I Am Christian - The Weight of A Good Name - Part Two

    

  My name is Christian. My name is my reputation. My name is bound in Christ's Name for it is Christ I am named for. I am a person of honor and integrity. My word is my bond. When I say I will do this or that, I mean it. When I make a promise, I keep it. I am not perfect. I will fail. I will fall. But I will persevere through it all. 

    Though I contend with they who come against me to destroy me, I will not hate them. For I am filled with the Love of God: Jesus Christ. God loves. God loves all people everywhere. It is this great Love of God for a dying world that caused Him to send His only begotten Son Jesus Christ into the dying world. And this great Love of God LIVES IN ME, CHRISTIAN! So, I love with the Love of God. 

    I am a troubleshooter, a peacekeeper. I walk in the Wisdom of The LORD, for I am filled with His precious Holy Spirit, Who leads me through The Word of God and reveals God's intentions for me. In this Wisdom, I am compelled to share Christ with everyone I meet, wherever I am. My name is Christian and I will accomplish the tasks which God has prepared for me. 

    Though at times it may seem to myself or those watching me that I get very little to nothing done, it is God Who determines what has been accomplished in me and through me. Only God knows where His Word will go through my actions. Only God knows who will receive it and who will dismiss it. It is my privilege and my honor to serve Him in this capacity. It is also my job. I am a laborer in His field. My name is Christian, my name is Worker. 

    In my walk with Christ, I am a fellow laborer. I do not work alone. I do not study alone. I do not pray alone. I do not speak alone. I do not cry alone. I do not walk alone. I do live my life on my own terms but on Christ's terms. I do not rest alone. I do not read alone. And when I leave this world, I will not leave alone. My name is Christian. One way or another when I leave here, I'm going with Him. Whether I leave in death or leave at His return, I'm going with my Fellow Laborer. 

    My name is Christian. It is not a name I bear lightly. Heavy is this weight upon my shoulder. There is responsibility in being Christian. I must find out what it means to be Christian and live that life. I read my Bible out loud for my "faith comes by hearing and hearing by The Word of God". I delve into my Bible and study out what God wants me to know on a regular basis. For I must have The Word built up in me for such a time as when I cannot get my hands on a Bible, that The Holy Spirit may draw from within me the Strength of The Word, the Power of The Word, and pour it out upon the ears of they who will hear it, whether they receive It or not, I must have The Word in me. My name is Christian and I am Student, I am Studier. 

    I am the well, the cistern, in which The Water of Life dwells and flows through. I am Christian and I have set my face like flint. I feel it every time I study and remain focused on what The Spirit tells me to say. I hear what my King wants me to hear and I choose to obey. I am Christian and my name is Obedient. I neither grumble nor complain. Though the work in His field is hard, it is not impossible. The whip of self-righteousness and ignorance falls across my back and I forgive.  For I am Christ's servant: it is for Him I will suffer, for His glory is only increased. 

    My life is not my own. Galatians 2:20 "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in The Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me." 

ABBA - John Mark Pantana

INTO THE DEEP - Citipointe Worship

WAYMAKER - Leeland

THE MEASURE OF A MAN - 4Him 

BELONG TO YOU - Here Be Lions

I Am Christian-The Weight of A Good Name

 

A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, 

and loving favour rather than silver and gold.
Proverbs 22:1

I AM CHRISTIAN

    I've been blessed with so many studies over these past few years I wasn't sure what I would be doing or where I would be going in The Word at the end of this year and into the beginning of the next. After pondering this for some time now ( it is why the studies have been few lately), The Spirit brought to mind an old Reader's Digest story line called I Am Joe's Body and it talked about how Joe's anatomy worked. Was really well written by J.D. Ratcliff and became one of their most popular series. I still remember reading it even now. 

    This series is about the body of Christ. And to day I'm talking about her name. For the body of Christ is the church, the bride. A bride is always a her. When the bride joins with the Bridegroom the two become one and none can tear them apart or break asunder their bonds of love. 

    I am Christian. A name once spoken in mockery to the first followers of Christ: His disciples and those who believed the gospel message they spoke. The early Greeks and Romans labeled the believers as such and the name has stuck through a couple thousand years now. We are still held in contempt by the unbelieving person. But as long as we remain faithful to the full gospel message of the cross and the resurrection, our witness will remain strong and our name will be bound in Christ's name. 

    I am Christian. I live my life in the Way of Holiness, sometimes stumbling but always getting back up to continue moving forward, not looking back with regret but learning from past experiences that my faith may grow. I don't need to see the whole picture: I just need to hold The Artist's hand and believe The Maker's Voice. If I ever see the whole picture, it will be from the realms of glory. But if I never see the whole picture which God is putting together, I'm good with that, too. That takes faith; faith in the goodness of God and trusting that God knows best. 

    This faith journey is at times difficult and treacherous: leaping from one ledge to another requires great faith if I only concentrate on the gap beneath my feet. But if I am following The Shepherd, then I don't even see the gap. I am not graceful. I am Grace-Filled. I am Christian and I follow Christ. 

    

By Your Spirit - Kim Walker-Smith

Nothing Else - Cody Carnes

A Crucified Life - - Preserves Its Integrity

 

2 Corinthians 6:9

As unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed.

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 2198

We Live: I live, I am alive

From the Greek word 'zaó' (pronounced dzah'-o): to experience God's gift of life. To thrive in His gift. 

    Though not recognized in this world we are known by God, who not only sees His people but speaks to us, walks with us, works with and through us. He is our Defender, Provider and Sanctifier

    In this world our bodies are subject to death and its causes. But having the Living Word of God living in us and us in Him, we know that we live. We live to Christ, for Christ, in Christ. Therefore, when we no longer need these bodies, they will simply slough away, leaving only our spirit which will rise to meet Jesus, whether in death or life. 

    In this world we are persecuted on every side. We are mocked for our faith. We are tortured for what we believe. We are pelted with stones when we refuse to stop sharing the gospel or speaking the Name of Jesus. We are scattered abroad when our homes are burned and we have only the clothes on our backs. We are killed for His Name's sake. And yet we live. 

    We have Christ Jesus and that's enough. 

PRESERVING INTEGRITY

Hosanna - Paul Baloche

My Jesus, My Savior 

Glorious Day - Casting Crowns

In Christ Alone - Kristian Stanfill

Man of Sorrows - Hillsong

Nothing But The Blood - Leah Mari

Secure In You - Songlab

In Jesus' Name - Darlene Zschech

    

Preserved

 

 

Psalm 25:21

Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait on You.

Psalm 41:12

In my integrity You uphold me and set me in Your presence forever.

Psalm 7:8

The LORD shall judge the people: judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me.

Integrity is a big deal. It is more than honesty and a fine reputation. Integrity of soul is completeness, finished-ness.

And how do we obtain this Integrity? this completeness?

In Christ Jesus.

John 17:20-21

"I am not asking on behalf of them alone, but also on behalf of those who will believe in Me through their message, 

that all of them may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I am in You. May they also be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me."

1 Corinthians 1:8

He will sustain you to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Peter 1:3

His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.

I have this Integrity. Do you?

Blessed Undefiled_Psalms

Happy and to be envied is the man of integrity, who walks, lives his life, in the law of the LORD.
Psalm 119:1

The word WALK implies that the growth of being Christian is a forward process, a journey, a daily interactive Christ-centered life.

Undefiled: innocent, perfect, whole, complete, entire, sound; without blemish, what is completely in accord with truth and fact. (Strong's Hebrew #8549)

Paul's prayer for the Colossians, the church in Colosse (in what is now Turkey) gives greater detail of what it means to walk in integrity as believers. 

Colossians 1 (Berean Study Bible) 

Walking in integrity requires, first of all, that we have faith in Christ Jesus (v 4). Secondly, we need to strive (be hungry and thirsty for more of Him) to be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding (v 9). 

With the reminder that this letter was written to a group and not an individual the clarifications are to unity within the group, the church, and not per se to the individual, but should still be brought into the understanding of each individual on what it means to be Christian. 

Thirdly, walking worthy unto the LORD unto all pleasing (v 10a) means to live in the unity of the Spirit (Philippians 1:27; 1 Corinthians 1:10); being truthful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Hebrews 13:20, 21). 

Fourthly, (v 11) Strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness. Inner strength through the power of Christ. Joyful in our struggles because we have a hope and a reward in Christ. 

Fifthly, (v 21-23) And you, that were sometimes alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now has He reconciled In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight: IF you continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven. 

Unless we are born again according to the Word of God, through Christ, we remain ignorant and unchanged. But IN Christ we are made holy, perfect, without blemish 'in His sight'! To remain in this faith  which brought us to Christ, grounded and settled and immovable, we must remain in His Word, daily reading and studying it; praying over it and in it (speaking aloud the Word of God into our lives and the lives of the people around us. Not just people we know either [Ephesians 2:19 "strangers and foreigners"].

Happy and to be envied is the man of integrity, who lives his life, in the law of the LORD.
Psalm 119:1

The Cost of Integrity. Part 1

You can't preach Christ crucified, if you are first not willing to live it.
 

What does it mean to have integrity? Yes, God does know what is in our hearts. But we do not know what is in each other's hearts until we see their action and hear their words. One can say they are a Christian; but if their actions do not back up their words, doubt makes itself known in our heart. And, yet, Christ Himself reminds us not to judge another until we have first searched our hearts and removed that which is the same in ourselves before we confront the one we doubt.

So, we ask ourselves, “Am I living in integrity? Am I practicing what I preach? Am I walking the talk?” My spirit says 'Yes.' My body says 'No'. Probably because having a life-changing chronic illness, with which I am at peace with now, continues to affect decisions I make regarding my life.

My faith has been questioned by people who 'mean well'. This phrase is totally oxymoronic. Usually people who mean well, don't. Sometimes people say really stupid things to me. One of these phrases is “if you push yourself you will get better.” When I push myself, not only do I not get better, I seldom make it out of bed. Thank God we have a dog who can't let herself out; or in. And I have to get out of bed and meet her needs. But then a hot shower massage and I'm almost alive again.

 

 

Some people tell me that if I eat right or stop eating different foods or change my diet in some unsatisfactory way, that I will get better. You have no idea how my dietary habits have changed. When I worked, I ate. I needed to eat to keep up with the amount of energy my body was expending. We had a snack drawer at work. I helped stock it. When I was able to exercise, I ran. That was fun. Now, I can barely walk. Don't tell me to eat right and I will be okay. I seldom eat. It is not a spiritual fast; it is a 'I am not hungry' fast. I feel full all the time. And sometimes, lately, eating makes me nauseous.

Don't question my faith. Don't criticize me for lacking faith to be healed. I have faith that God will heal me in His time. And just because His time is not your time does not mean I will not be healed. Nor that I am lacking in the 'faith in God' department. God I trust. You? You in general I don't trust. People must prove themselves to each other that trust might be manifested in their relationships with each other.

 

Though there were times when I doubted my abilities to function at all, now I know that God is m Strength and in Him I can do all the things which He calls me to do. It is not my abilities that are called on, it is my willingness and obedience to serve Him as He sees fit that are important. When God wants me to do something, I do it. Now. Times past, before I knew God as I know Him now, I did not walk the talk. Now, I do. And, while God is my Judge, He is also my Friend. Now. And I am not lonely any more. Nor am I alone.

Do I have enough integrity-based actions in my life to question yours? Hm. I don't know. But I do know that on this part of this journey I travel in the life in which God has placed me, God will reveal to me where I lack. Maybe through you I will learn a lesson. Or not. Maybe you will learn a lesson through me.

 

Don't tell me “it's all in your head”. You want me to tell you that the next time you fall down or can't get organized? Being this sick is not “all in my head”. It does however originate in my brain. My brain is broken. It does not function the way it is supposed to. And while it is only in the last few years that I personally have noticed the tremors in my hands and my mouth, I have been made to understand that signs of this showed up in my childhood; just not this obvious.

It took God a long time to make me. It may take a while to fix me. But until then, I will continue to seek Him out in His Word and speak with Him in my silences, that He may show me and reveal to me what He wants me to do. Like this newsletter of my studies.

I questioned someone's integrity recently and The Holy Spirit confronted me and asked if I was living a life of integrity. Can I preach Christ crucified, if I am sick or unable to do the things I wish I could do? Yes. I am. I can. And, now, I am tired again. And thirsty. I am usually more thirsty than hungry. No, I do not have diabetes; I have been tested and cleared on that account.

I have been tested for MS, Lupus, ALS and Parkinson's: all cleared. I do have FM )Fibromyalgia, OsteoArthritis and an un-named polymyositis illness, which is causing the tremors, muscle spasms, speech and motor skills to deteriorate. This link at the Mayo Clinic will help you to understand what I go through and why I cannot push myself to get better. I have faith and I live a life of integrity the best I can. I am reliable to a point. When I just cannot do it, I will tell you so. And when I get angry, it will be because The Spirit is grieved and come against in me. So, while this may seem to be an unusual Bible Study, God's Word will be accomplished in it. For He is working on me even as we speak. 

 

I have severe Osteoporosis and now have been placed on Boniva indefinitely. The infusion which may have helped me has been denied by our insurance company. It costs a couple thousand $$, so I can see why they would turn it down. Maybe after I been on this new one and there is no change, maybe they will pay for it. No faith in the insurance company either.

And, while my knees wobble, my faith in God does not. God knows my heart and God knows your heart. So, I am sorry for questioning your integrity. You can work it out with God. You're okay in my book.

 

 I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me. Though this verse is found in Philippians 4:13, I encourage you to read the whole chapter. It is not lengthy, but it does apply here. :)

I am overcoming the attack on my body by the illness and by well-meaning individuals. Don't wonder if you are one of them. It doesn't matter any more. What does matter is: are you right with Christ in your heart? Do you want to live a life of integrity and know that God is pleased with you? You could start here, by repeating this simple prayer and reading it aloud, as I did while I wrote it. Why did I read it aloud as I wrote it? To reaffirm my faith in Christ and to bless you:

 

"Oh Lord, although I feel unworthy of Your love for me, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I repent and turn away from those things which dishonor and displease You. Come, live in my heart; I give You control of my life. Help me to be more like You. Help me to grow in Your Word and in Your Way for I know that I need You now more than ever before. Make me to know Your wills for my life. Teach me, Lord, for I am hungry for You and thirsty for

Your Love. Thank You Lord Jesus, for saving me; for dying for me; for rising from the dead and showing me that, I too, can overcome death through You.

Lord God, be my God. Be my glory. Be my Strength. Be my Hope. Direct my steps in Your paths of Righteousness for Your Name's sake. Guide me in Your Word that I may become the person You see in me. Father, thank You for calling me, for calling my name. In Jesus' Name. Amen. "

It is that easy to become a child of God. And if you meant it when you said it, now you, too, are a part of God's family. Welcome Home.

 

 

Little Pieces of Clay-Making a Christian-4.Surrendering the Body

Surrendering the Body

Romans 12:1 "I beseech (beg) you therefore, brethren (brothers and sisters in Christ) to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable (logical) service."
Continue reading through the end of the chapter.
Exodus 20:1-17 Relates to us the commandments which God gave Moses. While many see this as a list of Do's and Don'ts, even in the church sector, this is the law of love which is fulfilled in Christ. We are the body of Christ and this law of love should be evident in us.
Colossians 3:1-25 Instructing the Christian how to surrender their body to a life of love.

    The Old Testament is the old covenant. Animal sacrifices are no longer needed to atone for one's sins. Cutting yourself is not necessary to release your internal pain. Chopping off a person's hands for stealing; cutting off a person's foot for trespassing and removing a person's eye for lusting are under the law. The law has been fulfilled through Jesus Christ. Like the purple mantle placed on His shoulders to mock him, the sins of the world were placed on His back through the whipping He got from the soldiers. His body took the punishment for our sins. His blood, which spilled upon the ground, at the foot of the cross, paid the debt for our unrighteousness.
     The New Testament is the new covenant. Jesus Christ is Lord. He is the only begotten Son of God. He surrendered His will to His Father's will in the mount of Olives when He prayed. Matthew 26:26-44 After telling His disciples to pray that they would not give into temptation while He was away from them, He went into the garden and prayed: not one, but twice: V.39 "O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from Me: nevertheless not as I will, but as You will." and V.42 "O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, Thy will be done." Mark 14:26 "Abba, Father, all things are possible unto Thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what You will."  Luke 22:42 "Saying, Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will but Thine, be done."
   The new covenant is through Jesus Christ. While all other covenants foreshadowed this event, they are now past, for Jesus Christ lived for us, died for us and rose from the grave for us. He became the sacrificial lamb that was required at Passover. He is the firstborn of His Father. His blood is on our hands. It is only when we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, that He is the only begotten Son of God, that He is the Messiah; then is our salvation through Him applied to the thresh-hold of our homes, of our lives.
     He is our example of surrendering not only our will (our desire, our 'want to'), but our lives. And our life is lived in our body. We only get one. And it is how we choose to live here that determines not only our destination after death, but our reward. Colossians 3:24, 25 "Knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for you serve the Lord Christ. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons." Regardless of your status in life, we all will receive a reward, whether for good or bad choices.
     The key word in Colossians 3:1 is 'IF'. IF you are risen in Christ...." Here Paul is speaking to the Christians in Colossus. But we know that the Word of God goes on forever and so the Word is applicable to us also. Are you risen in Christ? Have you accepted Him as your Lord and Savior? Have you repented of your sins and surrendered your mind, your emotions and your will to Him? If you have made these decisions,  he is speaking to you. And he is speaking to me. And because I know that the Word of God is to be applied to me personally, I can read it like this (and so can you):
Colossians 3
v1. Because I am risen in Christ, I seek those things which are above, where Christ sits on the right hand of God.
v2. I set my affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
v3. For I am dead, and my life is hid with Christ in God.
v4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall we also appear with Him in glory.
v5. I submit my body to clean living. I choose not to engage in fornication; not to participate in unclean (corrupt, dishonorable, inhealthful) actions; irrational or unrestrained affections; not to give in to sexual desires or lusts; and not to covet anyone or anything, as such would be idolatry. 
v6. By choosing to live an unclean life, a life of disobedience to God, His wrath would be my reward.
v7. Once I walked that life, and lived in unrighteousness.
v8. But now I also put off of me verbal abuse and ignorance: anger (being or getting: mad, annoyed, furious, exasperated, indignant, violent); malice (meanness, vindictiveness, bitterness, hostility, spite, venom), blasphemy (abuse, cussing, cursing, swearing, profanity); filthy communication (obscenities, offensive, repulsive, impure, sleazy).
v9. We do not lie to each other; for we have put off the old person that we were before we knew Christ;
v10. And have put on the new person we are in Christ, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created us.
v11. We are no longer defined by our ethnicity, our circumcision (baptism, initiation, rite of passage, status changes), our geography (where we live) or class (free or slave); for Christ is all, and in all.
v12. I put on therefore, as the elect of God, Who is holy and beloved, bowels of mercies (in the Bible it is the bowels that contain the emotions of a person, not the heart), kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
v13. Forbearing one another (exhibit self-control), and forgiving one another, if I have a quarrel with anyone: even as Christ forgave me, so I forgive you.
v14. And above all these things, I put on charity (advocacy, benevolence, encouragement, guidance), which is the bond of perfectness.
v15. We, you and I, let the peace of God rule in our hearts, for we are called to be one body, and be thankful.
v16. I am to let the Word of Christ live in me richly in all wisdom; teaching (demonstrating, nurturing, training) and admonishing (exhorting, forewarning, reprimanding) each other in psalms (poetry in all its forms which praises God) and hymns (sing the praises of God) and spiritual (devotional) songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.
v17. And, whatever we do in word or deed (action), we do all of it in the Name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, and the Father by Him.
v18. As the wife, we submit ourselves to our own husband, as it is fit in the Lord.
v19. As the husband, you love your wife, and are not bitter against them;
v20. As the children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.
v21. As the father, do not provoke your children to anger, for they will be discouraged (intimidated, confused, depressed, distressed, troubled, scared).
v22. As the servant, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, how we see you behave; but with singleness of heart, fearing God:
v23. And whatsoever I do, I do with all my heart, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
v24. Knowing that of the Lord I shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for I serve the Lord Christ.
v25. But he that does wrong shall receive for the wrong which he has done: and there is no respect of persons.


     My body is Christ's body. And as such, by His example when He prayed, I surrender my body a living sacrifice. For it is the only logical thing that I can do for Him. Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for my sins. The "I" in me dies daily, when I disciple my mind and my heart and my emotions to surrender to His will.


See also, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; Romans 13:9-14; 1 Corinthians 13; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-7 and 13:11. Philippians 2:1-16 and full circle back again to the Book of Colossians, which is where we started. But don't stop there; the whole New Testament enriches our souls with God's Word on how to live a life that is pleasing to God.


Surrender  Dictionary and Surrender  Thesaurus. 


Song:
I surrender my vessel to You, to You
As an offering, I lay it down, it's Yours;
As You gave to this world,  Your only Son,
I surrender my vessel to You.

I surrender my family to You, to You,
As an offering I lay them down, they're Yours;
As You gave to this world Your only Son,
I surrender my family to You.




     

Little Pieces of Clay-Making a Christian-My Body is Christ's Body

3. My body is Christ's Body - 1 Corinthians 12:12-31

     Just as God created our bodies for a purpose, each part of our bodies have a specific function. I type with my fingers, not my elbows. The heart pumps blood throughout the entire body. The liver acts as a filter, deciding which is useful and which is waste. The pancreas creates insulin and glucagon and the blood cells distribute these throughout the body except for your brain. While we associate our noses with the sense of smell, that is only a small part of its job. The nose's primary purpose is to help us breathe.

     While the ear is associated with the sense of hearing, its other function is to help us maintain our balance and remain upright when in motion. Eyes are the organs of sight; the cornea is the lens through which we see images, while the pupil controls the quantity of light entering the body.

    The body contains more than 640 muscles and each one is controlled by nerves.  Each muscle is made up of millions of tiny protein filaments working together. In order to move at all the muscles need the nervous system to function properly. Acetylcholine is the chemical required to transfer information from one nerve cell to another. 

     And while all of this is quite interesting, it is just another reminder that not only do we not know how our own bodies work, we also have little knowledge of how the body of Christ is supposed to work. What we do know though, is that when we study the different structures and layouts of how the body works individually, we are able to see more clearly how the body works as a whole. 

     The body contains 3.5 liters of blood. The heart weighs 3 pounds. The pancreas weighs about 2.5 pounds. There are 206 bones in a skeletal structure, between 600 to 850 muscles, 100 trillion cells and about 45 miles of nerves run through our bodies. And just by sharing all this with you, I am reminded again just how amazing our God is. Our bodies are not created by accident, but on purpose. And with purpose.

     Just as our bodies, which are God's handiwork, are created to function for specific purposes and work together, so the body of Christ is created through the Holy Spirit of God to function properly. Each of us has a purpose within Christ's body. And we need each other in order to work properly. Some teach, some preach; some sing, some write; some evangelize, some heal; some build churches, some prophesy. All are called to minister in some capacity . None are greater, none are lesser. 

     I sing while I clean toilets. Because my heart is right with God, God is glorified by my services: both in song and in service. One speaks in a tongues (a heavenly language given to a person after being baptized in the Holy Spirit) and one interprets the tongue spoken. Our talk of being the body of Christ is backed up by our walk with Christ. The evidence of our salvation and unity of spirit is visible to all who see us. We are recognized by total strangers as being Christians. Even if we say nothing at all.

     Have you ever been accosted by someone you do not know in a parking lot? I have. A woman walked right up to me and said, "You're a Christian aren't you?". Flabbergaste, I'm like, "Yeah. How did you know?" And she said, "You shine. I could see right away that you were different." 

     I shine. My body is Christ's Body. It is His light which shines through me that all the world may be drawn to Him. It is His love which moves through me, giving me strength to love the unlovable in the same way in which He loves me: unconditionally. 

Little Pieces of Clay-Making a Christian-Creating Me

2. Creating Me - Psalm 139:13-16;  Psalm 119:73; Job 10:8-12

     I am covered with the fingerprints of God. My Bible tells me His hands made me and formed me while I was yet inside my Mother. I have been created for a purpose. Every person on earth has been created by God for a purpose. It is our responsibility to seek God and ask Him to reveal our purpose to us. 

     It may take several years before our purpose is unveiled to the point where we can not only see it, but understand it. Though,  history has shown us that sometimes children are better able to hear God and know what His purpose is for their lives. 

     Joseph knew he had a purpose; he just didn't understand it at such a young age. Even as a slave in Pharoah's kingdom, he knew God had not left him. Though he was imprisoned for a crime he did not commit, he knew God was still with him. It is Joseph's faith, love and knowledge for God that kept him close to God and thus kept God close to him. And when it was time, God revealed His purpose for bringing Joseph to Egypt. 

     Samuel had a purpose. Before he was born his Mother prayed for him. She sought God in the temple; her prayers were so intense that the priest saw only her lips moving and accused her of being drunk. But her desire to have a baby was so visible to him, he asked that her prayer be answered. And it was. Samuel stayed with his Mom until he was weaned. I would think that she prepared him for his purpose by talking to him before he was born. 

     As Moms, we all talk to our babies. It's nothing to be bashful about either. We sing. We talk. We thank God for this baby inside of us. We praise God for choosing us to be this baby's Mom. And when our child is born, we continue him or her on that same heritage. We sing. We talk. We pray and glorify God for all that He is doing within our child(ren). Hannah did this, too. Samuel grew up knowing not only is there a God, but that God loved him and had chosen him to serve Him. And when he was ready, Hannah brought him to the temple and handed over his keeping to the priest. She didn't abandon him; she continued to bless him while she lived.

     You and I have been created for a purpose. Our purpose is to glorify God in all that we do. We cannot glorify God if we are living a sinful life. I grew up in a Christian atmosphere. I knew of God. I knew about God. But I did not know God. To glorify God we have to know God. A person can fulfill part of God's purpose on their life even if that person does not know God. We see in the Bible how he would put ideas into some kings' heads that God's purposes would be accomplished at that time. But that's not enough for me. And it shouldn't be enough for you either. 

     God is not finished working on me. His thoughts for my life are greater than my own thoughts for my life. My choices have not always lined up with His. But I have learned from my mistakes; I have not repeated them. I must continually seek God on a daily basis that I may know what He desires of me or what He may choose to reveal to me. He is more than my oasis, God is my well. I draw from Him daily to quench my thirst. And, I am thirsty. It seems as if I will never get enough.

     By sharing my Bible studies with you, I am fulfilling part of my purpose for which I have been created. For this purpose I have been created and am constantly being transformed moment by moment into someone that only God can see, as yet. Greater is He that is in me: God works on me not only on the outside, but also on the inside. God is faithful; I am getting there.

     

Little Pieces of Clay-Making a Christian-1. In the Potter's Hands

Job 1:20 "THEN Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down to the ground, and worshiped." 

The art of worshiping comes from the heart of a worshiper. True worship comes from a heart that remains broken before God. Anyone can sing a song of praise; but God knows the heart. So, even if the song sounds good to our ears, it is just a clanging noise to God's ears. 

1. In the Potter's hands: Job 1

     The book of Job begins with a description of who Job is: that he is an upright man, perfect (righteous) and honorable. A man of Integrity. He fears God and does no evil. We are shown his children, his livelihood, and his abundance. We see that Job interceded for his children on their behalf to God. 

     But one day Satan and the Lord have a conversation regarding Job, resulting in Satan being allowed by God to test Job. Satan hopes to destroy us through our trials and tests, as he tried to do to Job. But God knows our hearts. He allows us to be tested that our faith may be strengthened. And revealing to other people in our lives that God is God through our actions while be tested. 

     Satan is allowed to bring death and destruction to Job's family and property believing that Job would curse God and thereby sentence himself to death. But Job did not. He got up from where he sat, tore his clothes off, shaved his hair off, and fell to the ground, WORSHIPing God: I was born naked, I will die naked: the Lord gives and the Lord takes away: BLESSED BE THE NAME OF THE LORD." 

     Everything I have, I have because God gives it to me. Everything I am is a culmination so far of the changes I have allowed God to make within me. I am not who I was: no longer do I wallow in the pits of sin.  I do not drink. I do not get high. I do not sleep around. I do not even want to any more! God changed me because I asked Him to. When I was baptized in His Holy Spirit, He took away the desire to self-destruct. I am His daughter and He is my God. Blessed be the Name of the Lord.

How is better than Why

The manner in which one endures 
                                                has a greater impact 
                                          than that which one has to endure.




I would rather rejoice over being chosen to walk this road

than complain , "Why me?"  .

When God calls us to service, He doesn't call us to paved roads and fine houses. Those things are our rewards in heaven: golden streets and beautiful mansions built by the Master Carpenter.

Instead God calls us to serve others. And He takes us out of our comfort zones to do it. 

All of Jesus' disciples were working men. Of the first 12, some were fishermen. One collected taxes. One was a doctor. He did not call them to serve in the fields they had trained in. He called them to serve in His fields, doing His work. Matthew 10:6-8.

But the skills they had learned in their various trades, they were able to apply working in God's fields. He told the ones who fished that they would be "fishers of men". The doctor learned to heal the sick with the power and authority of Christ, not with the learned knowledge he had already acquired. He sent them without money, papers or supplies into the surrounding cities and communities. They learned what it means to exercise your faith. 

Their personal principles came with them:

1. Obey the teacher, the master. Apprenticeship requires self-discipline.

2. Finish the work started. A job half-done is not done at all.

3. Apply yourself. Put your heart into it and your work will be recognized.

I have been called out of my comfort zone. I was trained by my parents to lead a good life. I was trained by my teachers to be a secretary (when I was in high school, they still had us studying gender specific skills). I was trained by my colleagues to be a good pharmacy technician. I ignored the good life and settled for less. I sucked at secretarial skills, but excelled at writing. I was a pretty good pharmacy tech for a few years. But then I got sick. And I hadn't been trained for that.

I have learned to exercise my faith. I have little to no money of my own now (soc. sec. dis.). I stutter when I have been speaking for more than a few minutes. And just speaking clearly is difficult (even people who know me make me repeat myself and I hate that). I am a licensed minister, but not an ordained one. My schooling was done through Pentecostal Church of God. My training is on-going. The self-discipline of living my life is now coming back around again. 

Nobody is ever ready to suffer a major tragedy or lose their job because of a major illness. I am no exception. But when God calls us to service, He qualifies the unqualified. That's part of His job.

This is mine.

What Makes Me Beautiful to God

What Makes Me Beautiful to God

What makes me beautiful to God,

Is what makes me beautiful to you:

This broken heart inside of me

Keeps me on my knees:

This makes me beautiful to God.

These are the hands of the warrior:

Rugged and calloused and strong.

These are the hands that stand in the gap, Lord,

All the day through and night long.

This makes me beautiful to God.

This broken heart inside of me

Keeps me on my knees:

This makes me beautiful to God.

These are the knees of Your servant:

Broken and trembling and sore.

At the foot of Your cross,

Where we reach for the lost:

This makes me beautiful to God.

This broken heart inside of me

Keeps me on my knees:

This makes me beautiful to God.

Integrity

Integrity: honor, strength of character, ethical, upright, honest.

Doing the right thing, when it seems as if everyone around you, thinks you are crazy. There is phrase in the Bible that sticks like glue to my thoughts "Be strong and of a good courage." Listen up: Deuteronomy 31:6 (&7) 'Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God, He it is that goes with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee.' Strong, good courage, fearless, remember. Joshua 1:6, 9, 18 'Be strong and of a good courage'. Of the verses referring to courage in the Scriptures, these five only mean (1) Be Alert (physically) (2) Steadfastly Minded (mentally) (3) Confirm, establish, fortify, harden, increase, prevail, strengthen yourself, make strong (obstinate, speed).

You are the Bride of Christ. Jesus does not have a ribbons and bows Bride, though she is adorned in white. He's coming back for a Warrior Bride. She is armed and dangerous. Armed with the whole Word of God, which is hidden in her heart. She uses God's Word for sustenance, for drink. Every Word that falls from the mouth of God she eats up. He strengthens her from the inside out. Where you go, God goes. That makes you a dangerous person.

The Word of God is available to you and I in three forms: the written Word of God, the Scriptures; the Living Word of God, Jesus Christ; the spoken Word of God, hearing the Word of God. Though there are some places where the written Word of God is forbidden, still the spoken Word of God can be heard and the Living Word of God cannot be displaced.

If you hear the Word of God, and do not apply it, you lack integrity. It takes courage to be a Christian, no matter what century or country you live in. You can hear about God, but not hear God. You can know about God, but not know God.

We apply God's Word to our hearts, our minds, our souls. Deuteronomy 6:5 And you shall love the Lord thy God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. Mark 12:30 And you shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength: this is the first commandment. Like sunscreen. See, we apply sunscreen to prevent our skin from being burned by the UV rays coming off of the sun. And we apply this daily to our skin when we go outside the comfort of our homes, because UV rays are a deadly daily threat to us. You and I need to apply God's Word daily to our hearts, to our minds, to our souls, to our might (character/strength).

It is not a fat, lazy bride that Christ is looking for. He seeks His true Bride. Her strength comes from her Lord: the Joy of the Lord is my strength. Her beauty is her desire to please her Lord: Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. His Bride dines at His table (Psalms 23:5), runs through troops and leaps over walls (Psalms 18:29), is efficiently and effectively equipped for warfare (Psalms 18:30-38 and Ephesians 6:10-20). The Bride of Christ surrenders to His authority out of Love and Respect. She is not negligent (Matthew 25:3,8), she is wise (Proverbs 11:30).