About Homosexuality...

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Homosexuality is a subject many Christians try to avoid in this day and age. It's a heated subject, no doubt. I've had many people ask me about God's view on homosexuality and many times I didn't know how to respond. I knew what to say, but I didn't know how to say it. Now that I've grown spiritually, I'm able to properly answer those kind of questions, glory to God. It's very important we know how to address homosexuality in a way that doesn't stray away from God's word.

So here's the scenario: God has really blessed your ministry! Churches across the country are paying you to minister to their congregation. Today you just finished speaking at an university in Houston, TX.. You decided to stay afterwards and socialize. A guy approaches you and sparks a conversation. You two are talking about a little bit of everything, from sports to food. And since you are on the subject of food, of course you had to mention Chick-fil-a is one of your favorite places to eat! Referring to the controversy surrounding the restaurant giant, the guy asks you, what's your view on gay marriage? How does God feel about homosexuality?

Pause.

There are three common mistakes Christians make when answering this question (I've once made the same mistakes). We have a responsibility to be representatives of Christ, so we must be aligned with God's word. If we don't it falls on us. When God called Ezekiel to be a prophet He told him,

Ezekiel 3:17-19 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the people of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. When I say to a wicked person, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn them or speak out to dissuade them from their evil ways in order to save their life, that wicked person will die for their sin, and I will hold you accountable for their blood. But if you do warn the wicked person and they do not turn from their wickedness or from their evil ways, they will die for their sin; but you will have saved yourself."

Let's get to those three mistakes.

Mistake #1: Ignore it.

I get it, it's risky. Nowadays anyone who doesn't agree with homosexuality faces some kind of social sanction. For instance, a business would lose millions if the CEO openly announced he or she was against same-sex marriage. But that doesn't mean avoid it! 

Think about it. Why are you serving God? If you are serving Him for popularity, then you are going to be greatly disappointed. Jesus Christ was far from popular. He was hated by many and loved by few in this world. Many people disagreed with everything He said--they even disagreed with His identity. That didn't stop Jesus from speaking. He left no stone unturned, no matter how controversial it was. 

 John 15:18-20 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. "If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, 'A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also."    

As a servant of God we must be prepared to face rejection. We can't take it personally. If your dad asked you to take the gift he bought your aunt and deliver it to her, and your aunt rejected it and told you to give it back, do you get offended? Did she not reject you and instead rejected your father? In this same way we must learn to separate from the situation and think of ourselves as merely the messengers.

Luke 10:16 “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

Mistake #2: Sugarcoat it.


Our God is a very clear and transparent God. With that being said, in the bible He clearly said yes something is right and no something is wrong. Anything in between is Satan's deception.

Matthew 5:37  All you need to say is simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

We have to be careful not to twist God's word to ease the feelings of others. That's pure deception, and you're hurting people more than you are helping. For example, when gospel artist Kirk Franklin was asked about homosexuality, he twisted God's word to make the point that we should blend in with people by establishing a friendship before we tell them that homosexuality is wrong. Remember deception works by taking a little bit of truth and surrounding it with a lie. Yes it is true that we are to love everyone and remain humble, knowing that we are not perfect. However we are not to compromise God's word, nor be yielding to the ways of the world. He used Jesus Christ as an example, and referred to John 4. He said Jesus got to know the Samaritan woman at the well before bringing up the will of God. Not true! Jesus already knew everything about the woman, and that's how He won her heart. Jesus started off by telling the woman there's something missing in her life--God. He approached her with love, but at the same time He didn't sugarcoat anything. There's a difference between loving a person and enabling someone. Here's the interview if you want to see it for yourself:

John 4:7-27 When a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, “Will you give me a drink?” (His disciples had gone into the town to buy food.)
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”
 “Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep. Where can you get this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his livestock?”
 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”
The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”
He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”
“I have no husband,” she replied.
Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.  The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”
“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.  God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”
 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.”

So let's go back to the scenario and answer the guy's question. How does God feel about homosexuality? It's quite clear from the bible that God doesn't agree with homosexuality. He warns us not to partake in such things. So that's your answer. However how you deliver that message could be problematic and leads me to the next mistake.

Mistake #3: Being prideful and condemning
We have to be careful and make sure we are aligned with God at all times. Yes God tells us that homosexuality is wrong, but He also tells us to love one another. Only through the Holy Spirit can those two things be balanced.

We have to make sure we don't make the same mistake Moses made at the Desert of Zin. The Israelites complained to Moses and Aaron because they were in the desert with nothing to drink. This wasn't the first time they complained, and it started to get to Moses. So he and Aaron went to the entrance to the tent of meeting to seek God in the matter. God's glory appeared and told them:

Numbers 20:8 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink.”

So Moses and Aaron gathered everyone, and Moses struck the rock and water came from it. But instead of sticking to God's will and obeying Him step-by-step, Moses strayed away from God's command. Before striking the rock Moses told the Israelites,

Numbers 20:10 “Listen, you rebels, must we bring you water out of this rock?”

This was not what God told Moses to do. Moses took it a step further, and in doing so he exalted himself and therefore brought judgment on him. There were two fatal flaws Moses made in his statement:

1.) He let anger take over and he called the Israelites rebels.
We have to be careful with what comes out of our mouths. The power of life and death is in the tongue. We can speak life over someone's situation by being encouraging, or we can speak death over a situation by using words that condemn a person. Moses himself was once a rebel as we all were before God stepped into our lives. Moses knew this and remained humble a majority of his life, but he had a moment. He slipped from God's will. We just have to be careful and make sure we are constantly in tune with God.

Matthew 7:1 "Do not judge, or you too will be judged."

Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

2.) He took credit for God's work.
 Moses told the Israelites "Must we bring you water from this rock?" There was no we. God created that miracle, not Moses.

We are walking miracles. Think of how you have changed. We must remember it was God who performed those miracles. We did not change on our own. Since Moses did not follow God's will, God told him,

Numbers 20:12 “Because you did not trust in me enough to honor me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.”

Remember humility. We must always remain humble.

Matthew 23:12 Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

We are representatives of God. It's hard, I understand! We live in a world where Satan roams free. He tempts people and gets them to fall. Once they fall, he accuses and condemns that person for falling! Unfortunately we are living in times where through the media Satan has convinced the world that it is we, who accuse and condemn. This was the very thing Jesus was against! Jesus told people who condemn,

Matthew 23:13 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to."

He never ignored sin or sugarcoated it. Instead He dedicated His life to serving sinners by preaching about the wonderful life they can have through Him by giving up their old ways. God is a forgiver. 

 Yet Satan has gotten it to a point where there are people who hate Christians for not supporting gay marriage and there are prideful false Christians who hate those who practice homosexuality.

Those of us who are aligned with God's word are left to wear the labels and stereotypes of the fake Christians who hate. Jesus warned us. He told us when we are accused and persecuted,

Matthew 10:19 "Do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. "For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you."

We must be aligned with the Holy Spirit.

So back to the scenario. Here's how I would answer the question, "How does God feel about homosexuality?"

I would say this: God warns us not to practice homosexuality. It is a form of lust that we are to stay away from. Before I turned my life to God I was caught up in lusts as well. I was addicted to pornography and that addiction left me empty. Once I asked Jesus Christ to come into my life He freed me from the bondage of my sin. I fell over and over again, but I asked God to forgive me and cleanse me of my sins and He did. Now I am free and I no longer feel empty. Jesus drowned me in His love and now I am a new person.

Notice this answer did not stray away from the truth, but it also didn't condemn because of humility. Now if the person accepted what you said, great. If the person decided to yell obscenities at you and accuse you of wrongdoing, remember it is not you they are rejecting. Just move on. Your job in the matter is done.

It is our job to be Holy Spirit driven. We must remain humble, be unyielding to this world, and love everyone. Don't let Satan scare you into avoiding or sugar coating the topic of homosexuality. Jesus Christ prepared you by giving you the Holy Spirit.

Be confident in God in knowing that He has prepared you for any and everything! 




 

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Quick Point: Trust God!

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Are you really trusting God with your problems, or are you struggling to handle it on your own? Learning to love and accept love is the key to being a part of His kingdom. So open up your heart to Him. Let His love pour in and rid you of your worries!
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Evening Praise Session: Byron Cage-I will Bless the Lord

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Being a rooted servant of God means praising Him despite your situation. Show God you love Him for who He is and not only for what He can do.
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Morning Praise Session: All Because of Jesus-Fee

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Let's thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for every breath we breathe! The cost of sin was death. It is only because of Him that we didn't die for our sins. The man without sin suffered the death that those with sin deserved. Give praise to Him for this display of affection at the cross!
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Evening Praise Session: Let it Rise-Big Daddy Weave

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Who says praising God isn't fun? Let this upbeat jam blast through your speakers and shout praises to the wonderful God we serve!
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Morning Praise Session:Our God-Chris Tomlin

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Let's give praise to a mighty and amazing God! Through Him we have security, mercy, and endless love.
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Is God's love enough for you?

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Instead of focusing on what you don't have, try focusing on what you do have. Can you imagine living one day without God's love? We live in a world full of people who are trying to push Jesus Christ away from us. Brothers and sisters around the world are murdered for loving Jesus. He warned us of this!
 
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.
 
So let's be grateful that God's love is so easily accessible. We don't have to praise Him underground like so many Christians around the world. However it won't always be this way! Someday we too will be persecuted because of our love for Jesus. So be grateful loves, because you have a lot to be grateful for!
 
 
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Evening Praise Session: I Trust You-James Fortune

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Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
  I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call on me, and I will answer him;
  I will be with him in trouble,
  I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life I will satisfy him
    and show him my salvation.

Enough said.
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Morning Praise Session: Redeemed-Big Daddy Weave

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How many of us are glad we are not who we used to be? Let's take a moment to praise God for progress!
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Evening Praise Session: Matt Redman-Heart of Worship

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This song captures the root of it all--pure authentic worship. He deserves it!
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Morning Praise Session: My hope is in you-Aaron Shust

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Isaiah 40:31 But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
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Evening Praise Session: Phillips, Craig, and Dean-Let my words be few

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This song just gets right down to it--Jesus we are so in love with you! What more can we say?
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Morning Praise Session: Kierra Sheard-Free

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Evening Praise Session: MercyMe-Finally Home

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Something to remind us that this is not our home! Thank you Jesus Christ for our inheritance in Heaven!!
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Morning Praise Session: Rush of Fools-No other Love

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Who can offer a greater love? Let's take a moment to thank God for His love and mercy. We make mistakes but no matter how much Satan tries to condemn us, we have something he will never have. We have a chance to be forgiven thanks to the blood of Jesus Christ. He took on our sins and died for us. Can you think of a better display of affliction? I sure can't!
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Let this be a reminder to stay in your own lane! Don't be tempted into comparing your life with the lives of your Facebook or Twitter friends. Think of it this way: God has you exactly where He wants you. Who are we to argue with God? Everything is a test, and if we can't make the best with little, then how can we expect to be given plenty?

Let me remind you of the wonderful place you are in right now. Being in God's will means having a life of guaranteed elevation. It may seem like those who are not saved (yet!) are having success on every level, but that's the deception Satan uses to pull the next person down. Those of the world can go no higher than the world. But those who live to serve God will have a life of borderless elevation--on Earth and in Heaven. This isn't our home! Our main goal shouldn't be to succeed here, because everything here is temporary. We are here to serve God and sow seeds into the hearts of the unsaved by ministering love.

Focus on being a servant of God and enjoy it!

2 Corinthians 10:12 Not that we dare to classify or compare ourselves with some of those who are commending themselves. But when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.
Galatians 1:10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
 
Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
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Evening Praise Session:

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Let's boast in the mightiness of our God! Isn't it amazing to think that the same God who did such amazing things in the Bible is doing amazing things in your life? I'm honored to be His daughter and His servant!
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Morning Praise Session: Aaron Shust-Change the Way

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Because we all desire to achieve deeper levels of praise!  May our love for you continue to grow as we fall deeper in love with you Jesus!
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God's Promises

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Satan tried to attack me today by telling me my situation will always be like this. No!

God is capable of all things, but one thing He cannot and will not do is lie to you. He loves us too much to be unfaithful. No matter how impossible it seems now, hold onto God's promises. We please Him through our faith and He in turn showers us with love and blessings. Praise God for His promises even if it isn't fulfilled yet. Show God that you have confidence in Him.

Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.

Isaiah 40:28-31 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.


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Evening Praise Session: Praise you in this storm- Casting Crowns

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It takes a rooted servant to praise God even when things are in disarray. Unleash that pure praise for God that can only come from loving Him for who He is. Seek His face and not His hand, and God will take the weights off of your shoulders.
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IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

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First off let me say, A Proverbs 31 Prospective is growing in ways I never would have imagined! I give glory to God for every post and every word. I want to thank all of the readers!

Here's the announcement:

A Proverbs 31 Prospective will now take on new efforts to cater to every reader individually.

If you have any prayer requests, ideas for future posts, need encouragement, or if you just want to talk, email me!

Don't let the enemy discourage you. You can email me about anything at anytime.

I look forward to what God is going to do with this ministry. I love you all and I can't wait to connect with you!

proverbs31prospective@gmail.com

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Morning Praise Session: Who am I-Casting Crowns

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For every one of our imperfections, there should be a praise sent up to God Almighty. For in Him we have hope and a love that endures forever.
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When you cry God is right next to you fixing your wounds. There is nothing you are going through that God cannot fix. He is your father and you are His child.
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Evening Praise Session:

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Because God's love often has us lost for words! Thank you God for loving us despite our imperfections!
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Morning Praise Session: Phillips, Craig, and Dean

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A moment in praise scares the devil away! Can you think of anyone more worthy of praise?! Thanks to God Almighty for his love, protection, and most of all, His mercy.
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The struggle is real. But God is realer

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Don't let your current situation block you from seeing the abundance of blessings that is to come. God put this word in my heart. "You are my children and I have set up a trust fund for every one of you. But you can't receive it if you don't trust me."
 
Don't let your current situation hinder your faith. You serve a borderless God who administers the impossible for His glory. In order for Him to do so He will put you in situations that seem like there's no solution. Our weapon is faith. Faith is defined in Hebrews 11:1:
 
 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.
 
We have to be at a place where we are saying, "God I don't see how to get out of this situation, but I trust you and I know you will get me through it."
 
You may not be where you want to be now, but we can't get caught up in circumstances because God can flip your situation instantly. You may be working for minimum wage today, but you serve a God who can make you a manager tomorrow.
 
A few months ago I was sitting on my bed unemployed, battling depression, and not to mention stressing over tons of financial issues with even bigger consequences. It was BURNING UP in my room. It was close to 100 degrees outside and I didn't have an air conditioner. It was supposed to storm around 6pm that night and the storm was expected to cool things off. I waited and waited for rain to come. It was about 7pm, and still no rain. At this point I was so hot I couldn't move. All I could do was stare at the wall. During the 9pm hour, I somehow found content in my suffering and I came to terms with that fact that it wasn't going to rain on my side of town. Then out of the blue it starting pouring and a strong wind blew through my window and cooled me off instantly. Afterwards I heard God clearly say to me "Just as I have instantly cooled you off, I will instantly change your situation." The next day, I had an interview, got the position and started the job. All in one day!!!
 
Still don't believe the mighty God we serve?
  
We may be poor today but we won't always be.
God constantly tells us in the Bible that the poor will be uplifted. See a few verses for yourself:
 
1 Samuel 2:7-8 The Lord sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts. He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor.
 
Psalm 72:12-14 For he will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death.  He will rescue them from oppression and violence, for precious is their blood in his sight.
 
Isaiah 41:17-18 "The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the LORD will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs."
 
Luke 6:20 Looking at his disciples he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God."
 
Your situation may have you weak, but from God's prospective you are a ripe fruit that will be perfectly used for His glory.
 
2 Corinthians 12:9 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
 
Corinthians 1:27: God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.
 
Whatever the situation is, trust that God will change it. He has proven Himself long before you were born.
 
Joshua 21:45 Not one of all the Lord's good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.
 
You just have to trust Him!
 
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Evening Praise Session: Aaron Shust- More Wonderful

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Listen to this song and take a moment to thank God for the countless blessings and for His love that endures forever. He has certainly been more wonderful to me than I could have ever imagine.
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Morning Praise Session: Newsboys-He Reigns

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Take a few moments out of your A.M. schedule to show God He reigns in your life!
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Evening Praise Session: Big Daddy Weave: Everytime I Breathe

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Listen to this song and reflect on how your relationship with God has grown over the years. Meditate on how He's changed you and what is to come.
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Are you viewing your life from your lens or from God's lens?

Hebrews 11:1-39

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God's command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.  By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.  By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.  By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.  By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.  By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise.  And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.  All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.  By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had received the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son,  even though God had said to him, "It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned."  Abraham reasoned that God could raise the dead, and figuratively speaking, he did receive Isaac back from death.  By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future.  By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.  By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.  By faith Moses' parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king's edict.  By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh's daughter.  He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time.  He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.  By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king's anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible.  By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel.  By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned.  By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.  By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.  And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets,  who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions,  quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection.  Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.  They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated--  the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.  These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
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Morning Praise Session: My Soul Longs for You-Jesus Culture

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I would rather be the lowest of the low in the kingdom of God than the highest of the high here on Earth. God we long for more of you! May His glory shower on us like the rain. In Jesus name.  
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I admire Michael Waters for using his artistic skills for God's glory. I decided to feature his drawings from time to time. May it bless you like it blesses me!

This photo is so encouraging! This is for everyone who feels like they're not where they should be. I am often faced with the same feelings. By the world's standards, I should be in a better place considering the degrees I have, and Satan will often speak words of discouragement in my ear to make me feel like a failure. I'm sure I'm not the only one who experiences this. May this photo remind you that you are where God wants you to be and that's all that matters. The world's expectations and even our own expectations don't matter. Just keep your focus on God and you will never fail.

Colossians 3:2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.
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Who said being a Christian would be easy? Toughen up!

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 We are in the middle of a war. There is an enemy planning to attack you from the moment you step foot out of your bed to the moment you lay your head down at night. But let's not get anything twisted here. You are being attacked, but there isn't a mark on you. Satan is making plans to destroy you, but God told you ahead of time no weapon formed against you shall prosper.

So why are you scared?

Some of you are allowing yourselves to be sitting ducks in the spirit, downright target practice for Satan. In reality, you have the ability through Jesus Christ to make Satan and every demon flee.
   
Whenever I panic about something, my mom always says, "Tiffany, put your big girl panties on!" She tells me this not to be insensitive, but to get me to toughen up because she knows that I can handle it. That's the message God is delivering today. He wants us to stand forth in the authority He has given us and carry out His will.

Nobody said being a Christian would be easy! We have to endure many storms. Jesus told us in Matthew 10:16,

"I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves."

Matthew 10:22 "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

Let's not forget who you serve!


Remember who you are! You are a child of God, you belong to the body of Christ! There's no need to fear anything. God is very overprotective of His children. He told us in Psalm 91,

"I will protect him, because he knows my name. When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

When the disciples were on the boat with Jesus, they began to panic after a huge storm hit. For that moment the disciples forgot every wonder Jesus performed prior to the storm. They forgot how mighty God is. This happens to the best of us, especially when we are overwhelmed by the appearance of a storm. It may appear to be hopeless because you have two days to pay a bill and only a dollar to your name. It may appear hopeless because you don't meet all the qualifications for the job you're applying for. God does mighty things in small ways. He created this world with His words! After the disciples cried to Jesus for help. He calmed the storm with His words. After He did so, He said to the disciples,

 “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” Mark 4:40

Let's take a moment to reflect on all the things God has brought us through. Why do we worry, fear things and panic? God is saying, "Haven't I proven myself by now?"

Yes we have been through some hard times and close calls. Some people let their past belittle their faith by questioning God. Common question: "If God is supposed to protect me, why did He let me go through _____________?" 

Everything we go through builds our testimony and strengthens us by means of our faith. Your hard times didn't break you or kill you. I went through a season where I lost everything. I constantly asked God to lift the load off of me because I couldn't take it. I prayed and prayed, and the situation became worse than before. Finally I said to God, I'm telling you I can't handle this and you keep making it worse! Why are you allowing your daughter to suffer in this way? God replied, "You said you couldn't handle it, but you did. You are stronger than you think. But how could you realize that any other way?"

Peter 1:6-7 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

Magnify God instead of your problems. This is the only way to avoid dealing with anxiety. Praise God during the storm and tell Him, "You are worthy, you are my protector, and my provider. Thanks to you, I don't have to deal with this situation."

That's all you have to do!
Believe that the same God who did it before will do it again!

Matthew 21:21-22 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”

No matter how impossible the situation seems, you have nothing to worry about. I honestly cannot count how many times in the Bible God has assured us He is with us and we shouldn't worry. But here's just a snapshot to give you an idea:

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you."
 
Matthew 6:25-27 Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?  Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?


Isaiah 43:1-3But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you;  I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;  and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. I give Egypt as your ransom, Cush and Seba in exchange for you.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.

Philippians 4:6-7 Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.

Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
 
1 Chronicles 28:20 Then David continued, "Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Don't be afraid or discouraged by the size of the task, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you."
 
So what are you worried for? Satan can't punk you or overcome you. Put your big girl panties on, and get back in the ring.

Ephesians 6:10-18 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
 
 
 


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Even Mannequins are throwing up triple 6's?

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   My what a demonic world we are living in! I came across this while I was shopping at Carson's. We can't even shop nowadays without being bombarded with Satan's symbolism! I pray God continues to heighten our discernment and protect our minds from what is to come. In Jesus name.
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We must be rooted in God!!

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We must be rooted in God in order to stand against what is to come.
Do you love God?

Do you trust Him?

A majority of us have answered yes to these questions, but as soon as a storm comes, we wash away from Him.
 
God is calling for us to not only love Him, but to also be rooted in Him. We are at war with Satan and he is preparing to attack us in every way possible.
Can you handle it?

Can you hold on to the reason you came to Christ in the first place? Can you love God regardless?

We are God’s joy and He basks in the love that we have for Him. He in return drowns us with His love.

Like a father bragging about his child’s good grades in school, God said to Satan,
“Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” Job 1:8

However Satan tries to reduce our love for God into shallow routine emotions. Satan replied to God saying,

“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land.  But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” Job 1:10-11
In other words Satan told God, “Of course they love You! Your children are spoiled, You give them everything they need and more! But take some of those blessings away and see if they still love you!”

Are we proving Satan to be right, by complaining and giving into depression whenever we are faced with obstacles, or are we proving God to be right by praising Him when things are great, and when our lives are utter chaos? Can we praise in the storm?

After God gave Satan limited permission to attack Job, Job immediately lost his source of income, his kids, his servants, and his good health. Forget a simple storm,  Job’s life was more like a hurricane, tornado, tsunami, earthquake, and thunderstorm all mixed into one.

But Job still praised God.
Instead of crying over everything he lost Job said,
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” Job 1:21

When Satan began to attack his health, Job said,
“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” Job 2:10

Job was rooted in God.

Being rooted in God means having a constant peace. It means having an unshakeable faith. Instead of asking for the situation to end, those rooted in God ask for peace in their spirit to withstand whatever is in God’s will. God leads by example. Right before Jesus Christ was crucified, He asked God,

“O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will but as you will.” Matthew 26:42
In other words Jesus was saying, “I really don’t want to go through this, but it’s not about my will. It's about God's will.”

How can you be rooted in God?

To be rooted in God  simply means to place God first in your life and recognize God as your root. To make that clearer let’s break down the significance of a root. Its four biological functions are:

1) To absorb water and inorganic nutrients.
 
The roots gathers all the water and nutrients the plant needs, and then gives it to the plant to survive. The root already collects these things so the other parts of the plant doesn’t need to do any gathering. This is how it is with God. There is no need for us to turn to the world for the things we need. The things of this world are temporary.

Jesus told a Samarian woman at a well, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13

Are you sipping from the fountain of life, or are you sipping from the fountain of this world? 

Being rooted in God requires us to turn to Jesus when we are first presented with an issue, instead of calling our friends to vent and cry. It requires us to turn to Jesus instead of that drink, or any type of drug. It requires us to run to God’s arms instead of the arms of that man who God has not set you up to be with. It means running to Him and staying aligned with His will instead of using temptations from Satan to temporarily relieve us.  

 2) To anchor the plant body to the ground to support it.

 
Are we allowing God to anchor us and be our foundation? We constantly have to check ourselves. We can start off with God as our foundation and the world can throw us off. God is love. Just like a married couple who have been married for years, it’s easy to forget why you are married in the first place. We have to go back to the basics again and again. I often ask myself , “Why do you love God?” We never want our relationship with God to be routine and thoughtless. God must be first, and for the right reasons. Don’t put God first because you feel you’re supposed to. That may sound right, but if love is not your driving motivation, then you are not rooted in Him. The moment Satan taps you, you will be led astray.

This is why it is important to write down blessings God has done, read the Bible, and praise Him. Always be in tune with Him. God is our friend, not some tyrant screaming things you can and cannot do. I literally talk to God like I would a friend on the phone. I tell Him how I’m feeling even if it’s good or bad. If I feel like Satan is tempting me to fall back into my old ways, I tell God. He responds with the love and the protection I need. Once you get to know Him, you will love Him for who He is rather than for what He can do for you. 

I know many people who love God, but they love Him for what He does for them and what He promised rather than for who He is. It’s an easy mistake to make. Even though your intentions are well, Satan can derail you and turn your love for God into something shallow. Here’s an example. Let’s just say someone prophesied over your life and told you God is going to bless you with a house this year. You immediately go into a praise. “God thank you for this, you are amazing!” It’s now December 31, and you still don’t have your house yet. Now this can go two ways: if you are rooted in God and love Him for who He is, you trust Him and you praise Him anyway. Now if you got derailed somehow by focusing more on the promise rather than God, then you are pretty pissed at this point. And Satan will use that anger to distance you from God and lead you into depression.

 Abraham wanted a child. God promised him that despite the fact that his wife Sarah was 90-years-old, she will bore him a son. Once God fulfilled His promise to Abraham and gave him a son, He tested him by telling him to sacrifice his son to Him, meaning kill him. As much as Abraham loved his son, his fulfilled promise from God, he loved God more and obeyed Him. Before he could do it, an angel of God stopped him and said,
“I swear by myself, declares the Lord, that because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son,  I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies,  and through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis 22:15-18

Abraham loved God for who He is. He allowed God to be his anchor and foundation.

 3.) It’s the storage for food and nutrients.

 
God is our provider. Our job isn’t our provider, our family and friends aren’t our providers, and our significant others are not our providers. Do you believe that? When you have bill collectors knocking at your door and only 10 dollars to your name, do you believe you serve a God who will provide for you? The stronger our faith is, the more we are rooted in God.

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

That verse alone should counter any doubt you have about any obstacle in your life. Jesus was not a poet. He wasn’t speaking figuratively. He literally means it! With that in mind, there’s no need to panic about things you don’t have.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”

In order to be rooted in God we must see and trust Him to provide us with the things we need to live. That way we will withstand seasons of plenty and seasons of droughts.    

4) It’s the site where vegetative reproduction occurs.

Vegetative reproduction is when plants reproduce and arise without seeds or spores. In other words, God will elevate you in supernatural ways. He will give you plentiful crops without the seeds needed to produce it. This is important for readers who feel like they are not where they should be. Satan often attacks me in the same way. I have a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree and I am an administrative assistant right now! But it’s all about trust. Those rooted in God are ok with where they are now because they understand a couple of things:

a.) They are in God’s will, meaning they are right where God wants them to be.
b.) They are not going to always be in this place. They understand God has bigger things in store for them.

That’s the mindset we must have!

God sent Joseph a dream, showing him that one day he will be in a position of great power. After telling his brothers, they secretly sold him into slavery. The time he spent as a slave didn’t break him. He didn’t whine and cry to everyone about how he was supposed to be at a greater place. Joseph was rooted in God. He accepted His will for that moment and trusted Him.

This is a warning from God!

Revelation 12:12:Woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short."

If we are not rooted in God, and if we do not hold on to the love we have for Him, we will not make it!

Jesus warned in the last days, “Many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Messiah,' and will deceive many.” Matthew 24:5

There are many storms to come and we cannot let Satan pull us away from our Father! Rekindle your love for God every day! Have a relationship with Him by talking to Him. Get to know God so you can truly love Him for who He is. Understand what a beautiful God we serve! Run to God’s arms and rejoice in a love that endures forever.

Romans 8:35-39: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 Psalm 62:8: Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.

 

 

 

 
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