Tis The Season

Holiday Season

This is the part of the year were everyone shops ‘till they drop, spend money that they don’t have and try to outdo each other in holiday décor.

We have all been raised to celebrate Thanksgiving, in which if you look up the holiday history isn’t exactly a joyous occasion. As well as to believe that Santa Claus will being “watching you-day and night to see if you are naughty or nice” and will come down your chimney to leave presents under your overly decorated tree. When you actually think about all this it seems really silly, however there is something about the Christmas season that makes us feel warm and fuzzy.

There is nothing wrong about giving gifts to each other, but do not let it dominate you. It is not about receiving gifts nor is it even about Christ’s birth. Jesus was not born in December. Pastor Drew of the Spoken Word Church spoke about how the Lord is not about celebrating Him on certain holidays when we are to worship and adore Him every day, not Christmas.

Israel!

Israel

As many of you know by now, there has been a much elevated tension between Israel and the Paestines on the Gaza Strip. We are to keep an eye on Israel because the war between Israel and surrounding countries will be the “official” sign of the end of days drawing nearer to the end.

At the Spoken Word Church we are always told to stay in tune to what is going on in Israel as well as in the rest of the world. Just on a simple level it would be wise to follow what’s going on in Israel because those are His chosen people.

For what seems like a long time that people have been saying “it’s the end of days…” I honestly never put it in perspective until the news broke about Israel and the fighting in the Gaza Strip. We are truly in the last of days and things are “wrapping up” quickly. Now is the time to repent and give your life over to the Lord, because it’s He that will save us and keep us. Still some people struggle to come to Christ because they think that if God really existed nothing bad would ever happen to them or others, totally disregarding the fact the we all have free will and that not everyone is saved.

Be watchful and do not let another day go by without having Christ in your life. It’s easy and quick to let Him in, but it is up to you to make the decision…..

Don’t Let The Devil Win!

Today was a prime example of how the devil will try to get under your skin. Having people have conversations around you and make glances toward you as if they are talking about you, or dealing with customers who aren’t very friendly or in a good mood and so on.

There will always by days where it may seem like everyone is “out for you” or that everything just isn’t going good. However those are the times that you HAVE to remember that you are the child of the Most High. There is nothing more that Satan would want to do but to distract you from your mission and get you out of faith.

It’s easy to say “yeah, I know. I won’t let anything get under my skin!” until the day that you go through some unpleasant matters. We may expect our trials to be disguised as a certain way but come to us as a completely different way which can “blind side” us and either knock us completely of our path  or help us build our faith.

Know that nothing and no one can harm you if you have faith that what God said about no weapon formed against you shall prosper is true!

Symbols

Skulls & Crosses

I don’t know if any of you have noticed, but there has been a sudden surge in the popularity of skulls and crosses in fashion. I still remember when it was only the rockers, punks and skaters that wore skulls on their clothes. Now it has become a statement piece on every type of clothing and accessory item.

Now you see children as young as 2 years old with “fashionable” skull and cross bones sweater and matching beanie on. The confusing part is that many Christians buy these things.

I use to wear skulls and loved them before I gave my life to Christ. As to be expected I was a rocker and did not believe in heaven or hell even though I was promoting hell by wearing the things I wore and speaking the way I did. Likewise people who wear those skulls, cross bones and so on are only promoting death.

On the other hand images/designs of crosses has increased to the point of the cross becoming just another fashion symbol and losing the meaning behind it. Before we use to be able to tell who were believers by the cross around their neck or on the clothing, now everyone wears it as fashion not realizing that they wearing a symbol that is associated with Jesus Christ and how He died on the cross for us (only to be resurrected).

To be continued…..

Prayer

Have you ever been offered prayer, whether in church or in conversation but have kept quiet even though you know you need or want the prayer?

I have noticed that when we are given opportunities to receive prayer that most of the time or instant reaction is to keep quiet. In some cases we wish others would just instinctively know that we need prayer and just pray for us anyway.

I use to think “why is it so hard to go up for prayer?”

I have come to the realization that of course it would be hard for people to go up for prayer or simply express the need for prayer! How can Satan keep us from getting free if we all can come boldly to the altar in prayer or to receive prayer? This is just a tactic of the enemy to keep us in bondage and keep us in a state of fear for anyone to find out what we need prayer for.

Not always, but sometimes we have a need for prayer for something like to do well in an interview-then we hear someone ask for prayer for a relative who has cancer which then makes our prayer request seem so minute and unimportant. 

Don’t shy away when the opportunity to get prayer arises. Stand up! Don’t be ashamed, don’t think that your situation is too small or too big to be prayed for and answered- Don’t think that your request is “stupid” or “small”. All prayer requests are worthy!

Isaiah 55:8

Isaiah 55:8

New King James Version (NKJV)

⁸ “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord.

I have said this many times, but there are constant reminders as to how we all put our own limits on to God. We still seem to have a hard time realizing that God is above and beyond us that our minds can’t even handle how magnificent He is.

I have learned that just because I think one way about something that I may believe is good and pure, it more than likely is not even close to what God thinks or believes. This is why it can be hard to talk to people about God and what He thinks about them and certain current events because we end up placing our own thoughts and opinions in His place. I guess this is why we should be “slow to speak and quick to hear”.

A quick lesson in purifying your thoughts, don’t let your ideas about what and how people are be projected on to the Lord-therefore you won’t have to worry so much about saying something that is far off from what He thinks, believes and what He can do for us.

I do have to tell myself not to think of my own limitations when it comes to believing for something to happen for me by faith. Faith and ability are those concepts that we have to train our minds to not warp the true meanings.

Paths

-Proverbs 16:9

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ In their hearts humans plan their course,
    but the Lord establishes their steps.

I believe that one of the least talked about topic in churches is the topic of getting on the path that God has for us and how to continue in the Lord’s footsteps and how our path in God’s eyes involves us operating in our purpose.

 From my perspective, finding our purpose can seem like a huge feat, not knowing that if we tap in to where God wants us to be placed we can not only be on the path we are supposed to be on, but fall in to our purpose. Paths and purposes are such deep concepts when we first hear them in the word and in church. However, once we get some areas of our lives in order, these words take on a whole new meaning.

Some areas that we have to get in order to help us get on the right path and on to our purpose are:

A.)  Develop a prayer life-Praying on a regular basis, whether it’s for guidance, wisdom, prayer for another or for ourselves.

B.)  Be planted at a church-Pray about what church you should be in.

C.)  Clear our all hindrances, such as items that are tied to the occult in your house, car and breaking off relationships with ungodly people.

D.)  Be and hearer and a doer of the word-Be quick to listen and meditate the word in order to learn God’s voice for when He speaks to you you’ll know what to do.

To be Continued….