8/27/12
"And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent," Acts 17:30.
Reading Acts is just an awesome experience. I have been learning some new information. The Lord has been marvelous in His giving to me. Thank You Jesus!
Verse 30 in chapter 17 stood out for me. My King James Version Life Application Study Bible defined winked as "overlooked." It hit me how true this was.. The Lord, wanting us so dearly to find and reach out to Him, has overlooked quite a bit. He is truly full of mercy. He has put up some mess. Having said that, He wants it to stop.
2 Peter 3:9 states the following: "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The Lord does not want us to perish. He is wanting us to repent, to reach out to Him. He wants us with Him. He wants us to acknowledge Him, to admit that we need Him. And yet, we are where we are: a world full of carefree, selfish, prideful, hateful, lustful, greedy, lying, whoring people. Those descriptions are just the tip of the iceberg.
People the point of this is that this world is full of sinners. Sinners that have ignorantly and intentionally have went their own way. Now, it must stop! The Lord has given this world so much and has asked for so little in return...The Lord will no longer hold us blameless. He will hold each and everyone of us accountable for our actions. No longer will He "wink" at it.
He is not overlooking "it" anymore. He shouldn't. God has sent His Son to die for us. We have redemption through Jesus. So, "ignorance" will not cut it as an excuse as we no longer have an excuse.
There will be a day when Jesus will come back again and judgement will come forth. Let's stay on track saints and speak the gospel to as many people as we can.
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Remembering How The Lord Saved Me
8/26/12
I just got done reading Joshua chapter 4. The Lord had commanded Joshua to instruct 12 men (one from each tribe) to bring 12 stones. These stones would be a memorial to what the Lord had done. Just like when He had parted the Red Sea, the Lord had dried up the Jordan so that they could ge through. When asked they were to inform their children of what the 12 stones were for. What an awesome memorial. What an awesome thing the Lord had done for them!
This got me to go back to how the Lord had saved me. I want to share my story. Granted, you will get the short version as it can go on and on. Lol! Having said that it is still powerful.
When I was growing up, I always felt that there was something wrong with me. I would lose my anger real quickly, for no apparent reason. I would become depressed. I would have hissy fits. All of this began real early for me. I would say around 4-5 was this how I was feeling. My parents did all they could for me in terms of disciplining me.
They were forced to get me help when I was 12 after I tried to kill myself. Things got worse after my grandmother died. I cussed at God. Where was He? Where was the God that I had learned about from my parents? (I should note that my parents told me about Jesus but it was never deep nor did we ever attend church. I attended one VBS and that was the extent of it). I ate and ate. I hurt myself physcially from scratching myself. Things did not get better in college.
I continued to gain weignt ( I still, sadly have this issue, which I have gotten to my highest weight. Highest weight that was notated: 364. Although, I'm certain it is now higher). On the positive side, the Lord had tooken away my depression and suicidal thoughts. Yet, I was still unsaved. I went out and drank and smoke (once. I through up and gave up that mess). The Lord had been reaching out to me. I didn't know it at that time but He was.
My sister told me about the Left Behind books. I didn't do anything about them at the time. I had no interest in them. Rather, I was reading suspense, romantic comedies at that time. Heck, I even read the Davinci Code. Saved or not, I didn't agree with that book at all.
Anyways, I had walked into a Fry's and some guy handed me a track. I was walking on my campus and another person handed me the same track. One night, I placed a phone call for a ride to my sister and saw a picture of Jesus. I took them home. I drew closer after the Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (authors of Left Behind) interview in which I watched. They were countering (& rightfully so) the movie Revelations that NBC was airing (that thing was so untrue). They talked about the mercy of God and how that He was showing mercy by waiting. Each day the rapture didn't take place was a sign of God wanting to get every last one in that would come in. I was convinced at this point that the Lord had wanted me.
It was not until about 2 years later, that I became born again. I quit the drinking. I found a church home. Now, the Lord has called me to teach His Word. I'm a missionary at my church and feel that the Lord is leading me into newer territory and to a deeper relationship with Him. I'm so thankful to Him. He is so amazing!
We should always remember how the Lord has tooken us out of the bad and has resuscitated us successfully. We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ!!! Praise Jesus!!! That is my testimony! Church remember your testimony!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
I just got done reading Joshua chapter 4. The Lord had commanded Joshua to instruct 12 men (one from each tribe) to bring 12 stones. These stones would be a memorial to what the Lord had done. Just like when He had parted the Red Sea, the Lord had dried up the Jordan so that they could ge through. When asked they were to inform their children of what the 12 stones were for. What an awesome memorial. What an awesome thing the Lord had done for them!
This got me to go back to how the Lord had saved me. I want to share my story. Granted, you will get the short version as it can go on and on. Lol! Having said that it is still powerful.
When I was growing up, I always felt that there was something wrong with me. I would lose my anger real quickly, for no apparent reason. I would become depressed. I would have hissy fits. All of this began real early for me. I would say around 4-5 was this how I was feeling. My parents did all they could for me in terms of disciplining me.
They were forced to get me help when I was 12 after I tried to kill myself. Things got worse after my grandmother died. I cussed at God. Where was He? Where was the God that I had learned about from my parents? (I should note that my parents told me about Jesus but it was never deep nor did we ever attend church. I attended one VBS and that was the extent of it). I ate and ate. I hurt myself physcially from scratching myself. Things did not get better in college.
I continued to gain weignt ( I still, sadly have this issue, which I have gotten to my highest weight. Highest weight that was notated: 364. Although, I'm certain it is now higher). On the positive side, the Lord had tooken away my depression and suicidal thoughts. Yet, I was still unsaved. I went out and drank and smoke (once. I through up and gave up that mess). The Lord had been reaching out to me. I didn't know it at that time but He was.
My sister told me about the Left Behind books. I didn't do anything about them at the time. I had no interest in them. Rather, I was reading suspense, romantic comedies at that time. Heck, I even read the Davinci Code. Saved or not, I didn't agree with that book at all.
Anyways, I had walked into a Fry's and some guy handed me a track. I was walking on my campus and another person handed me the same track. One night, I placed a phone call for a ride to my sister and saw a picture of Jesus. I took them home. I drew closer after the Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins (authors of Left Behind) interview in which I watched. They were countering (& rightfully so) the movie Revelations that NBC was airing (that thing was so untrue). They talked about the mercy of God and how that He was showing mercy by waiting. Each day the rapture didn't take place was a sign of God wanting to get every last one in that would come in. I was convinced at this point that the Lord had wanted me.
It was not until about 2 years later, that I became born again. I quit the drinking. I found a church home. Now, the Lord has called me to teach His Word. I'm a missionary at my church and feel that the Lord is leading me into newer territory and to a deeper relationship with Him. I'm so thankful to Him. He is so amazing!
We should always remember how the Lord has tooken us out of the bad and has resuscitated us successfully. We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ!!! Praise Jesus!!! That is my testimony! Church remember your testimony!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
No Profits = Losses
(8/22/12)
Acts 16:16-24
Doing the right thing often offends others who then begin going after us. Paul casts out a spirit from a slave girl. This costs the girl to lose the ability to fortune tell. Of course, her masters were profiting from this. They lost their profits and go after Paul and Silas, dragging them to the rulers, accusing them of troubling their city and preaching something that went against them. They reacted negatively because they had lost their profit..
This brings up a good point. Our fight is not with people but against principalities (supernatural spiritual powers, whehter good or evil > in this case evil), against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, & against spiritual wickedness in high places!!! That's our fight.
When we go against satan and his army, persecution will come. Let's think about this. Every soul that hears the gospel from us and is saved by God is costing satan losses-not profits. he doesn't profit from us going against him. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give us life and more abundance of life (John 10:10). If he is not stealing, killing, or destroying, he is not profiting! The good news people is this: Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4) & we have overcame satan and his army!!! Yay!!!
Saints, remembeer the battle & remember to stick to the Truth no matter what or who it costs you!!! Our job is to keep satan from profiting and helping others get saved. Stick with the Truth Brothers & Sisters in Christ.
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Acts 16:16-24
Doing the right thing often offends others who then begin going after us. Paul casts out a spirit from a slave girl. This costs the girl to lose the ability to fortune tell. Of course, her masters were profiting from this. They lost their profits and go after Paul and Silas, dragging them to the rulers, accusing them of troubling their city and preaching something that went against them. They reacted negatively because they had lost their profit..
This brings up a good point. Our fight is not with people but against principalities (supernatural spiritual powers, whehter good or evil > in this case evil), against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, & against spiritual wickedness in high places!!! That's our fight.
When we go against satan and his army, persecution will come. Let's think about this. Every soul that hears the gospel from us and is saved by God is costing satan losses-not profits. he doesn't profit from us going against him. He has come to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give us life and more abundance of life (John 10:10). If he is not stealing, killing, or destroying, he is not profiting! The good news people is this: Greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4) & we have overcame satan and his army!!! Yay!!!
Saints, remembeer the battle & remember to stick to the Truth no matter what or who it costs you!!! Our job is to keep satan from profiting and helping others get saved. Stick with the Truth Brothers & Sisters in Christ.
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Finishing Our Work
(8/19/12)
"Saying, This Man began to build, and was not able to finish," Luke 14:30. An awesome Word from the Lord came today. Our Pastor preached about not being just another face in the crowd. she came from Luke 14:25-33. To me the above verse stood out. It hit me: Will I be able to finish? A question that hit me just now is: Will I be able to fight the good fight or Will i be able to finish my course? (2 Timothy 4:7). How said will it be to hear the dreadful words, Depart from me, I never knew you. All of it would be because I didn't finish. In order not to finish something, you run into distractions (people or things) or some kind of hindrance (again people or things). I don't want my works to be incomplete or in vain. Time is winding down. So, we must go into overtime with what the Lord has called us to do. Question is: Will we complete our works & finish strong for the Lord or will we crumble under the pressure? Fight on Saints!!! Let's complete our works!!! Let's stay with the Lord in everything!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
"Saying, This Man began to build, and was not able to finish," Luke 14:30. An awesome Word from the Lord came today. Our Pastor preached about not being just another face in the crowd. she came from Luke 14:25-33. To me the above verse stood out. It hit me: Will I be able to finish? A question that hit me just now is: Will I be able to fight the good fight or Will i be able to finish my course? (2 Timothy 4:7). How said will it be to hear the dreadful words, Depart from me, I never knew you. All of it would be because I didn't finish. In order not to finish something, you run into distractions (people or things) or some kind of hindrance (again people or things). I don't want my works to be incomplete or in vain. Time is winding down. So, we must go into overtime with what the Lord has called us to do. Question is: Will we complete our works & finish strong for the Lord or will we crumble under the pressure? Fight on Saints!!! Let's complete our works!!! Let's stay with the Lord in everything!!!
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Truly Blessed!
(8/15/12)
I'm so guilty of this just like many of my Brothers & Sisters in Christ are as well. Many of us tend to forget about the awesome blessing the Lord has done for us. He opened the door to faith to us gentiles (Acts 14:127). We were graffed in (Romans 11:17-24). Having said this we must not be proud nor despise what the the Israelites contributed to our faith. Blessed but not prideful! Be thankful for the Lord Who has shown the light of salvation to us gentiles as well. He is truely awesome. Feeling blessed & loved :)
Reflecting on what the Lord has done for me.
I'm so guilty of this just like many of my Brothers & Sisters in Christ are as well. Many of us tend to forget about the awesome blessing the Lord has done for us. He opened the door to faith to us gentiles (Acts 14:127). We were graffed in (Romans 11:17-24). Having said this we must not be proud nor despise what the the Israelites contributed to our faith. Blessed but not prideful! Be thankful for the Lord Who has shown the light of salvation to us gentiles as well. He is truely awesome. Feeling blessed & loved :)
Reflecting on what the Lord has done for me.
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Don't Be Misguided or Blinded By Someone's Lifestyle
(8/14/12)
Not only does society do this but Christians as well have been guilty of looking at someone's lifestyle & assume the worse. Rahab was a harlot. In our age, she was a prostitute. Having said this, she had a knowledge & believed in God & how He was giving the land to His people. She helped the spies & in return asked for safety for her family. They made an oath.
The thing is if we just look at her lifestyle, we're unable to see more of who she is. God sees a believer, one who will help & does. We see her as a harlot. When God led Samuel to David, He let Samuel know what to do. "But the lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his contenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. God chose David to be the next king. He was the youngest & a shepherd-not exactly king material but the Lord knew him-knew he had a heart after His (Acts 13:22).
We cannot & must not look upon someone's lifestyle & think we know who they are. We don't. So Brothers & Sisters in Christ, judge not. Don't be misguided or blinded by what we see. Outward appearances don't let us know who they are. All we do is love them, bless them, pray for them, be kind to them, & know that God knows who they are. We don't. The appearance or lifestyle of a person by no means is the end of them. The Lord works things out of people.
Rahab is an example that there is more to a person than what we see.
Not only does society do this but Christians as well have been guilty of looking at someone's lifestyle & assume the worse. Rahab was a harlot. In our age, she was a prostitute. Having said this, she had a knowledge & believed in God & how He was giving the land to His people. She helped the spies & in return asked for safety for her family. They made an oath.
The thing is if we just look at her lifestyle, we're unable to see more of who she is. God sees a believer, one who will help & does. We see her as a harlot. When God led Samuel to David, He let Samuel know what to do. "But the lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his contenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart" 1 Samuel 16:7. God chose David to be the next king. He was the youngest & a shepherd-not exactly king material but the Lord knew him-knew he had a heart after His (Acts 13:22).
We cannot & must not look upon someone's lifestyle & think we know who they are. We don't. So Brothers & Sisters in Christ, judge not. Don't be misguided or blinded by what we see. Outward appearances don't let us know who they are. All we do is love them, bless them, pray for them, be kind to them, & know that God knows who they are. We don't. The appearance or lifestyle of a person by no means is the end of them. The Lord works things out of people.
Rahab is an example that there is more to a person than what we see.
God Bless
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Monday, August 13, 2012
Prosperity & Success = Meditation Night & Day on The Word & Not turning to the Right or To The Left
(8/13/12)
Reading Acts & Joshua. The Lord led me to Joshua. It hit me in 1:7. We are to be strong & courageous, turning neither to the right nor to the left that we may prosper wherever we go. How am I going to prosper if I keep derailing myself to the right or to the left?! There is no prosperity in derailment. Nothing but wreckages & baggages thrown all around. In verse 8, it further illustrates the importance of meditation night & day, observing & doing what is written (being a hearer & a doer > James 1:22). You succeed & prosper only through this. I've been messing up big time. If I keep on writing this down, I'm a thinking it's not good. I want success in the Lord not a falling out!! Prosperity & Success = MEDITATING, MEDITATING, MEDITATING, sticking to the WORD & not deviating from the WORD!!!
Reading Acts & Joshua. The Lord led me to Joshua. It hit me in 1:7. We are to be strong & courageous, turning neither to the right nor to the left that we may prosper wherever we go. How am I going to prosper if I keep derailing myself to the right or to the left?! There is no prosperity in derailment. Nothing but wreckages & baggages thrown all around. In verse 8, it further illustrates the importance of meditation night & day, observing & doing what is written (being a hearer & a doer > James 1:22). You succeed & prosper only through this. I've been messing up big time. If I keep on writing this down, I'm a thinking it's not good. I want success in the Lord not a falling out!! Prosperity & Success = MEDITATING, MEDITATING, MEDITATING, sticking to the WORD & not deviating from the WORD!!!
Until Next Time..Lord's Willing
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
We Are NOT "Common"
I was reading Acts chapter 11. Peter retells what happened to him in a vision to a group of people calling him out for interacting with gentiles. Peter had a vision correcting him to not call what God has cleansed "common". The samething applies to us Christians. We are not "common". We are SO much more. We're a "chosen generation", a "royal priesthood", a "peculiar people". We are not common. We are so much more. We need not put each other down nor ourselves neither should we listen to the "world" in their "interpretation" of us.
The world hates us because it first hate Jesus (John 15:18). They call us "homophobes", "bigots", "haters", and other names. We are NONE of those things. We are Christians! We are PECULIAR! We are a "CHOSEN GENERATION"! We are a "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD"! God has designated us as this. We are pretty awesome as His creation, as His people. Don't think negative. Don't let people belittle you. You are who you are in Christ! Keep your heads up Saints.
The world hates us because it first hate Jesus (John 15:18). They call us "homophobes", "bigots", "haters", and other names. We are NONE of those things. We are Christians! We are PECULIAR! We are a "CHOSEN GENERATION"! We are a "ROYAL PRIESTHOOD"! God has designated us as this. We are pretty awesome as His creation, as His people. Don't think negative. Don't let people belittle you. You are who you are in Christ! Keep your heads up Saints.
Until Next Time...Lord's Willing
Your Sister in Christ,
Mary
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