My God

God continues to amaze me - God masters the use of everything. I find myself studying the
Old Testament, even more so lately, than the New. I'm gaining a deeper understanding of God and His nature. God never changes, His heart and His spirit can not be separated from the deeds of His hands. The more I learn about God the more He reveals himself as a master of the universe.

Our perspective of God is so vital in our walk as a Christian. In my early walk I came to understand that the Holy Spirit gives us spiritual gifting that are for the edifying of the body. For me Faith has been one of my most prominent gifts. God has placed a confidence deep within my spirit that has often caused those around me much discomfort. I remember how God upheld me during the loss of my first son. He ministered to me months before, prepared my heart. Many to this day are amazed when I recount those days with loving reflection, understanding that God does not make mistakes. I remember experiencing the grief that so many others have gone through, but yet my grief came prior to the loss of my son. By the time the day came, I was graced to accept it without shock, my perspective played a major role in my outlook during the difficult days that followed. I thank God that I was graced with uncommon faith and for that I am eternally grateful. Oftentimes I've felt isolated and alone simply because the Lord would reveal things to me and not permit me to reveal things until His timing. I struggled with this through the early years but after experiencing the rod of correction, I've learned to importance of being prudent. I've learned to wait on God and depend on Him to be my confidant. In Him I can trust and share my heart and thoughts when I feel isolated and misunderstood by others.

God is practical. He is sensible not emotional. His order is meticulous, He makes no mistakes and His plan is unfailing. God will never allow himself to be a liar. He is all knowing and all powerful. There is none other like Him. Religion, man's  doctrines preclude true intimacy and oneness with God. But through the spirit we can worship God and experience His presence. God's plan from the beginning was to commune with man, just as He did in the beginning with Adam. As we seek God, He reveals His plan to us. God in His infinite wisdom created everything to work in harmony. The Holy Spirit, offers the ability to interchange thoughts or feelings with the Father unrestricted.  

What does your walk testify to?

Testimony of demonstrated faith

I went to the hair salon that I take my girls to when they want their hair straightened.  Although my girls and I aren't regular clients since we are all natural and seldom solicit hair care from professionals,  the staff at our neighborhood salon has always been very accommodating to my girls and I over the past few years.   The staff at the salon are mature and professional.  I have frequented the salon over the years and typically just walk-in.  They always welcome us with open arms.   It is the spirit of excellence about the owner and the staff that I enjoy most along with the appropriateness of conversation and music selection that speaks to a relaxing, non invasive environment.  Although I usually sit in the lobby reading and making small talk with other patrons while I wait for my girls, this week I actually made an appointment for myself and left my girls at home.  Knowing little about me , the staff began to compliment me for the way my daughters and son behave, their poise, conversation and maturity. The owner made several comments on how I carry myself and said she was curious to know what was my faith...

my Faith?  

I must admit I was a little taken back by the question...not in offense though, it's just that this was not the first time this question has been posed.

Over the past couple of months I've encountered several Christians who have asked me this very same question.  I was delighted and boldly shared that I was a Christian.  

After all these years,  the owner mentioned that she believed I was a Muslim... 

A Muslim?   I thought long and hard, on this over the past couple of days...which inspired me to write this post.

Why not a Christian?

She went on to say I have such a sweet spirit and that she was in awe of my patience and how I carried myself.  She said she could tell I was a great mother and wife who loved her husband.  Though she had never met my husband, she was curious to know more about where we were from.  I shared with her our story, our faith walk and our desire to live a holy life that reflected God in every area of our lives. I explained that I hadn't always been this way and that it was the working power of God that was transforming me day by day into His likeness to love and accept his lead.  The women in the salon began to rejoice over my testimony. They were thrilled to see pictures of my husband and I and our children.

There was a quietness that came over the salon and God reminded me that He was the prince of peace. The stylist who serviced me began to tell me how she had been preparing for me since our call the day before.   She knew it would take over 4-6 hours for my appointment so she brought in the instrumental CD for me, the other stylist began to say how nice the CD was and that they needed to just have a day of quite to restore them from the ailments of pain, sickness and inner turmoil.  I was able to enjoy a day of relaxation and restoration while meditating on the goodness of our Lord.  The owner later mentioned that she herself had no pain throughout the day and was heading to her appointment that she had made previously because of her concern.  I then realized the importance of pleading the blood of Jesus in your coming and your goings...I am convinced that God will always cause an effect in the atmosphere when we put our trust in Him.  I had prayed for a relaxing day at the salon, something I typically feel anxiety over.   It wasn't the atmosphere that attracted me to the salon, it was God sending me into the establishment and each time He had met me in that place.  He is concerned about all that concerns us, and He knows that I am ever mindful of where and what I expose my children to. Perhaps our experiences have more to do with what we give off than what is given to us.  Over the years I have learned everywhere we go, we should be atmosphere changers, ushering in the Spirit of God.  That is the testimony of my faith.  Not boastful and exalted, but bearing His fruit.  The fruits of the spirit which are given love, peace, kindness, long-suffering, gentleness, meekness joy and faith.

Why a Muslim?
                            

I can tell you that we can learn a lot from Muslims, their faith supersedes their environment, it is the platform from which all life stages are played from worship, to family, to etiquette and diet to government and military even to how they treat their fellow brothers and sisters. They, like Christians have a monotheistic faith and for them his name is Allah. They are a disciplined people and live out the tenets and laws defined in the Qur'an, which is considered to be like the Holy Bible for Christians in that they too, believe it to be both the unaltered and the final revelation of God. 

We as Christians should spend less time declaring that we possess Salvation through God's redemptive son, Christ and focus on being set a part in our walk, the Bible is the highest law given to man, and God's son set the standards and dictates our unwavering faith, if we live by faith, our faith is that we are the transformed into the expressed image of his Son, then our character should resemble Christ, our lives must be congruent to Christ's and we must be consistent and show resolve in what we believe and it be evident.

If I carried a Bible, does that make me a Christian, if I quote scripture, does that make me a Christian? 

I'm not offended by the comment, compliment?  It gave me something to ponder, until the body put away religion and put on the very nature of God we are merely touching the surface of what it means to be a true servant...I serve the ONE TRUE God, Elohim, I have relationship with Him through His son, Jesus the Christ,  last I checked, Allah does not have a son.   Many will cry they are Christians but the life of a Christian must first begin with CHRIST, not religious traditions that make people feel comfortable in your presence, it's time that we embrace being SET A PART so that there is a clear distinction from the world.

Too many Christians are turning people OFF to Christ, leading them astray with their lukewarm lifestyles, compromising the effectiveness of the Blood by leaning to their own understanding and religious piety. It is our testimony, in speech and action that  makes a disciple peculiar even to those who say they are Christians? A citizen of heaven is not to be understood by the world.  We are given a charge once we accept Christ.  We must love our brothers, allow His power to transform us and go out and make disciples of men to bring HIS Kingdom on Earth.  Now how can we bring His Kingdom on Earth if we are too busy building our own? What does your walk testify to?

In 1 Timothy Chapter 1, Paul reminds us that our walk should be our faith testimony that we are His...

---

1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Warning Against False Teachers of the Law 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain men not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 nor to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. These promote controversies rather than God’s work—which is by faith. 5 The goal of this command is love, which comes from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. 6 Some have wandered away from these and turned to meaningless talk. 7 They want to be teachers of the law, but they do not know what they are talking about or what they so confidently affirm. 8 We know that the law is good if one uses it properly. 9 We also know that law^a is made not for the righteous but for lawbreakers and rebels, the ungodly and sinful, the unholy and irreligious; for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers, 10 for adulterers and perverts, for slave traders and liars and perjurers—and for whatever else is contrary to the sound doctrine 11 that conforms to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which he entrusted to me. The Lord’s Grace to Paul 12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.15 Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. 16 But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.18 Timothy, my son, I give you this instruction in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by following them you may fight the good fight, 19 holding on to faith and a good conscience. Some have rejected these and so have shipwrecked their faith. 20 Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan to be taught not to blaspheme.

What does your walk bear witness?

Problems

When a teacher wants a student to grow, she doesn't give him answers, instead, she'll give him problems. Comforts don't bring growth, therefore joy has no context without first experiencing discomfort, joy is what you feel after the conflict is over--from today's sermon, conflict can make some people better while it makes others bitter...Most often, you can't help what happens to you in this world, but you can choose how you decide to deal with it. Your problems give you value...You won't know the strength of your faith until you are tried. Until your faith is tested it's not faith at all. Has God tested your faith with a problem? What does your faith during tough times reveal about who you really are?

I have learned we must outgrow our problems...if you don't have problems you will never grow...first understand you are not the only one with problems...Don't let the enemy isolate you to believe differently...Everyone has problems, problems are part of the process of God...understanding that we must stand on God's Promise and know that problems are normal to life...it doesn't mean your life is in sin, we ALL have problems...the word teaches us that many are the afflictions of the righteous, but Jesus has already overcome the world...Don't be pushed by your problems...be lead by your dreams...A 'problem' is that which can be solved, if it can't be solved then it isn't a problem it is a fact of life. Know the difference...never make a 'fact of life' a 'problem' a Fact of life must be accepted. Notes from this a.m service...The process of God pt3 given by Dale C. Bronner

My 2012 reflections...

Investing means denying your present to secure your future tomorrow. 2012 brought forward fruit from seeds sown years ago...Wisdom is the principle thing of which there is no lack in God, Wisdom brought maturity into every area of my life. I learned to not seek a natural answer for a spiritual need. I realized you should never lose your temper because when you lose it...the devil always finds it...I've had to apologize to those I love dearly and pray to forgive myself and allow God's spirit to cleanse and heal. I've experienced a greater love for God's people by praying instead of getting involved in the ins and outs of their personal lives. I've learned that my personal health, wealth and spiritual wellness can't be maintained without discipline and accountability. It is so necessary to have a friend in Christ and I bless the Lord for those I have been able to get naked before. 

...I have come into a new woman of boldness, no longer seeking approval but yet humble enough to allow God to use people, situations and circumstances as teachable instruments.

In 2012, I've captured a few moments that will define me in the new year. I have come into a new woman of boldness, no longer seeking approval but yet humble enough to allow God to use people, situations and circumstances as teachable instruments. Some have walked away from me this year and a few I've left to pursue their journey in life, nevertheless, I've allowed God to fill every void. Others have entered into my life this year and perhaps there is work to be proven through these relationships that will come about in the new year. I am learning to listen more to hear God's still small voice. 2012 was the Year of Action, the first part I learned that simply being busy doesn't mean you are progressing so after a course correction, I have progressively intention my action by the leading of the Holy Spirit. I was blessed to spend these past few months with my beautiful husband and our children and I can say we are writing the vision and ready to run. I have been strengthened and renewed and ready for 2013.