Are You Constructive or Destructive?

          “Sometimes people wish that judgment and destruction would come upon sinful people whose wickedness seems to demand immediate punishment. But God is more merciful than we can imagine. He feels compassion for the sinners we want judged, and he devises plans to bring them to Himself. What is your attitude toward those who are especially wicked? Do you want them destroyed? Or do you wish they could experience God’s mercy and forgiveness?” (Life Application Study Bible KJV, pg. 1270, notes on Jonah 4:10,11)

          

     I just finished reading Jonah and it resonates today. As people, we can be hard headed, especially Christians. That can hinder us from growing. We want to grow. Yet, we get persecuted and end up resenting those that are doing the persecuting. We don’t want them being success and when they are saved, many of us have issues with God’s mercy towards them, but we are not supposed to be this way.

     Jesus was very clear on how to deal with those that are not our friends. “(43) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy, (44) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. (46) For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even the publicans the same? (47) And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? (48) be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect,” Matthew 5:43-48.

          

     I’m aware that it is hard to feel love for those that constantly hate you. It’s not easy to be called names. It hurts, but it also hurt Jesus to be nailed to the cross. It hurt Jesus to see people be sinful. Jesus went through a lot for us out of love. Therefore, we are called to be constructive and not destructive.

          

     For those that don’t know what it means, constructive means “serving a useful purpose; tending to build up,” (Google). We want to serve a useful purpose and to build people up. We don’t want destruction for humanity but for all of those lost to be saved. Get rid of the Jonah attitude, and rejoice when someone is saved, even if it is someone you never got along with. Salvation is worth the celebration.

Your Sister in Christ,

Mary

My Weight/Looks Don't Define Me

     Happy belated Valentine's Day to all. I have to say this Valentine's Day was awesome. I spent it with my awesome family. I got to enjoy it. I didn't allow any negative thoughts such as, I don't have a husband or why don't I have a husband, ruin my day or weekend. I also didn't let my looks or weight dictate my thoughts. 

     This Saturday, I decided to beautify my beautiful self. That's right. I love myself, and will now on think highly of myself as should all of us. After all the Bible tells us that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made," (read Psalm 139:14). we shouldn't allow our looks or weight to define who we are. Ladies, we have been allowing this for too long. The Lord made me 5'5 with brown hair, and eyes. I am overweight (& will lose weight only for health reasons), but I'm a beauty. The Lord created me in His image. There is nothing wrong with us. 

     The world has produced magazines such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue, etc. These magazines put tall, blondes on the magazine who don't look like they eat, wanting to create a false sense of insecurity in us. We women come in all different shapes, sizes, hair colors, skin tones, etc. But, the one thing we all have in common: we are created in His image (Read Genesis 1). We are beautiful because of Him. God never made anything horrible. God said that everything was good and after He made us, He stated that "it was very good." God is not a liar ladies (Numbers 23:19a). His Word is to be believed. 

     I don't know abut y'all but this girl is going to love myself. I am beautify, I am of God, and I am "very good." My weight and my looks don't define me nor my outlook. My relationship with God, and how I treat myself will. Let me tell you, my desire is to have a close relationship with God, and to love myself. That's what I'm doing.

    "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded," James 4:8.

Love You All,

Your Sister in Christ, 
Mary

P.S. Remember you are all beautiful. 

The World is Not Our Best Friend

     "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you," John 15:18. 

     I have seen a lot of hate coming off the Internet. Technology is great, but many people use it to insult others. I was reading about a Christian rapper that goes by the name of Bizzle who does not support Macklemore(a worldly rapper)'s Same Love. The song promotes acceptance of gay marriage, which as Christians, we know goes against God and His Word. The world does agree with what the Bible says, and continues to show this by passing laws recognizing gay marriage.
  
     Well, Bizzle made a song countering Same Love. The hate overflowed. He posted numerous postings from people that responded with so much hate. They said vile things; it was very disturbing. Here's the thing though: Christians cannot expect more out of this world. The world never welcomed Jesus and hated Him. It will not treat us any better. It is not our friend. Instead of being insulted, we should pray for them and each other. We don't want to react in a negative way or become depressed in which Jesus warned us about beforehand. We want to do our godly duties, which include: praying, fasting, reading and consuming the Word of God, obeying God...etc. We know our godly duties. Let's not get bent out of shape in what we have known would be an issue. The world is not nor will it ever be our friend. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are our all in all-all we need.

     I understand that these hateful comments are upsetting. They angered me when I saw the postings, but I can't expect anymore from them. I have to understand what the Lord said, and just obey what He said. I'm not getting bent out of shape over anything anymore. I'm taking it to God. Let God do the cleaning. Let me do His Work He has for me.

     In the mean time, keep pressing on. Keep fighting the good fight. Run that race and complete it. Don't let go of God, but let go of the world and the mess in it. God WILL take care of us and the world. My faith is in the Lord-not the world.

Love you all.

Your Sister in Christ, 
Mary 

"(44) But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; (45) That ye may be the children of you Father which is in heaven; for he
maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust, " Matthew 5:44-45.

My God is a God That Never Gives Up

     I have to say Glory to God!!! I have been feeling down and out. I have made so many poor choices. Yet, God has not given up on me. Day after day, my Lord can snatch me, but He hasn't. He has not given up on me. He has always been with me. I was just too stubborn and ignorant doing my own thing. 

     Let me tell you about "doing your own thing", it leads straight to hell. "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," John 3:19. "Their deeds" is the key. If you are doing your own thing, there is no way that you are doing God's thing. I was doing "my thing" to the point that had God decided that He was done with me He could have given me a reprobate mind or just take me already, where hell would have been ready for me. 

     Let me tell you about reprobate. Dictionary.com defines it as "a depraved, unprincipled, or wicked person; a person rejected by God and beyond hope of salvation." (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/reprobate). Either way, the path would be straight to hell. The Lord didn't do this. 

     God is willing, patient, and ready for me to turn from my sins. 2 Peter 3:9 speaks volumes about God's character: "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 repentence." God sent His only Son to die for us (John 3:16). Jesus still advocates for us with His our Father. Jesus is our Savior and advocate. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous," 1 John 2:1. 

     No one can ever say when they face judgement that God never gave them a chance-not my God. No excuses. I praise my heavenly Father for His tolerance of me. He is Mighty! He is Awesome! He is the God of patience! I love Him so much! Words can't express how wonderful He is! I love my Lord!

     With encouraging words, keep pressing on Saints. Remember, if you are alive, it's never too late. God has given you that breath to repent-to come back to Him. Take His chance. Don't give up on God for He has not given up on us.

Love You All,

Your Sister in Christ,
Mary