Tag: God

Exhort 🤔or Love💕?

Hi,on today’s blog, I will be speaking about something that I have been struggling with within me and in my ministry. This topic has been in my mind to blog about for a long time but I just never felt that it was time yet and yesterday while I was watching a Christian blogger; God was speaking to my life.

John 13:35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another

In the book of John, Jesus left us this commandment to love one another as he has loved us. But if we ask ourselves this question, do we really love one another? I’m asking myself and wondering if I really love my brethren, family, and friends or it’s just a fleeting feeling of attachment. To love like Jesus loves we need to show compassion, mercy, kindness, trust but most of all have a deep love for God.  However, Christians or believers(myself included) we have a bad habit of thinking that exhorting or saying what we think is right that’s how you show love. Unfortunately,  we have a rep as critics and hypocrites; and that’s not because of God but because in our human thinking we impose our views and rules in each other.

Jesus never imposed rules upon us but he said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” He gave us the option to follow him and he gave us salvation by his sacrifice; through this, he has saved millions upon millions of lives. Now let’s ask ourselves this question, how many lives have we brought to Jesus.? One thing is to exhort in love and another is to impose your views. To exhort in love, you have to show mercy, kindness but most of all love to the person you will be exhorting. The book of Matthews deals with the exhortation topic by saying this,

15. If your brother or sister sins,go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.16 But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ 17 If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector

I’m learning to keep quiet and pray before going to someone and exhort or give advice to. Why? well not everyone will be comfortable with the idea of someone else coming up to you and telling you what you are doing wrong. I know I’m the first one that will have a dumbstruck face and be thinking ” did she/he really said that to me” why? because as humans we have faults and sometimes one of those faults is pride. To speak with love I got to be filled with God’s love myself. If I’m going to exhort someone I got to show fruits myself first. The word says that by their fruits you should know them.

1 Thessalonians 5:14

We urge you, brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone.

One thing is to be tactful in the way you exhort and another is covering someone’s sin, there is a difference. I have made changes in my life this year that have brought a different view from last year. However, I was not showing the fruits of God’s love on my friends or family member’s or ministry-wise. I thought I knew better, however, God confronted me because I was seeing a decrease in many areas instead of an increase in his presence. Maybe; many of the things that were wrong could have been changed if I had just opened up my eyes to what God wanted to show me. God is a God of love, and every word that comes of my mouth or yours represents him. Maybe it’s the time to let God guide instead of thinking we know best. I don’t know about you but I will try my best. Shalom🌸🕊💕

The Unseen🌒

God bless everyone; tonight I will speaking about a woman that the Bible does not give much background on; however she was shown as a victorious woman. This is during the years that Israel was under the rule of Jabin King of the Canaanites after God sold the nation of Israel because they had been doing wickedness in his sight.

 And she said, ” I will surely go with you. Nevertheless the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” Jud 4:9

God had commanded Barak to lead an army of 10,000 soldier to fight Sisera who was the commander of Jabin king of Canaan. Maybe it was fear or self-doubt that made this man delayed in doing then order that God had commanded for him; that gave the opportunity not only for Deborah but also an unknown woman named Jael to come out as woman of valor and victory. God had called Barak but in his lapsed in making the decision; the glory of the victory for the battle would be bestowed upon a woman.

“Then Jael, Heber’s wife, took a tent peg and took a hammer in her hand, and went softly to him and drove the peg into his temple, and it went down into the ground; for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died.”
‭‭Jud‬ ‭4:21‬

One thing that I want you to get from this post tonight is that God calls but when we disobey his command or call it’s not a good thing. Many times the calls that God makes to us it’s to glorify himself through us. Barak in a moment of self-doubt let the honor of being know as the person who defeated Sisera be given to someone else. You have to grab the opportunity when it presents itself. As I have testified before; there have been moments when I have felt like quitting because of the responsibility that comes with being a leader. However God has always in one way or another spoken to me to not let cowardice take from me what he wants me to have. Jael was a woman who saw an opportunity and she took it; she fooled the enemy with kindness and made him feel comfortable and safe; before she obeyed God’s command.

Grab with both hands the opportunity that God presents to you. This series we are talking about being called with a purpose but at the end of all; we are the ones responsible in doing what is necessary. Jael’s actions made her be known in the Bible as a victorious woman; that did not let fear nor self-doubt stop her from doing what needed to be done. That action gave Israel  the boost they needed through God’s help to destroy and defeat King Jabin and his rule.

You unravel me, with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance, from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone

Fear of the unknown or unseen stops our calling; it’s time to break free from those chains that keep us prisoners in our own self-doubt and insecurity. Rise up to the occasion as Jael and be known as a woman or man who is victorious in God’s eyes. The enemy rules over what we give him liberty to; stop that and rise up to the unseen and the call that God has put in your life.

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P.s. Thank you from the deep bottom of my heart for being in this joyful ride with me in the unseen and unpredictable. Yesterday I received the notice that my blog has 108 followers; when I started this blog was because had put in my heart to do it and I let fear, doubt and insecurity stop my growth for a year. I have decided to put my trust in God that he will provide a way not just for me blog but for me personally in every aspect of my life. Thank you so much; I really appreciate it🤗💕💕Shalom🕊🕊

Not Going Back| Guest Blogger

In Sunday school the other weekend, my class and I were talking about the advances in technology over the past 100 years: about how people used to ride in horses and buggies, than cars and airplanes and space shuttles.

We talked about how dangerous it would be now if someone decided to ride a horse and buggy on a major highway, or used an old-model airplane to fly passengers, or tried to get to space in old technology.  We have advanced beyond that; we’ve learned and we’ve grown.  Every now and then we may indulge the whim to ride in a horse and carriage, or even a hot-air balloon, but ultimately, they are not safe or effective means of transportation in the long run.

I immediately saw a spiritual parallel.

In my faith, I’ve grown.  I gave my heart to Jesus at five years old, and I’ve learned much more about Him and have grown physically, mentally, and spiritually in the time since then.  I’ve stepped up to lead and mentor those around me.  I’ve been faithful on this blog and in seeking God in my moment-to-moment life.

I can’t go back.  Sure, every now and then I “indulge” the whim to worry or stress or negative self-talk, but ultimately, it’s dangerous in my journey to Christ.  It can cause me to have an accident, as well as endanger those on this road around me.

I don’t say this from a place of feeling stuck, but a place of rejoicing over the progress, the advancements, in my faith.  I don’t want to go back!

Imagine if the Israelites tried to cross back over the Red Sea, or if Queen Esther didn’t talk to her husband, or if Ruth stayed behind and let Naomi go on her own! History would be drastically different; a whole people group would be gone.

What part of our legacy could be erased if we turned back now?

xo,

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P.S. Everyone please go give a follow to this beautiful and lovely child of God. You will love her content I promise you. Follow her on calliesusanna.com . You can check out her page; next thursday she will have me as guest blogger with a message titled ” In the midst of the Earthquake ” show some love ❤️ and don’t forget I will be posting on my blog series Called with a Purpose, stay tuned👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻shalom🕊

I’m a Warrior👊🏻👊🏻🗣🗣⚔️🗡

Happy Memorial Day and Blessings to all you. I know it has been about a month since I have posted on my blog but things have been difficult and wonderful. I decided to  be off my blog for a while; as I needed to handle it and become a stronger me.

“If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.” Ecclesiastes’s 10: 4

The enemy rose up against me in every way this couple of months and I do not even understand how I’m still standing here. My ministry and spiritual life was extremely attacked; only because of God am I still standing and continue to write in this blog. But after this month of trials; a bigger blessing that I could ever imagined came upon my life and our family. Now that the storm has passed I can see God’s hand move and see his hands guide every action and steps that I took. This month gave me a valuable lesson; where God has put you anyone  that dares will not move you from it.

Isaiah 57:10

” You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “it is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint.”

A few blogs past I shared that we were still praying for my dad to rise up in the ministry and he was still move spiritually dead but during this whole month I have seen God work on my father and his spiritual life. I cannot express the immense joy that we have at this given moment as the head of the household is lifting up and we are seeing his growth and enthusiasm. God is so good; never in my thoughts I imagined the immense joy that I get every time I see my father having that desire to serve God willingly. This battle was given years of fasting and prayers and we are seeing God’s prophetic words come to fruition.

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Last year God through my pastor gave me a prophetic word. I had been asking in prayer for a new car as the car I had was an oldie that my parents needed for their job. God in his mercy heard my petition and declared a word letting me know that my car was ready; but it would be given in his time. I continued praying and searching for cars; I had specifically ask him for a car that was semi new as I did not want a new car that would have me deep in debt and low in mileage and price. What I could not see and imagined was that God had the day prepared and the car that was going to be it. The car that God had for me was a really low mileage car with less than  17k miles and for a price of $12k and it’s a car from 2017. It is said that before the blessing you are passed through fire. Maybe I was being tested during this whole month and my two blessings were given because I did not fail; or just maybe it was God’s perfect timing.

My advice to you in this moment if you are being passed through fire is do not leave your post. If God has put you somewhere it’s because he will back you up in every single thing that you do. God is backing up my ministry and this blog and I believe that sooner rather than later  I will be traveling around this world preaching and giving testimony of his glorious mercy and love and support he has had with me and from where he brought me out of.

P.s. I have missed you guys so much😞😞💕💕Come show some love😊🤗

Face to Face with Mortality➕➕➕➕

God bless you all!!!!

This Saturday was a glorious day as we celebrated the baptisms of 5 members of our church that decided to give their life completely to God. It was a day of celebration as this members decided to be born as new creatures in Christ. We went to Jordan Lake in North Carolina and the day was beautiful. God moved in profound ways in the lives of these five members; three which were adults, one was a teenager and one a child of 11.

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Many people have an encounter with God. One of the females that got baptized; last Sunday  God baptized her with the Holy Spirit as this was what she had been asking him for quite along while in prayer and fasting. Many people will criticize and have something to say about this but it’s a blessing to be able to be granted that opportunity that does not mean it makes the person in any way more special that just means that you have another type of intimacy with the Lord.

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However the enemy was not happy that these lives were taken from his grasp as he chose a moment that God allowed for a teen to almost drown when he was swimming in the lake, It was a moment that even the people who were in the lake where in shock because no one knew how it happened. One moment he was swimming fine and another he was under water for quite a while before everyone came out of the stupor and were able to move. It was by God’s mercy that he is alive as when the two men that rescued him got to him he had been under for about two minutes this was after he had gone down and came back up 3 times yelling for help.

It brought all the congregation and everyone around us a moment of face to face with mortality and actually God. Because that experience made us analyze our spiritual life and see how our daily living with God is. I wish i could explain and let you guys see the reaction that this has brought to me. It’s time to get ourselves together with God; because at the end of all we are just dust that will go back to the earth but our soul at the end will either be in peace and slumber or in eternal suffering. I’m not a religious freak but it’s time to get ourselves right with God and actually start preaching the word and living the word how it’s written not how we want to interpret for our own needs and wants.

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P.S. Overall God is Good and his mercy and grace is never ending. We saw God’s hand move today in a big way in the lives in not just the five that were getting baptized but also in the lives of all present.

Where is your Resurrection?

1.Kings 17:14

For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land.’”

 

As I was reading the two books of Kings for my preaching for youth service on friday. I came upon  the meetings of the prophets Elijah and Elisha with two non Israelites women that helped them in times when they needed it without asking for anything in return. What God brought to my attention was that these two women gave instead of asked and because of their actions God blessed them. And  he blessed them abundantly  one with nourishment for her and her child her oil and flour never did run dry or was used up during  the famine in the land while the other one was given the blessing of being a mother after so many years. God tried these two men and women, he tried their faith. One of the various things I found in common in the two stories was that they knew that Elijah and Elisha were men of God.

2 Kings 4:16

And he said, “At this season, about this time next year, you shall embrace a son.” And she said, “No, my lord, O man of God; do not lie to your servant.”

Elijah and Elisha were prophets that God used tremendously in the old testament but they weren’t exempt from God testing their faith also. In verse 20 of 1. Kings 17, Elijah asks a question to God why had God brought tragedy to this woman’s home after helping him and it says that he laid on the child three times and cried out (” Lord my
God, let this boy’s life return to him.” 1. Kings 17:21) and God answered the cry and gave life back to the child. Same thing happened in the book of 2. Kings 4, Elisha not knowing what was happening in the house of the Shunammite meets her and he finds out what has happened to her child; he then sends his servant to lay his staff on the child and when the staff does not work he goes and lay on the child and God heard his cry.

The significance of them laying on the children and putting the hands to hands, mouth to mouth and eyes to eyes was them crying out to God to healed the children. They were calling out God to come and do the miracles of giving life as he is the only one that can do it. But God tested their faith because it was not the staff nor just being used by God but that if it’s on the will of God he can resurrect anyone from death. As we have for example Lazarus and even Jesus Christ.

The two mothers of the child’s they were blessed and they saw the blessing come to life but their hearts were not on the Lord. Their eyesight was not on the Lord; they were living from the blessing but did they actually believe in God.? From the response one gave I do not think so; after the miracle she told the prophet (” Now I know you are a man of God and that the word of the Lord from your mouth is the truth.” 1. Kings 17:24.)

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Was there a resurrection in their life that was more than physical? Yes there was they were left knowing that there is a God that can take and give life back and that overpasses the firmament of this earth. They saw the miracles that happened through two men of God by the Lord. And they believed instead of seeing the miracles but not believing in God. God tested both this two women and two of his prophets for their faith to become stronger during the adversities of life. Now they were change but what about you; so my question to you is, Where is your Resurrection?

P.S. It’s Semana Santa!! which means Holy week; I don’t know if yet if I will be posting something related to it, as many bloggers do that during this week. My blog post about dating is in a rough draft at this moment so I think by early next week or the end of this week I will be posting it. Let this week and every single day afterward bring you joy and reconciliation with the Lord. Let God bring a change into your  life; open yourself to the things that you cannot see but that are waiting for you.

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Book Review➕➕💕💕

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Good morning,

Sorry for not being active for a couple of days on the blog; I have been busy and sick. I was  in bed for two days with a really bad headache that would not go; but now I’m feeling much better. Right at this moment I’m reading a book called Spoken For by Robin Gunn and Alyssa Bethke.

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It speaks about dating but most importantly it speaks about our love story with Jesus; how he pursues us with unending love. Another book that I read that touched me when I read it was Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. This book is beautiful it speaks of  topics like self-worth and self-love; choices and consequences but most of all God’s love for you and I. The story is a retelling of the biblical story of Hosea and Gomer but set in the California Gold Rush time. The story starts with little Sarah in New England in 1835 where she lives with her mother in a beautiful cabin. There she meets her father who is a married wealthy man in England. Sarah is the product of an affair between her mother Mae and Mr. Alex Stafford who does not want her and has never wanted her asking Mae to abort the baby before Sarah was born. After the fight between her father and mother they are left destitute as Mae does not want to part from her daughter.

Mae seeks shelter with her parents who want nothing to do with her for her reputation has been tarnished as she was a mistress to a married man. That left her the only option moving to the shacks in the docks to become a prostitute for a living. After a while mae dies from an illness and Sarah is left as an orphaned. She is then sold into becoming the mistress of a rich pedophile. Fast forward 10 years Sarah now called Angel decides to escape Duke and boards a ship to california; where she is robbed of all possessions and money. Her not wanting to be raped by the ship members decides to go into prostitution in a brothel in San Francisco. There she meets Michael Hosea who has gone into town for business. He catches a glimpse of her and after asking God and praying for his future wife; God speaks to him letting him know that Angel was the “One” he had to marry. Michael did not know that this woman was prostitute and after finding out he decides to obey God’s command and pays the fees for Sarah to service him. During this time he talks to her and asks her to marry him which she refuses in different occasions. After an incident that almost leaves Angel dead he marries her and moves her to his house  out in the outskirts.

There Angel is healed and is not treated right by Michael’s family member. Which makes Angel feel more unworthy as she is still battling feelings of self-worth and insecurity as shame, hatred and love. She decides to leave michael and she services someone to drive her to the town so she can go back to prostitution. Michael finds her and pays for her to be freed from the brothel that she is at. During different times she leaves and he keeps seeking until she leaves for three years in  which she finds God, comes face to face with the past and accepts him in her life. She decides to open a house for woman of ill repute( prostitutes) so that they can get out of that life and find a job and where they are tought new abilities to go into trade. At the end she is sought by michael’s family member to be brought back to her husband as he decided not to look for her anymore; she had to go back of her own free will. She decides to leave Sacramento and goes back to michael’s farm and they reunite and they forgive.

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What struck me of this story was Angel’s character; she was a hard woman who suffered too much at a young age and that made choices that continued to break her spiritually and emotional. This woman was scarred and wounded in the deepest part of her soul; she had been mistreated as a child and her body had the scars of it. The choices she made after being married and have been spoken to her about God had consequences not only for her but also for her husband and those around them. Michael’s obedience and steadfast love for God made him a man with a deep commitment with the Lord. His love and pursuit for his wife reminds me off God’s relentless love and pursuit for you and I. Michael never stop praying and hoping that his wife would return and that she would give her life to God; just as Our Father never stops hoping that his son’s and daughter come to his path. Michael showed love where there was hatred and feeling of shame and unworthiness. He showed patience and love where there was fear.

This book to me represent most of all God’s love. Through all that Sarah did God was with her and he loved her and even though her choices took her farther apart from him; he was still there right beside her; helping and guiding her. She had to be at a breaking point for her to see his hand working in her life instead of seeing her husband as her God. Michael was an almost perfect man in the book but after all he was just a man who God used to take and show this woman of a different love then what her parents had in the past. We are like the tree firmly planted in our wants and desires and God is like the wind that moves the leaves and branches and a lot of tree to where he wants them. I can’t recommend this book more than enough; it was just that good.

1.Corinthians 7:23

“ You were bought with a price; do not become bond servants of men”

I have not forgotten about the post or posts I will be doing in dating; so don’t worry the day is  getting closer. I will be active in this blog for only three days in this week as I am preparing for the friday of next week as I will be preaching. It makes me so nervous to be on top of that altar and preach I don’t think I will ever get used to it but that it’s what I’m called for. Leave a comment below👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻has anyone of you read this book? what are your thoughts? do you guys want me to do a book review section in the blog I would love to do it as it’s my favorite thing to do.

Devotional💗🌙🌙🌙

“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

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“Then he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

How many times has the Lord told me this? I will answer too many to remember. I have always been a bit headstrong  and I’m a lot of the time set in ways; but when the Lord touches me and speaks to me it brings me to my knees.

A lot of times my heart or my mind lead the decision that I take and that has been something I have been working on. Because just as this verse says it’s not by might, nor by power but by God’s spirit. I’m not going to lie and not say that a lot of times it’s impossible to listen to God’s voice in the midst of it all.

“The LORD.’ And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy.”

When I look inside my life and I see a long road that still needs construction, repairs but most of all LOVE. My heart and mind might deceive me; however God never does.

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P.S. How was everyone’s weekend?? Mine was pretty restful. I’m thinking of doing a series of post about Godly dating➕👫💑Let me know what you think about that.. Shalom💗💕🌙

Building Jerusalem

Among these dark Satanic mills

Life & Faith

Raw topics, real faith

Grace Upon Grace

A life-long journey of faith, visions, dreams and living them out all by God's grace alone. “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” -John 1:16

Andrew Thomasson

Fixing my gaze on heaven with my feet planted on this muddy earth

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