

4- Proclaim salvation

 

If we use social media the right way:

1- It will Heal the broken hearted

2- It will proclaim liberty to the captives

3- It will open the prison to those who are bound

 

Still not sure how to move forward with social media platforms. I just want to make sure GUTS advances God's agenda not my own. Whatever platform I use, I want people to be healed, liberated and set free. I pray we all have this heart. If you are a blogger, a stylist, a rapper, a minister,  a spoken word artist, a music producer, a missionary or no title at all, your voice (pictures, post, status) must represent the one you serve! It is not a platform to call people out because you disagree with their status or post. It is not a platform to fuss out your co-worker, sister, bother, children, or parents.

 

I have to be careful even when I blog. Every Good idea or opinion may not be God's opinion. It took me one hour to write this blog because I have some strong personal convictions about Facebook but those opinions are rubbish.

 

What is important? What are you using your media platform to do? Are you willing to STAND OUT? Are your words (pictures) Healing people? Are your words (pictures) bringing peace? Are your words (pictures) setting people free? 

 

The Father is trusting us with influence, let's use it wisely!!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Responding to His Love!

On the Sunday the worship team was singing and the anointing of the Lord  began to move through the room. They began to sing about how holy, good, faithful, and righteous God is. As they ended the verse "Glory to righteous one" the worship leader then began to sing "I surrender all....all to you my savior... I surrender all!"

Every since Sunday I have been saying "Surrender should be my response to His Love."

Col 1:21-22 And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your MIND by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight—

Reconciliation is the act of restoring a friendly relationship or t

he action of making one view or belief compatible with another.

  Jesus restored our friendship with the Father. God sent His son to live a sinless life, to do the work of the Father in the earth, to be persecuted for our transgressions, to die and to rise again so we can now have the mind of Christ. (Phil 2:5)
It was all because He loved us! The reality is, Jesus loved you even when you did not love yourself. In your MIND, because of sin, you may have thought he did not love you. The truth is, His Love for us outweighs our sins!

Rom 8:38-39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from THE LOVE OF GOD which is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Because of sin and futile living we became alienated from Christ in our Mind.  But never forget HE LOVES YOU! When you keep this reality in your mind, you will respond differently to temptations and trials. The reality of this Love will cause sin to loose power over you. 

Col 1: 23 If indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast and are not moved away from the hope of the Gospel which you heard....

When you are grounded and steadfast in the HOPE OF THE GOSPEL (God's love through His son Jesus), you will live different. Christ has reconciled us and He is presenting us blameless before the Father. This is not by works but by grace (Eph 2:8-9). What an amazing gift. We have been gifted with the opportunity to have eternal life if we response to LOVE properly. It's not about preforming to get His Love. I always say, "my works is not to get Love; it's because of LOVE I WORK."  It's because of Love I turn away from sin and walk in my freedom. (Eph 2:10) We all are created for good works!!!

Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?.... vs 12-13 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts.  And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.

Our response to Love should be walking in the newness of Life. It should be "I surrender all"

Col 3: IF indeed you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Set your MIND on things above not on things on the earth.

At one point our mind was controlled by sin. Sin blinds us from who God is and the Love He has shown us through His Son, Jesus. When we allow our MINDS to be transformed by the word of God, we will see how God loved us from the foundation of the earth. This knowledge is mind blowing, and it should change everything about us.

When our MIND is on God, Sin will no longer appeal to us. In comparison to Christ's Love, sin is a worthless pursuit. 

Let the knowledge of His love for you change you. Respond with Surrender!!! 
 

Courtship 20/20 Vision! - The heart of the matter

Why you do what you do is very important. Why do you like the clothes you wear? Why do you talk like you do when you are around certain people? Why do you think the way you do?

What is the heart behind courtship? Remember we are in the world but not of the world.

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. Rom 12:2

 

I like the part of the verse that says "THEN". Many believers find it hard to come out of old mindsets because they have not allowed the word of God to transform and renew their thinking. We blindly walk in the patterns of the world or just walk blindly into situations because it's normal to do things a certain way.

I have asked so many young girls about dating. When I ask them why are they so ready to date the common answers are "I do not know", "All my friends get to date", "I mean I will be 13, I'll be a teenager", "I just do not see what the big deal is" and the big one "It's not like I am going to have sex". I have spoke with parents and I have been told point blank "I do not mind you talking to my girls but do not talk to them about dating". My only question is "WHY?".

 

The WHY is so important. Let me also make this note. I know and have seen young people on fire for the Lord, movers and shakers for the Kingdom and they date. But I know and have seen  MORE young people who aimlessly wonder from relationship to relationship, to compromise to compromise, & then to sin to guilt. Most young people turn 16 and start driving. At this point they have been raised to allow their emotions and desires to determine what they do and now church is not at the top of their "To Do list". They treat God and the things of God as a side show to the rest of their lives. Once they are out of their parents' home, they attend church on holidays and special church outings , if at all.

 

Look at the numbers, at the age 16-18 31% of youth go from attending church regularly to attending once or twice a month. At the age 19-25 over 60% stop attending church at all. At the age of 22 the number of young adults attending church start back rising slowly and by the age 25 of the percentage that stopped around 20% return to church.

 

It's not about church being relevant, and the church not having enough for the youth to do. It's because as parents we have trained our children to be entertained by the world vs. finding pleasure in living a life directed by the word of God.

 

So back to courtship..haha!!!!

 

This is why we must stop and think about why  are we doing this courting thing. What was God's plan? Why do I "date" the way I do? Why do I date who I do? Have I been walking in step with the pattern of the world? What sets my relationship apart from the unbeliever?

 

It's not about if you are "going all the way". Many people think because they are still a virgin they have honored God in their relationships. I challenge you not to measure your honor to God based on  if you went "all the way". Measure honor by the conversations you have, the places you go together, the way  your emotions are controlled by the relationship, and the times you went to "third base".  One of the main questions to ask is, "If I did not have a relationship would God be good enough?"

 

It is vital that we get the heart behind courtship. When you have the right heart, then the practical steps will be a lifeline to honoring God and honoring each other.

When you do not have the right heart and do not fear the Lord they will seem like legalistic rules that you will ultimately resent.

So what is the heart behind courtship?

1.                   It is a heart to honor and please God (Prov  4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flows the spring of life)

• As a believer our number one aim should be to please God in every area of our lives – including our relationships and love life.

• When you have this heart you want to do everything possible to conduct your relationships with the opposite sex in a way that pleases God and brings honor to Him.
• We please God when we live in accordance with his principles and commands. Courtship is about doing just that.

 2.                   It is a heart to honor each other (Rom 12:10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor)

• In addition to loving God we are commanded to love each other – when a couple’s relationship is filled with sin and compromise they are not truly loving or honoring each other.
• True love is not seeing ‘how far can we go’ or ‘how much can I get’ but it is saying ‘I want to help you walk in purity and walk out the call of God on your life’.
• By applying the principles of courtship a couple will truly be honoring each other and showing true love.
• When starting a courtship, no couple knows for certain that they will be married and so it is also important to remember that you may be in a relationship with someone else’s future husband or wife. How would you want someone to treat/interact with your future spouse? Would you want them in the back seat of a car with their clothes half off? No! So that is the standard with which you should treat the person you are courting. “Do unto others and you would have the do unto you”

3.                   It is a heart to walk in purity and holiness (2 Cor 7:1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.)

• God has called and empowered us to walk in purity and holiness in every area of our lives – including our love life and relationships.
• Sexual sin has devastating consequences. These include unplanned pregnancy, STD’s, broken hearts, soul ties and spiritual bonding, delay or destruction of the calling of God on your life and the list goes on.
• A wise individual will not enter a relationship lightly and when they do so they will plan for purity and holiness very seriously – this is courtship.

4.                   It is a heart to prepare yourself for a successful marriage (Heb 13:4 Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterer)

• Biblically, the ultimate design and purpose of love and romance is marriage
• Today we see an unprecedented number of failed and broken marriages. Many people do not understand that the seeds of destruction are often sown in how they prepare themselves – both in their personal life and when they are dating/engaged.
• Marriage is very important in the site of God and it is important for your generation. When we enter marriage lightly or enter marriage with the wrong motives we do not honor marriage and we mishandle the gift of God in marriage. (Mal 2:10-16)
• When you honor God, each other and walk in purity through courtship you are laying the foundation for a healthy and strong marriage.

5.                   It is a heart that desires the perfect will of God for your life (Rom 12:2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good, and acceptable, and perfect.)

• The most important decision you will make in life next to accepting Jesus is who you will marry.
• Many people have undermined or even destroyed the call of God on their life because they married the wrong person.
• Entering into a relationship with someone is serious business and needs to be treated as such. It should not be done fleshly or lightly.
• For a female the perfect will of the Lord is a man to pursue to you. “He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the LORD.” Prov 18:22
• For a man the perfect will of the Lord is for you to pursue a woman that fears the Lord “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.” Prov 31:30
• When the principles of courtship are applied they help you make sure you walk out God’s best in your life.

What is your heart looking like?