Homosexuality

* * * This Christian's Perspective * * *

Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender (LGBT)

There are many, many things that we (both the just and unjust alike) do wrong on a regular basis... and the fact that we crucify the LGBT community for unrighteousness is just wrong. It seems like we make the homosexual community the poster child for damnable behavior. Now... in no way do I go along with sin of any kind, in whatever degree or intensity or degeneration or abomination it might be. I do not condone sin. Neither do I condone mean-spiritedness when Jesus advocated that we love our neighbors as ourselves.

I believe when we know the right thing to do and we continue to do the wrong anyways, we crucify again for ourselves the Son of God and put Him to an open shame (Heb. 6:6) by confessing Christ and then doing the very things He suffered to bring us out of. I reiterate again, I do not condone sin. Some will think that I make too light of homosexuality, seeing that the Bible calls it an abomination (Lev. 18:22). What I do protest is judging our neighbors and beating them down with the word of God in a self-righteous, sanctimonious piety, and holier-than-thou religiosity under the guise of righteous indignation. It's mean-spiritedness, and is not an example of how Jesus responded to sinners during His time on earth.

One thing the Bible is clear on is judging. Jesus said in Matthew 7, "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you use to judge others, you will be judged the same; and with the measuring stick you use on others, it will be measured back to you. Like a boomerang, it comes right back to the person that threw it out. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say here my brother let me remove this little speck of homosexuality from your eye, when you have a big plank of hypocrisy in your own? First remove the plank from your own eye, and THEN you will be able to see clearly to help your brother with his speck."

James 2:10 states that whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all. When we turn the mirror on our own conscience, we will see that we really have no stones to throw at others (John 8:9). But rather, we should be on the altar ourselves seeking help for our faults. There, but by the grace of God, go I.

The apostle Paul said in Galatians 6, "My brothers, if a man is overtaken in ANY trespass, you who are SPIRITUAL restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourselves lest you also be tempted. Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill THE LAW OF CHRIST." Because we are not under the law of Moses where it was considered a capital offense and they were killed for what God considered abominations. The apostle admonished us to help and restore trespassers in a spirit of gentleness. Because we will be treated the same as we treat others. That does not mean to stand on the street corner with hate signs condemning the gay community... or posting hateful comments on social media. That is not gentleness. It is judging and it will not win any souls to Christ. It only drives them further from the church and make us believers out to be antagonists. I heard a preacher say, "You cannot evangelize and antagonize at the same time." When we attempt to sanctify the soul before the soul is even converted, that is the same as putting the horse behind the cart. It's going no where.

The Holy Bible is God's words that were given by inspiration to godly men that wrote them down. It is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction and instruction in righteousness (2 Tim. 3:16). So, that said, where the Bible is clear on any subject, I believe that we have God's clear position on that subject.

Scripture is crystal clear that God does not condone homosexuality. He made the woman for the man (Eve for Adam) and that is the way He intended it to be. Sodom and Gomorrah was wiped clear off the map because of homosexual activity going on in that region. To me, this is a pretty clear picture of how God feels about it.

But do you know how God won me to Himself, when I was a sinner? He loved me! He loved on me and loved on me and loved on me, until I fell at His feet with a truly repentant heart. He drew me and enticed me with His loving kindness and His tender mercies. I have come to love Him so much that I desire to do His will with all my heart. When I find myself overtaken in a fault, I pray! And I pray! And I keep on praying until He helps me change my faulty ways. I believe this is the way all mature saints behave.

So instead of bashing people with our self-righteousness... why don't we love them into fruition. Love them and lead them to the One who can effect real change in the souls of men. We have been saved through faith, by the grace of God, and even faith is not of ourselves; it is God's gift, not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Eph. 2:8-9)

* * * The Whole Counsel * * *

Now... in order that we may teach the whole counsel of God, let us be clear about what the Bible teaches on the subject of homosexuality.

There are several things listed in the Holy Bible as an abomination to the Lord:

1. images that were carved out for idol worship in place of worshiping the Creator (Deut. 7:25)
2. religious ceremonies where children were burned in the fire in worship of false gods (Deut. 12:31)
3. sacrificing an animal to the Lord that had any kind of blemish or defect (Deut. 17:1)
4. witchcraft, sorcery and divination of any kind (Deut. 18:10-12)
5. women who wore men's clothing and men who wore women's clothing (Deut. 22:5)
6. a prostitute's earnings nor the money from the sale of a dog were to be given in the offerings (Deut. 23:18)
7. a man could not remarry a woman whom he had divorced, once she had remarried another man... it was an abomination to the Lord

We'll stop at #7, but could go on and on from there... for there are many acts (in addition to homosexuality) stated in the Bible that are an abomination to the Lord our God.

Now, concerning homosexuality... here are four passages of Scripture from the Old and New Testament of the Holy Bible on this subject (I'm quoting from the New King James Version)

• You shall not lie with a male as with a woman. It is an abomination. (Lev 18:22)

• If a man lies with a male as he lies with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood shall be upon them. If a man marries a woman and her mother, it is wickedness. They shall be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you. If a man mates with an animal, he shall surely be put to death, and you shall kill the animal. If a woman approaches any animal and mates with it, you shall kill the woman and the animal. They shall surely be put to death. Their blood is upon them. (Lev. 20:13-16)

The 20th chapter of Leviticus offers a lot of protests against sexual sin - not just homosexuality but adultery as well as other acts. It was also a capital offense to dishonor one's parents and in doing so that son or daughter was put to death. It was a capital offense to commit adultery as well, and both parties involved in the affair were put to death.

Specific acts that involve sexual sin are:

~ adultery
~ sex outside of wedlock
~ incest
~ pornography
~ beastiality
~ prostitution
~ rape
~ homosexuality

• Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Those on the apostle Paul's unrighteous list which would not inherit the kingdom of God are:

~ those who indulge in sexual sin
~ those who worship idols and false gods
~ those who commit adultery
~ those involved in prostitution
~ those involved in homosexuality
~ those who steal
~ those possessing greed and jealousy (covetous)
~ those who get drunk and attend wild parties
~ those who abuse and cheat others

• Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. (1 Cor 6:18)

* * * How does one become a homosexual? * * *

I was born an African American. Once conceived, there was no way of changing that. It's genetically set. So my question is, how does homosexual tendencies develop? Is there genetic science that proves it's pre-conceived? Were they sexually molested as a child, which brought on homosexual tendencies? Does one's first sexual experience determine their sexual preference? Can homosexual tendencies be handed down from one generation to another (like in Sodom and Gomorrah)? Is it demonically induced (to initiate or increase susceptibility)? Can the abandonment of a parent cause the child to become same-sex oriented? Since the Bible is clear that it was not God's initial plan, what happens that brings it about? My findings conclude one thing, there are no genetic differences between heterosexuals and homosexuals that differentiate the two.

* * * My Own Sexual Sin * * *

The same year that I came to Christ (1999) was the same year that I married my first husband. We were together 8 years when we split up. We were legally separated but not divorced. Long story short, I met and then moved in with my now husband and we shacked up for 3½ years before we were legally married. Part of that time (while we shacked up) I was still legally married to my first husband because we had not gotten divorced. And I didn't have the money to pay for a divorce. During that 3½ years, I did not work for 17 months. We were struggling financially and I was unable to afford a divorce.

During all that time, I kept praying. The Lord never left me. He did not seem to be unhappy with me at all. But I prayed about it continually because I did not want to be living in sin. To add insult to injury, my then common-law husband was not in church (considered to be an unbeliever).

So, let's add it all up. I was legally married to one man and still going by his last name. Shacking up with another one who was not even in church. And... I was teaching Sunday School at my church during that time. Now that's messy!

In all that time, and in all my praying... the Lord never left me. I continued to feel His presence. He anointed my teaching and my studies. He told me to accept His grace for His grace was sufficient. My first husband finally paid for the divorce himself, and my common-law husband and I went to the courthouse and got married. And we are the happiest couple on planet earth.

Think what you will about my actions, but you cannot take away my experiences with God. He loved me through it all and never dismissed me or turned His back on me, even though I was caught up in sin.

If you are gay and reading this blogpost, I hope you are encouraged to follow Jesus. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. I did not write this article to humiliate you but to encourage you and let you know that God loves you and me, despite our short comings. He just wants to be in relationship with us and we can come boldly to Him just as we are. We don't have to get fixed up first. Just come!

In conclusion, God's gift to mankind is His love. And His love never fails. Prophecies may fail, tongues will cease, knowledge will vanish away... but God's love will never fail.

Go in peace... you are His beloved.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

Growing Pains

The year 2015 has been what I dubbed as The Year of the Make-Over.  Starting in January, I've experienced and endured a number of life events that has challenged my perspective in a lot of areas, one of which is my social life.

I am not a conversationalist. I'm not that outgoing and frankly have a difficult time connecting with people that I don't know that well. For a long time I've accepted that I would never be a socialite and have embraced my introversion and protected it like a mother hen protecting her chicks. I don't put up walls to keep people out, I just stand far enough away, to keep them at bay. I love people. I'm concerned about people. When people cross my path that clearly have a need for God's intervention, I think and pray about them for days on end. Many times without their even knowing it. I do love people, but what the make-over has revealed is that I don't love relationships.

Relationships are a struggle and they can be messy. The one thing that I love about my sweet husband is that the relationship works without much struggle. It just works. We have so much in common that we are not too challenged by our differences. Thank God! We agreed early on to accept one another as is, since neither of us is perfect. We shook on it, and that's what we do.

I had the pleasure of meeting three ladies this year... Patsy, Carolyn and Monique. They're all wonderful women and we hit it off so well that I thought it had to be a God thing. But the loner in me perked up and became anxious about moving forward with these friendships.

I awoke in the middle of the night and got to thinking about the story of Anne of Green Gables written by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Anne Shirley and Diana Barry became BFFs... Anne called Diana her bosom friend. These were true-blue homeys. When Diana was forbidden by her mother to be friends with Anne, they were devastated and in tears, they made a vow to remain secret bosom friends for "as long as the sun and the moon shall endure".  That is not the 21st century kind of friendship that we have become accustomed to - in this inundated social-media world we now live in.

In my humble opinion, someone writing LOL on a post will never take the place of actually hearing them laugh out loud and seeing the gleeful expression on their face. I mean, social media does have its rightful place, but our idea of friendship has shrunken dramatically to postings from people we barely know and rarely, if ever, see. And if you don't want to be bothered with them, all you have to do is "hide" them from your News Feed. Poof, they're gone!

Another problem that I have with relationships is that I have changed so much in the last 16 years since I began to follow Christ. I am an enthusiastic student of Scripture and when I arrive on the scene for a get together, I think everybody should be wanting to discuss the Bible... and they rarely, if ever, do. Then I am bored out of my skull and pretty much, ready to go. They're also bored and offended that I seem to turn every get together into a Bible Study.

The Urban Dictionary describes a loner as someone that likes being alone, and is happy with what (and who) they are. So, what's a loner-girl to do, now faced with the growing pains of relationships? I must submit my anxieties to the Lord my King, and trust that He will guide my heart and feet and make my crooked paths straight. God is my strength and power and He makes my way perfect. (2 Sam. 22:33)

The righteous shall flourish like a palm tree, he (or she) shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. (Psalm 92:12)

Grow in peace.

God Sent Me An Email

I had said to the Lord, that He was tormenting me. He put these desires in my heart and then made them so distant and unreachable that it just causes me torment regularly. My anxiety and impatience is getting the better of me... like a kid waiting for Christmas Day. He can hardly think of anything else except those gifts under the tree. The Lord responded in an email (through a daily blog post that I receive)...

My beloved daughter,
I have a plan and a promise for you, but only I can unfold it in your life. I have put desires in your heart and I have given you a hope to hold on to. I am asking you to let Me prepare you--and to not try to take My plan in your hands. My timing is as important for your life as My will. Hand Me your anxiety because it will cause you to compromise--and I don't want you to settle for less because you want it now. Lose yourself in My Word, and you won't lose sight of what I have for you. I promise that if you will wait on Me, you will not be disappointed.
Love,
Your King

What's Your Oxen?

The following article entitled How To Avoid Failure was written by Nick Cady, lead pastor at White Fields Community Church in Longmont, CO. I found this article because I did an internet search on Proverbs 14:4 and his blog came up in the list. Prov. 14:4 in the King James Version states, "Where no oxen are, the crib is clean: but much increase is by the strength of the ox."

When I read this, it stuck in my brain like honey and resonated deeply in my heart. I looked it up in several translations and finally came across Pastor Cady's blog.

I have such a fear of failure... actually, it's more of a fear of not succeeding than a fear of failure. I want to succeed so badly and I have a lot more failures chalked up than successes.

Rule #1 for achieving success: You cannot be moved by the messes along the way, because there will be many.

I have alienated people that are near and dear to me. I have messed over jobs and career paths that I worked hard to achieve. I have done more dumb stuff than Dumb and Dumber combined. But this one thing I know and as the psalmist David well said, "By my God, I can run through a troop and leap over a wall." He is able to carry me.

I know the Lord sent me this word today. I hope it blesses you too. I give kudo's to it's author, Nick Cady.

You may locate Pastor Cady's blog and follow him at https://longmontpastor.wordpress.com/

Do God's Work and Will

This sign belongs to a church along the highway not far from my home.
I had been seeking the Lord about whether He wanted me to go back to work
or do His work. Then my husband and I drove by and I saw this sign.

* * * * * * * * * *

Phil. 2:12-16 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

The Apostle Paul said that there are diversities of spiritual gifts and differences of ministries and diversities of activities but it is the same Spirit that manifests all of them in all of us to profit everyone. He admonishes the Philippian church to be respectful and hospitable to one another without grumbling or complaining... while being sober-minded and not high-minded.

Some came to Jesus and asked Him, "What shall we do, that we may work the works of God?" Jesus answered them, "This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He sent." God is working "in" us both the will and the ability to do His good pleasure, now it is our duty to work it outward. "Being confident of this very thing," Paul said, "that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ."

What ever our spiritual gifts are, we should do our best to discharge our duty with true humility, reverential fear and a God-consciousness that will make us stand out as blameless and harmless in such a crooked and perverse generation; holding strongly to the word that brought us life in the first place.

Jesus said, "Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves." There is nothing so honorable as doing God's work and to be His chosen vessel to perform this work. He said, "You did not choose Me, but it was I that chose you and appointed you to go out and bear fruit."

I said to the Lord once that I thought He had chosen an unworthy vessel to do this work. I admonished Him to select one of my more devout family members that are more honorable than I. He gently rebuked me saying, "What I have cleaned up, you must not call common."

He then showed me His divine providence that had been at work from my youth up to bring me into His will for my life - and caused me to see that none of this was accidental or happen stance.  Our gifts and callings, even if similar in nature to some one else's, will never be exactly alike. There are diversities of activities and operations that make us uniquely our own. No one else can do what you do, like you do it.

Those members of the body which seem to be weaker are very necessary. Thank you for your contribution to the body of Christ. When you have proven yourself faithful over a few, God said He will make you a ruler over many.

Go in peace.

National Author's Day

Today, November 1st, is National Author's Day.

This means a lot to me because I am an avid reader, writer and blogger. THANK YOU to writers everywhere, (past - present - future) that has (and will) touch my life.

One author that greatly impacted my life is Maya Angelou. God rest her soul. She loved words... and so do I!  I am sure, there is not one day that goes by that I do not consult my dictionary for the meaning of a word.

I pray that before I die, I will leave one Pulitzer prize winning piece behind for other word-lovers to enjoy.

Happy National Author's Day!!!

XOXO

To Honor Other Blog Writers, Like Me, Who Love Words, Words, Words

There Will Be An Answer, Let It Be.

Last year a position became available in my department and I prayed that the right person would fill the position. We had been seriously struggling with interpersonal relationships and I thought this was the perfect opportunity for the Lord to bring together a cohesive team. I also had been struggling with my own job and was not a very happy camper. I really needed the Lord to come through for me individually and for my team as well.

The guy that filled the position was a Christian with strong faith and I was very pleased that God had answered my prayer. But... it turned out that he was grossly under qualified and really, really struggled with the job. So, he quit. And I prayed again for the Lord to send the right person to fill the spot.

I had reached the end of my rope. I really needed the Lord to renew my motivation and enthusiasm for this job. Because everyone in my department worked so closely together, our jobs hugely impacted the others.

The person that filled the vacancy really, really rubbed me the wrong way. Our personalities clashed like high sounding cymbals and I was not going to be able to work with her. After about three months of it, I closed that chapter of my life and moved on.

For quite some time I was very, very confused about it. Why did my prayers for the right person to fill the vacancy bring about two totally wrong people? Today that scenario replayed in my mind and the Lord sent me a song... Let It Be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Perhaps it was the Lord's will all along for me to close that chapter. That was the reason for the struggle. If He had sent the person that I wanted, then I wouldn't have left.

The apostle John said that if we ask the Lord for anything that is in His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, then we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him. If it had been His will for me, then the person that I wanted would have filled the vacancy. But even so, my prayer was still answered, in that, the right person did fill the position. Since I left that company, the Lord has opened doors for me to be able to minister in ways I would not have, if I were still there.

I had recently been praying about ISIS, that the Lord would wipe them out. I was once again deeply disturbed the other day, when I saw the raid to free those held prisoner in an ISIS compound. Again, I cried out to the Lord to free the world from these kind of barbaric people that perpetuate such evil. Again, He reminded me...

Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Do not fret because of evildoers, nor be envious of the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be mowed down like the grass, and wither as the green herb.

Psalm 37:1-2

Go in peace.

Your Life Is Valuable

Barbara Walters asked Monica Lewinsky, "Why do you have affairs with married men?" Apparently, President Clinton was not her only one. She replied, "Clearly, I didn't have enough self-worth so that I didn't feel I was worthy of being number one to a man."

That statement got me to thinking about the idea of self-worth and the way we see ourselves, especially as children of the King. We must learn to see ourselves in light of how God sees us, as valuable enough to lay down His life for.

The Scriptures state that we are bought with a price ~ and a great price it was, which makes us of inestimable value to Christ. Because He loved us, we now have infinite worth.

Don't settle for second class citizenship. We are children of the King.

My Take On Facebook

The one thing that I love about Facebook is that I can jump on it and quickly get a word from the Lord through the multitude of ministries and Pages that I follow.

The problem used to be, there always seemed to be "junk" coming through my News Feed from the people that I was connected with on Facebook. Another problem was, they seemed equally as offended by my "junk" coming through their News Feed.

So... on June 22, 2015 I quit Facebook!!! And then I started a new Facebook.

The new Facebook does not accept Friend Requests (that's the way I set it up) and is totally for me and my entertainment only. It is my personal online diary, not to be confused with a social medium. I can share any and every thing that I want to on my page and no one is offended by my junk coming through their News Feed. If there is any feed coming through mine that I prefer not to see, I simply dislike the Page... problem solved. No one is offended. No love lost. No harm. No foul.

Facebook has a way, by its very nature, of destroying good relationships without the people themselves even trying. One misunderstood post is all it takes.

The wall of my Facebook page is a treasure trove of edifying and uplifting material that I reference on a regular. As much as I used to hate Facebook, I love it more now. When I finally began using it for the purpose that "I" want to use it for (not Facebook's prescribed purpose), it became an essential in my life.

So much of life is about people-pleasing... and to an extent that can be a good thing. Life should never be only about me, my four and no more. We are here to serve one another. But the constant people-pleasing, does not have to play the starring role in our lives.

I am sure that I offended some people by shutting down Facebook, but its okay! I put them in the good Lord's hands to help them get over being offended while I move on Facebooking happily ever after.

Who knows? One day, I may open it up to accepting Friend Requests, but for now, this is my delight.

Go in peace my friends.

Link To My Facebook Page

Owen Fails To Impress

General Electric

Owen shares the big news that he's been hired on with GE as a Developer, coding new language that allow machines to share information with each other. His co-workers thought that he was going to build trains and airplanes. They misunderstood and their enthusiasm was uninspiring.

Owen then tries to tell his parents the big news. Dad then, bequeaths unto Owen his grandfather's beloved sledge hammer in honor of his Development job at GE. When he refuses to accept it, his dad mocks him stating, "You can't pick it up, can you?" His mom patronizes him with, "It's okay, you're gonna change the world." They too misunderstood and their enthusiasm was uninspiring as well.

Finally, Owen tries to share the big news with his friends and they seemed to be more impressed with their stupid friend's cell phone app that transform cats into fruit. They also misunderstood and their enthusiasm was uninspiring.

Poor Owen, he can't get no... no, no, no satisfaction (Rolling Stones). This open door is the most exciting thing that's ever happened to Owen. He knows this is what he was created to do, but he seems to be the only one excited about it... and the only one who gets it. He keeps asking them, "Do you know what GE is?"

Years ago, when I first realized God's calling on my life, the Lord said to me, "Not everybody will accept you. Not everybody will understand you. Not everybody will be excited about your dreams and visions. Not everybody will believe in you and you will have to learn how to live with that. Shake it off and go on. Shake it off. If you and I are the only ones that believe in you, that's enough to get the job done."

Rejection is not easy, especially when it comes from those closest to us. But other people's stupidity is not our responsibility. We must learn to shake it off.

I delivered a sermon at church one time and one of the ministers, that I care about and highly regard, came to me after church and said, "Sister, you missed it." He did not agree with my teaching and doctrine. I went back home and I asked the Lord to show me where I missed it. I started over from verse one and studied the subject in depth a second time. At the end of the study, I received the very same revelation that I had received the first time. I said to myself, "They'll catch up and get it later."

Jesus said to His disciples in Luke 10:16 "He who hears you, hears Me, he who rejects you, rejects Me, and he who rejects Me, rejects Him who sent Me.”

When Joseph told his brothers about his dreams, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him. Eventually, they wanted to kill him and ended up selling him into slavery. But all of this was God's providence at work on Joseph's behalf. At long last, his dreams did come to pass.

I'm also reminded of the story of Jesus, when His ministry began to expand and He went back to visit his hometown of Nazareth. He began teaching in the synagogue but many who heard Him said, "Ain't that Mary and Joseph's child, the carpenter? From where did he get all this wisdom and power to perform miracles? Who does he think he is?" They scoffed at Him and were deeply offended and refused to believe in Him. Jesus told His disciples, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his relatives and his own family."

John the Baptist moved out into the wilderness, perhaps to remove himself from those familiar to him that did not understand his calling.

I told the Lord a few years ago that I felt like I was always sticking out like a sore thumb. I was trying to blend in, but was always sticking out. He replied, "That is because you are designed to stick out." A city that sits on a hill cannot be hidden.

God told Abram, "Get out of your country from your family and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing."

If I could finish Owen's story, I'll bet he joined GE and became a superstar Developer... achieving more success than he ever thought possible. But certainly not because those close to him thought he Could, but because he knew within himself that he Would, despite their misunderstanding.

The apostle Paul said, "If God is for us, who can be against us? We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us and gave Himself for us."

This is not a teaching on abandoning one's self from their loved ones, but it is an encouragement to guard your mind from those that would turn your heart against God's will, no matter how close they are to you. Even Owen's own parents didn't understand what he was called to do and tried to give him unnecessary tools for the work he was to undertake.

Maya Angelou got a revelation one day. She said, “There was a possibility that God really did love me... me, Maya Angelou. I suddenly began to cry at the gravity and grandeur of it all. I knew that if God loved me, then I could do wonderful things, I could try great things, learn anything, achieve anything. For what could stand against me, since one person, with God, constitutes the majority?” After this, she went on to achieve great things and became very successful.

The psalmist David said, "For by my God I can run against a troop and leap over a wall." He went on to kill a lion and a bear and a giant named Goliath.

Jeremiah's ministry was very unpopular and had many haters, even his close acquaintances mocked him and wanted to take their revenge on him. But Jeremiah said, "The Lord is with me as a mighty, awesome One. Therefore my persecutors will stumble, and will not prevail and will not prosper."

Blessed are you when men mock and persecute you and lie about you and say all sorts of evil things against you because you are a follower of Jesus. For some reason, God may instruct you to do something and He does not include others in on it, so that their understanding is darkened because they are unaware that you are operating in God's will. It does not make sense to the human mind. By this, God is building our faith to trust Him in the hard places.

The people in Jesus' hometown did not believe in Him but the anointing was upon Him still, and He went on to do great things outside of Nazareth. He saved the world from sin. Those that accept Him also have the power of the Holy Spirit in them, Who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we dare to ask or think, infinitely above our highest desires, thoughts prayers, hopes or dreams.

Go on and do great exploits, for this IS the will of God for you.

It Is Well With My Soul

It is my personal opinion, that if we teach on a subject that challenges our flesh, then we should also teach on the grace of God to balance it out. If we teach too much on one subject then we become immersed and unbalanced with too much focus on that thing.

I remember back in the day, I had been hearing a lot of sermons on sin and it made me very sin-conscious. I began to pray everyday for God to forgive me and I felt bad that I kept letting Him down. But then another sermon and another would come and add to my frustration and feelings of loathsomeness and disgust.

I felt like God must really be disappointed with me since He kept sending me these sermons on sin. I had started to develop a dead dog image of myself because of my continued failures to live a sin free life.

Then one day I was down on my knees praying and crying out to the Lord, pleading with Him again for my sins. Out of sheer helplessness, I flung myself onto the floor into a prostrate position and I cried out to God, "What else do You want from me?" He gently replied, "Just accept My grace."

I had been crying the ugly cry, with snot and all... and to my surprise it shut off like a faucet. No dripping. No nothing. It just stopped! I got up off the floor and washed my face and hands. I went to my study table, opened my Bible and began to study grace. Over the next few weeks (maybe months) I inundated my thoughts with God's grace... and guess what? That was the cure for my sinfulness. His grace is sufficient. Where sin abounds, His grace did much more abound.

But... they say, "Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" Certainly not! His abundant grace is sufficient to set aside all the sin that so easily besets us; for He is able to keep us from falling.

The scribes and Pharisees brought a woman to Jesus that was caught in the very act of adultery stating that Moses said to stone her... what do You say? Jesus said to them, "He that is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first." Being convicted they dropped their stones and walked away. Jesus asked her, "Where are your accusers?" She replied, "No man Lord." He said, "Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more."

Then Jesus spoke to His followers, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

Rom. 8:1-2 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.

Victory over the flesh is won in the Spirit. Let us look to Him - the Helper - the Comforter, to guide us through this life.

"Accept My grace... just accept My grace for you. All is well."

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

The Holy Spirit's Fruit

The fruit of the Spirit is produced by the Holy Spirit in us. It is His fruit, manifested by Him, through those that He dwells in. Against the lust and enmity of our sinful nature, Apostle Paul contrasts the fruit of the Spirit.

Gal. 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

• love: ardent affection for; high esteem and regard for. Love can be known only from the "actions" it prompts... not always the result of ardent affection. Spirit-inspired love never fails, but always flourishes. 1 Cor. 13:4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; Col. 3:14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
• joy: a positive attitude or pleasant emotion produced by the Spirit of God. This kind of joy is distinct from mere happiness and is possible, even in the midst of sorrowful circumstances. Phil 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Neh. 8:10 Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
• peace: hope, trust and quiet in the mind and soul, brought about by a right relationship with with God. John 14:27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
• long-suffering: forbearance; patient endurance; perseverance. James 5:11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
• kindness: graciousness, favor, Divine mercy and forgiveness. Rom. 12:10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another.
• goodness: what is beneficial; the quality of being good; praiseworthy character; moral excellence. Rom. 15:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
• faithfulness: dependability, loyalty and stability. 1 Cor. 4:2 Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.
• gentleness: meekness; mildness combined with tenderness; a spirit of fairness and compassion. Phil. 4:5 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
• self-control: temperance; control, restraint or discipline exercised over one's behavior or emotions. The Christian believer is to be governed by God, not by self. Self-control is developed over time through continual maturity. 2 Peter 1:5-8 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.

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Eph. 5:8-10 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

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Col. 3:12-13 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.

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Rom 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.

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Heavenly Father,

We approach the throne of Your grace in humility and contrition. Forgive us for all we've done, said and thought that has not lined up with what we know to be right. Thank You that You have made us the righteousness of Christ Jesus and laid upon Him the penalty for our sin. We thank You that there is no condemnation to those that are in Christ Jesus who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Holy Spirit. Thank You that we are predestined to be conformed to the image of Your Son.

Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light unto our path. We pray for Your continued guidance for we know that You are able to keep that which we have committed to You against that day when we shall see our Savior's face. Help us to walk in the Spirit and not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Help us to grow and mature and honor You with our lives. In Jesus' precious name we pray, Amen.

The Works of The Flesh Are Evident

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

• adultery: extra-marital intimacy and/or sexual relations
• fornication: sexual relations outside of wedlock
• uncleanness: unholy; impure; unrighteousness; unfit; defilement
• lewdness: preoccupation with sex and sexual desire; lustful and wicked thoughts
• idolatry: worship of created things as opposed to the Creator Himself
• sorcery: magic; divination; occult practices; fortune telling; witchcraft; paganistic practices
• hatred: strong dislike, disregard, or even indifference toward someone or something which is seated in a person's emotions or will

• relative hatred: lesser love or disregard for Rom. 9:13 As it is written, "Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated."

• absolute hatred: enmity; the opposite of love; ill-will; deep-seated unfriendly feelings Gen. 37:4 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

• contentions: the act or instance of striving in controversy or debate; struggle between opponents disputing in an argument Acts 15:39-40 The contention became so sharp between Paul and Barnabas that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; and Paul took Silas and and went through Syria.
• jealousies: envy; suspicion; distrust; spite; resentment Prov. 27:4 Wrath is cruel and anger a torrent, but who is able to stand before jealousy?
• outbursts of wrath: passion, hot explosive anger, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again. Those who allow their anger to show itself in this fashion explode and then calm down. Unfortunately they usually leave very hurt people in their wake.
• selfish ambitions: seeking of followers and adherents by means of gifts; self-seeking; places self-interest ahead of what the Lord declares is right, or what is good for others. Phil. 1:15-16 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: the former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains.
• dissensions: discord or strife that arises from a difference of opinion. Acts 23:7 And when he had said this, a dissension arose between the Pharisees and the Sadducees; and the assembly was divided.
• heresies: false doctrine, or teaching which denies one of the foundational beliefs of the church, such as the Lordship or deity of Jesus.
• envy: jealousy over the blessings and achievements and advancements of others. Envy, when allowed to fester genders strife. King Saul was jealous of David when the women sang, "Saul has slain his thousands and David his ten thousands." Whatever Saul sent David to do, he did it so successfully that it made Saul hate him even more.
• murders: unlawful killing. Murder begins in the heart when anger and hatred is harbored against a brother or sister. So murder is a result of one's thoughts and meditations and proceeds out of the heart.
• drunkenness: a drugged or deranged state which results from drinking intoxicating beverages Isa. 28:7-8 But they also have erred through wine, and through intoxicating drink are out of the way; the priest and the prophet have erred through intoxicating drink, they are swallowed up by wine, they are out of the way through intoxicating drink; they err in vision, they stumble in judgment. For all tables are full of vomit and filth; no place is clean. Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.
• revelries: boisterous merrymaking or wild noisy partying

There is NO sin that cannot be forgiven under the grace of God except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit*. When the apostle stated that those who "practice" such behavior will not inherit the kingdom of God, he could not possibly have spoken of Spirit filled believers who are led by the Holy Spirit and are not under the law and are not fulfilling the lust of the flesh.

Those who "practice" such things are those who have not become partakers of the Holy Spirit and don't know Christ on an intimate level.
　
We have thrown off that old sinful nature in which we used to "practice" such fleshly things and have taken on a new nature, created to be like Christ - truly righteous and holy. As we mature in Christ our new nature grows more and more and our identity in Christ if manifested in full.

Phil 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

1 John 5:13, 18 (13) These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. (18) We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him.

*Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit... the following link goes to a very good teaching on The Unforgivable Sin. Take a listen.
The Unforgivable Sin by Dr. Michael Youssef

Too Overbearing With the Jesus Thing

I was hanging out with these two ladies and we got to discussing the goodness of the Lord. I was getting really worked up and excited and thought I could just stay right there forever.

The Bible teacher in me was ramping up when all of a sudden one of the ladies abruptly changed the conversation. We completely left talking about the Lord and she went to great lengths to make sure that we did not get back to discussing the Lord any more after that. I don't know if it was me or what... but I was kind of put out by it and really could've called it a day and left at that point.

I have experienced this many, many, many times and I wished I knew why people seemed to be turned off about having a discussion about Jesus.

I wonder... does it seem like I'm boasting of myself in my feeble attempts to boast about Christ? This happens a lot and I think its about time to do some serious soul searching concerning this.

She rudely cut me flat off and would not allow the conversation to continue.

O Lord, here she goes again!

She was like Popeye, "I've had all I can stands and I can't stands no more."

The apostle Paul said that we are fools when we boast in ourselves and James 4:16 says that we boast in our arrogance and all such boasting is evil. Maybe the Holy Spirit thought I was getting carried away with myself and He used her to cut me off. I don't know.

In 2 Cor. 11:30-31 the apostle said, "If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am. God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying."


As far back as I can remember, I've always been an introvert and feel most at home when I am by myself. These incidents and scenarios drive me further and further into seclusion and that cannot be a good thing. For why would you hide a light under a basket? 

Lord speak to my heart concerning this. Am I really that overbearing? Am I offensive with my Jesus talk? Do I take it too far? Have I become so heavenly-minded that I am simply no earthly good?

Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; on You I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5

God Favors Democrats or Republicans?

I asked the Lord if He was in agreement with the way I vote... then I set out to find the answer. The following is what I came up with.

From the website http://liberalslikechrist.org/+Reasonable/Democrat-1.html I read:

If there is a just and holy God, there will never be a political party anywhere that will rate a perfect score simply because it's impossible to make a perfect whole out of imperfect parts.  So long as political parties, and other human institutions – including churches – have to draw their membership and leaders from the pool of defective human beings, there is no way that they can even approach perfection.

When Jesus said "By their fruits, you will know them!"  He meant that people manifest their true character, not by what they say or "profess", but by what they do. Political parties being nothing but groups of people organized for public purposes should likewise be judged by the public policies which they promote and pursue.

From the website http://www.gotquestions.org/Republican-Democrat.html I read:

The Bible teaches that a leader in the church should be a godly, moral, ethical person (1 Tim. 3:1-13; Titus 1:6-9). This should apply to political leaders as well. If politicians are going to make wise, God-honoring decisions, they must have a basic morality and world view on which to base the decisions they are going to have to make. So if there is a clear moral distinction between candidates, as Christians, we should choose the more moral, honest, and ethical of the candidates.

No matter who is in office, whether we voted for them or not, whether they are of the political party we prefer or not, the Bible commands us to respect and honor them (Rom. 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-17). We should also be praying for those placed in authority over us (Col. 4:2; 1 Thess. 5:17). We do not have to agree with them, or even like them, but we do have to honor and respect them.

Politics is always going to be a difficult issue for Christians. We are in this world but are not to be of this world (1 John 2:15). We can be involved in politics, but we should not be obsessed with politics. Ultimately, we are to be heavenly minded, more concerned with the things of God than the things of this world (Col. 3:1-2). As believers in Jesus Christ, we are all members of the same political party—monarchists who are waiting for our King to return (Rev. 19:11-16).

Jesus said to Pilate in John 18:36, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now My kingdom is not from here.”

One day Jesus will return to earth to judge the nations and rule and reign over them. Then, we will see a perfect government ruled by those who have proven themselves faithful over a few and made rulers over many (Matt. 25:21, 23).

God is neither Democrat nor Republican. I guess the answer to my question is to pray. Pray about the candidates running for office and vote my conscience and follow the leading of the the Holy Spirit.

Prov. 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Go in peace.