What is TEMPTATION?

Submit your ways to God, resist the devil and he will flee

James 4:7

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I believe temptation is the single ingredient that is added to your life to either keep you from or propel you into your destiny.  Faith, obedience, wisdom and love are necessary to reach your full potential but I believe temptation is the devil's antidote to either make or break you.  If you take the time to think about it, we all have 'things' that cause us to make decisions based on our desires, our feelings and our will.  For example, you could be in a relationship that is going well but then you feel something boiling up in you to wreck havoc over something 'insignificant'.  You are tempted to 'rock the boat' for no other reason but to be right or be heard.  And you know that you should keep your mouth shut or let it go.  But that feeling or desire is overwhelming.  So you give in.  And before you know it, you have wasted valuable time, instigated getting your feelings and your partners feelings hurt and more than likely still didn't get your point across as you would have like.  Another example - you are trying very hard to lose weight and you have been invited to an event and you know that all of your favourite and (fattening) foods will be there.  Of course you're going to go, you wouldn't miss it for the world, but do you indulge yourself and completely sabotage your diet in one night or do you decide to be proactive and eat before you go to the evet or use self control and PLAN to eat only one of your favorites as oppose to all five.

Being proactive when dealing with temptation is one of the only ways to keep yourself from making poor choices and regretting it later.  In any situation, we can 'mess up' and then suffer the consequences.  But, tomorrow is never guaranteed and I believe that part of spiritual and physical maturity is learning to plan to succeed as oppose to accept the fail.  The devil will put every type of temptation in your way to keep you stuck or in a position of dissatisfaction.  Therefore, when you make choices based on temptation KNOWING that whatever is tempting you is playing on your weaknesses, you can not blame the devil or whatever trap you fell into.  You failed to plan, therefore you planned to fail.

I'm going to give a couple more practical examples... for the ladies, you are in a relationship and you know that your anniversary is coming up.  You know Mr. Man is not good at dates, you know that finances might be tight, you may even know that he's not very good at gift giving.  So, with this knowledge, does it make sense to get upset/start a fight/stress yourself out/ruin the day when the anniversary comes and he has confirmed all of your prior knowledge?  You fell into the temptation of letting anger, bitterness and unforgiveness ruin a day/moment that you can NEVER get back.  For the men, you know yourself well enough to know that you 'enjoy' looking at pretty faces and fit bodies.  Now you have a choice... either choose to remain single or train yourself to ONLY 'enjoy' looking at your significant other.  According to the Word, lust in the mind is equivalent to adultery.  One more example for everyone... we all have financial responsibilities.  Again, you have choices.  You can spend your rent/mortgage on a all-inclusive vacation and then stress about it when you return, you can spend your hydro bill money on a pair of shoes and cook over candle light until you have more money to pay the bill off OR you can take care of your responsibilities and wait until you have a surplus to spend your money without any adverse repercussions.

I know my definition of temptation may seem 'simple' and far fetched as temptation is often regarded as BIG, DEVIL-DESIGNED occurences but in reality, temptation is all around us, everyday.  And if we can't handle the small temptations in our mind and everyday life, how are we supposed to handle the big temptations that face us and act as a catalyst for our destruction or success.  It all starts within us.  When Jesus was in the wilderness, the devil tried to play on Jesus' weaknesses to cause him to fail in His mission.  The devil tried to get Jesus to turn rocks into bread because he knew Jesus was physical hungry.  The devil tried to get Jesus to trade in His purpose for things of the world.  But Jesus knew temptation would come and He planned to succeed and He knew exactly what to say when temptation came (Matthew 4:1-11)  Plan to succeed.  Plan to overcome.  Be proactive and stop letting the devil catch you in the same trap over and over and over again.  The desires of the heart will only come to those who can control the desires of their heart.

Be Blessed in RESISTING TEMPTATION

No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it. - 1 Corinthians 10:13

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. - Matthew 6:13

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

I got Questions...

1. What does it mean to be a Christian?  
2. What makes someone a Christian?  
3. Is it defined by accepting Jesus as your Savior and believing His death and resurrection... or is it more than that?  
4. Can someone be a "Christian", accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior, cuss people out and be critical of others every other day AND still make it into Heaven?  
5. Is being a Christian the same or different to be a follower of Christ?  
6. What does it mean to be Christ-like? 
7. Does God want us to be like Christ or Christ-like?  
8. If God is our only judge, and Christians are supposed to be followers of His Word, why do Christians feel they can and should judge others?
9. Are we, as Christians, supposed to hold ourselves to a higher standard simply because we're are Christians?
10. If so, is that why Christians can be judgmental?
11. If we are Christians, God is Love and we are followers of God and His Word, why is loving ourselves and others so hard at times?
12. If we are all blessed with gifts, talents and skills, does that give any of us the right to govern over the other?
13. When Christians genuinely want to help other Christians, why is it often seen as an offensive act by the recipient as oppose to an act of encouragement?

Isn't it ironic how God blesses us with love, mercy, grace and forgiveness but His representatives, including myself, have a tendency to fall short in these departments?

I've reached a point in my walk that I Got Questions about my walk, my faith and my future.  I will never renounce God or Christianity... but I'm really trying to define it for myself.  What Christianity and my relationship with God is SUPPOSED to look like.  I need Him.  I know that more than ever.  But I Got Questions.

I've posed these questions to the world because I believe that since Ms. Houston's funeral aired all over the world for believers and non believers to see, we have a duty, responsibility and accountability to represent Christ as we are supposed to.  For the purpose that God Almighty made us.  He made us in His Image to represent Him.  And as I am convicted, even as I write this blog, I realize that the point is the spread His word and show mercy, grace, love and forgiveness just as He does.  But do we?

I can speak for myself - in my marriage, towards my children, towards my parents and friends - I thank God for His mercy because I don't think I measure up according to His Will.  Not yet anyway.  I try, I'm working on it, and daily I feel I get better... but it's those back slides that get me every time.  That bring on the guilt.  I've always had an issue with controlling my tongue.  I've graduated from cussing everyone out whenever I feel like it to giving you a piece of my mind without cussing to speaking out of turn frequently to choosing my words wisely before speaking to not speaking nearly as much as I would like to.

My biggest struggle is self control.  I want to make my Daddy so proud that it brings me to tears sometimes. Especially because I know He loves me either way.  At the end of the day, I want to get to the point that I can shed the feelings of guilt and accept the self-conviction, make conscious changes and turn it around for His Glory.  I guess I can be my biggest judge.  Whether that's a good or bad thing, I'm not sure.  But what I do knows is that I'm developing, I'm healing and I'm changing.   He guides me in everything that I do and I thank Him for ordering my steps.  Glory be to God.  Great things He has done!  I'M MOVING FORWARD FOR HIS PURPOSE!

Amen

Be Blessed in BEING AN GOOD EXAMPLE OF YOUR FAITH

The Storm is OVER Now

It's over now. I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now.

No more cloudy days.  They're all gone, gone away.  

I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now

If i walk alone. I'm not on my own. I feel like i can make it. The storm is over now

No more cloudy day. The storm is over now. No more crying at night. The storm is over now.

No more sickness in my body. The storm is over now.

No more tears and sorrow. No more heartache and pain. No more suffering.

No more.  It's over now.

- The storm is Over Now (Kirk Franklin)

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I've known that Kirk Franklin song for YEARS.  I mean, I think it was one of the first songs that I held onto to help me get through my teen pregnancy, school and the other mess that was going on.  It helped me realize that the storm has to end sometime.  There is never a storm that goes on forever and ever.  It may last for a while.  It may even wreak havoc and create a season of clean up and restoration.  But it still can't last forever.

So as I've held onto that, it has been my closing statement for a lot of my trials and tribulations.  But as I am walking into a new season and faith in my life, I have come to realize something else.  Something more profound and insightful.  I thank God for His wisdom because now I can share it with you.

Over the past couple years, I have really been working on renewing my mind, controlling my emotions and getting my will under the obedience of God and I have been feeling like I'm on the home stretch.  Of course, I still have work to do.  We ALL do because we were not born without sin so we don't live without sin BUT we can live in the fullness of His grace for the sin and sins that we may commit. 

What am I saying?  I'm saying that I understand now, in a moment of clarity as I blasted this song through my house, that the storm was never external.  It was never my pregnancy, it was never my struggle through school, it was never my financial situation and it was never my relationships.  The storm was in me.

Read the song over again and really 'take in' what I just said.  As I listened to it this morning, my eyes opened wide when I felt His peace wash over me.  Like I had just been released from the torrential rains, destructive winds and unpredictable earthquakes (some high, some low on the Richter scale) inside of me.  The storm has always been IN me.  

The devil comes to steal, kill and destroy.  And EVERYTHING he wants is IN you.  If he can steal your joy and peace, he can have health.  If he can kill your trust, he can have you marriage.  If he can destroy your finances, he can have your security.  He doesn't want or need ANY of your external stuff... he wants what's IN you to reflect on what's outside of you.

The storm has never been on the outside.  Everything I have been writing about in the past few months has brought me to this revelation.  The storm is not around you, it is IN you.  And because you have dominion over your mind, body and soul... COMMAND IT TO STOP.  Tell yourself 'enough is enough'.  I'm taking back my finances, I'm taking back my peace, I'm taking back my marriage, I'm taking back my health, I'm taking back my joy, I'm taking back my mind, I'm taking back God's Will for my life, I'm taking it ALL back.  THE STORM IS OVER NOW.

Ask God to help you RECOVER all that has been stolen.  Ask God to REVIVE all that has 'died' in you.  Ask God to RESTORE all that has been destroyed. He can do it.  He just needs YOU to agree with Him, have faith and believe that it will come to pass.  Don't let the devil convince you that it's hopeless.  Don't let the devil make you believe that it's irreversible.  Don't let the devil convince you that all is lost.  Because if you believe him, your storm will NEVER be over.  He'll just keep tearing you up, inside and out.

Envision the devil as a tornado, destroying everything in it's path... your potential, your dreams, your children, your finances, your peace, your joy, your health, your future.  Now envision yourself, brave as ever, knees shaking and everything, standing in his path with your hand up saying "STOP!  THIS STORM IS OVER NOW!!!"  Now watch the tornado spin around you, not touching you, over and over and again, trying to scare you, DON'T YOU MOVE, keep that hand up, close your eyes if you have to. Stand strong. Lean on His Word. No weapon formed against you shall prosper. You're more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus. He died so that you might have life and have it more abundantly... SAY IT... DECLARE IT... DON'T MOVE... he's losing power, he's coming around again, but he's losing power. Here he comes again, he's trying to regain a hold on you, don't move. Your child is cussing you out. Don't move. Bills are coming in. Don't move. Money is TIGHT. Don't move. You feel alone. Don't move. Why did he cheat on me? Don't move. You feel sick. Don't move. You feel out of control. Don't move. You're scared. Don't move, STAND STRONG. Stretch your arms high and wide, look UP to your Deliverer and DON'T MOVE!!!!  

Now watch as he goes away, unable to move you, defeated, nothing but a faint breeze in your life now because the Word, which was made flesh [Jesus Christ], is in YOU.  

Believe it! Receive it! Declare it! THE STORM IS OVER NOW.  

Be Blessed in RECOVERING, REVIVING AND RESTORING ALL THAT YOU THOUGHT WAS LOST IN YOU 

The thief comes only in order to steal, kill, and destroy. I have come in order that you might have life—life in all its fullness. - John 10:10 GNT

God is Love. Love is Life. Life is in The Word.

Walking on Water

“Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”

29 “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” 31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.

“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Matthew 14:27b-31 NIV

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I woke up this morning in a bit of a panic. I was fine all week, but the weight of the decisions I have been making seemed to be pulling me down this morning. Although I was wide awake (lying in my bed) I felt like I was standing in a boat with one foot in and one foot out, on the water. Common sense was telling me "Get back in the boat!" But my heart was pleading with me saying "Trust me. Step out of the boat".

As my day went on, I was experiencing waves of emotions - panic, anxiety, excitement, peace, joy and worry. But most of all - urgency. A quickening in my spirit to do what I know I have been called to do. What I was born to do. It has been my strong desire to follow my heart that has kept me from getting back in the boat, even when my mind, my thoughts, my 'common sense' tells me otherwise.

The one thing I love about my Brother and my Father (I'm refering to Jesus and God), is that they make crazy seem sane. If anyone had asked me a couple years ago to make the decisions I've made over the past month, I'd laugh them to shame. But now, I can say with confidence "I'm trusting in God." And the only thing I can compare 'trusting God' to is the story of Peter. I understand why Peter started to sink because I think that's what our faith represents from time to time... trusting God until it gets too hard, trusting God until it doesn't look like it's going to work out, trusting God until we feel like we're sinking.

But God is saying 'Trust in Me always. Trust in Me in the good times and the bad times. Trust in Me when you have money and when you're broke. Trust in Me when you feel full of joy and when you are depressed. Trust in Me always. I won't let you drown.' And I'm learning that to trust in God inclusively and exclusively is scary and reassuring all at the same time.

Peter really didn't have to worry about sinking... he just THOUGHT he did. We really don't have to worry about going hungry... we just THINK we do. We don't have to worry about never getting married... we just THINK we do. And we don't have to worry about being miserable or broke or alone for the rest of our lives... WE JUST THINK WE DO.

If God wanted us to worry or be unhealthy or be broke or be stressed or lonely or have relationships that are lacking He NEVER would have sent His Son to die for all of that. By thinking and worrying and sabotaging and being disobedient and being unforgiving we are saying to God 'You didn't have to send Jesus to die for us... we prefer to be miserable, broke, busted and disgusted. Thank you very much.'

Well, I don't know about you guys but I'm tired of all that. I've tried trusting myself, I've tried trusting in man, I've tried trusting in the government, my job and my education. I'm tried-out. Moving forward, I'm going to trust God. I'm going to lean on His promises, I'm going to follow His instructions and I'm going to be obedient to His Word. I'm going hard. Not because I'm a super Christian and a religious monarch but because I've been sinking all my life and today, I declare, I'm ready to walk on water. Amen.

Be Blessed IN STEPPING OUT OF THE BOAT

34So do not worry or be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will have worries and anxieties of its own. Sufficient for each day is its own trouble. - Matthew 6:34 AMP

You are GREAT

Acquaint now yourself with Him [agree with God and show
yourself to be conformed to His will] and be at peace; by that [you shall
prosper and great] good shall come to you.

Job 22:21 AMP

I am now coming to understand that the Word of God has been lost in transalation. Not in the literal sense but in the spiritual sense: the Word is getting stuck between the Spiritual realm and physical realm. Adam, Eve and the devil single-handedly created a glitch in the Matrix which is the essence of understanding the depth and significance of Spiritual and physical. Thank God that Jesus was sent and died to be ressurrected and rectify that glitch.

We have conformed [molded] to the world and can not see the joy, peace and life from being transformed [changed, metamorphosed] into who God created us to be. We have always been Spirit beings renting a physical body, just like Jesus. But through the fall of man we continue to hide from God, behind sin, intead of boldly confessing our presence in the Lord. We are hiding behind the sin that is suppressing our POWER. We have deceived ourselves into thinking that we are less significant than birds when in fact we are formed in the PERFECT IMAGE of the Most high God.

Don't be initimidated by Spiritual vs. physical. Spiritual IS physical. Whatever is happening in our lives in one realm is a direct relfection of what's happening in the other realm (Pastor Creflo Dollar). In other words, if it is broken, lacking or missing in the physical realm that means that it is broken, lacking and missing in the spiritual. Therefore, if you fix it in the spiritual realm, you'll start to see it restoration in the physical realm.

The glitch isn't in religion, the world or the devil. The glitch is in your mind. When you come to come to understand and BELIEVE the power and GREATNESS that is within you, the sky is NOT the limit, it is only the beginning.

Be Blessed in DISCOVERING YOUR GREATNESS.

Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. - Romans 12:2 AMP