Be faithful....to Him!

My eyes see the world, too lazy to change,

My heart is despairing in this day and age.

Peer pressure, affairs, alcohol and drugs,

Have taken the place of true friendships and love.

So many worshiping their things and their faces,

Spouses and kids’ hearts left empty, vacant spaces.

So many things with so little time,

Relationships are what we choose to sacrifice.

Times need to change and not get our best,

It’s our hearts, minds, and attention we need to invest.

 

God forgive us for serving only ourselves.

God forgive us for leaving our Bibles on the shelves.

Open our hearts to Your love and our ears to Your voice,

Let grace fall from above, help us make the right choice.

 

Thank you Lord in advance, for helping us to change,

Help us let go of our first loves, despite the pain.

 

Lord, give us this day - our daily bread,

And help us trust what Your Word says.

 

Take our lives and make them new,

Help us be ready and faithful to only You!

By Jennifer Morin, August 30, 2012


Interesting that I wrote this poem before I read Luke 12:22-40:

²² Then Jesus said to his disciples: “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. ²³ For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. ²⁴ Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! ²⁵ Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life^[b]? ²⁶ Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?

²⁷ “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ²⁸ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you—you of little faith! ²⁹ And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. ³⁰ For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. ³¹ But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.

³² “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. ³³ Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. ³⁴ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

³⁵ “Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, ³⁶ like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. ³⁷ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. ³⁸ It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. ³⁹ But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. ⁴⁰ You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

What is a Narcissist?

Google is fun. "Google it" is permanently in our vocab. I love it when I need a definition or to self-educate. We just have to 'google it' and you'll come across stuff like this....

Hope this doesn't describe you or someone you know...if so, there is hope and help...

 

DO YOU FIND YOURSELF OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE DOING THIS?

• Fantasizing about power, success and attractiveness

• Believing that you're better than others

• Exaggerating your achievements or talents

• Expecting constant praise and admiration

• Believing that you're special

• Failing to recognize other people's emotions and feelings

• Expecting others to go along with your ideas and plans

• Taking advantage of others

• Expressing disdain for those you feel are inferior

• Being jealous of others

• Believing that others are jealous of you

• Trouble keeping healthy relationships

• Setting unrealistic goals

• Being easily hurt and rejected

• Having a fragile self-esteem

• Appearing as tough-minded or unemotional

• Appearing conceited, boastful and arrogant

• Reacting with rage and contempt to criticism

• Monopolizing conversations

• Insisting on having "the best" of everything (the best car, the best athletic club, the best social circle, etc.)

• Become angry when not treated special

• Belittling others to in an effort to make him or herself look better

 

WHAT IS IT? 

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

DISCUSSION:

Narcissism is a term used to describe an exaggerated focus on one's self. Self-admiration that is taken to an extreme. The word "narcissism" comes from a Greek myth in which a handsome young man named Narcissus sees his reflection in a pool of water and falls in love with it.

Narcissistic personality disorder is one of a group of conditions sometimes called dramatic personality disorders. People with these disorders have intense, unstable emotions and a distorted self-image. Narcissistic personality disorder is further characterized by an abnormal love of self, an exaggerated sense of superiority and importance, and a preoccupation with success and power. However, these attitudes and behaviors do not reflect true self-confidence. Instead, the attitudes cover feelings of low self-esteem. Like patients with antisocial personality disorder, narcissist has a strong sense of entitlement. He feels that the world owes him, regardless of whether he makes a contribution.

Narcissistic personality disorder often leads to use of drugs, alcohol, of other addictions. Some use anabolic steroids to boost confidence in physical perfection.

Although some features of narcissistic personality disorder may seem like having confidence or strong self-esteem, it's not the same. Narcissistic personality disorder crosses the border of healthy confidence and self-esteem into thinking so highly of yourself that you put yourself on a pedestal. In contrast, people who have healthy confidence and self-esteem don't value themselves more than they value others.

 

From: http://www.sobermd.us/topics_details/Narcissistic-Personailty-Disorder

SUFFERING: Why do we try to AVOID it?

Why do we want to avoid suffering? This is what I asked of the Lord today.

It's almost as though we've bought into the lie that life is to be great, wonderful, happy, exciting...all the time.

I imagine this is the unrealistic expectation for life that catapults men and women into affairs. Real marriages, real problems, real conflicts, real issues...they are all part of REAL LIFE.

Yesterday I came home after dropping off Daniel, sharing with my husband about what I found out about the troublesome little boy in Daniel's class. Bottom line: He's troubled.

Since taking my Crisis Counseling class, I had already hypothesized that this little boy who has no boundaries, hits Daniel, and is disruptive in class came from a home either with tribulation at home between mom and dad, or had no dad, or was going through a divorce.

Come to find out, his mom and dad divorced last fall, and recently, the boy and his mom had to move into the grandparents home due to financial issues. When I came home to report that my discernment was right...my husband's response was:

TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD...I DON'T WANT TO HEAR NEGATIVE!

 

While I see where he is definitely coming from, I responded: Sorry, but it's the truth...unfortunately, there's not a lot of good going on in the world today...outside these 4 walls! And it's true!

 

There are people going through divorce, losing their kids, losing their homes, going through bankruptcies, being giving 5 months to live, having strokes, blood tests for cancer, grieving over losing kids, parents, friends, family to death or drugs. Folks, there's not a lot of good going on.

 

We have two options:

• AVOID IT and live on 5150 Denial Blvd.
• ACKNOWLEDGE IT and learn how to cope

I think it's our media that inundates us with the fantasy that luxury is supposed to be a way of life. But for many, it was their pursuit of vanity and luxury that motivated their spending and refinancing that's left them without their home and family.

 

Where did we get this idea that life is suppose to be peachy king, anyways?

 

Not the Bible! If you read that book, suffering was reality for our biblicals heroes. Look at Daniel in the lion's den, Kind David hiding in the caves as he was pursued to be killed, Job losing everything, Elijah the great prophet who was isoloated and depressed, Paul put in the prison and beat, and Jesus persecuted, rejected, and crucified.

 

While the Bible is full of suffering, it is also full of hope. Christ overcame the world and death by His resurrection. And it's through our faith in Him that we can face the suffering that this life brings. Because face, life is full of suffering.

 

Chasing after a great, easy, rich, full of pleasure and happiness isn't going to make you who God made you to be.

 

Chasing after Jesus, suffering for His name's sake, sacrificing comfort to fulfill His will is what will bring you everlasting, complete joy, satisfaction and peace.

 

Read your Bible with an open heart to what God wants to say to you...not with an attitude that you will choose the verses that support your pursuit of vanity. If for a moment you think chasing riches is God's will....read Ecclesiastes this week.

 

Folks, we've got to let go of materialism and what the 'world' says is ideal and grab onto what the Bible teaches us. Read it, study it, and grow more into the image of Christ! 

 



Marriages under attack BY PEOPLE OF THE OPPOSITE SEX

I am such a justice...'that's just not right' person. And so my thoughts and frustration are so intertwined that I got to get this frustration out today...thank God for blogging, huh? (You would not want to hear this raw, uncut on a video...blogging allows time to think, word, reword...and edit!!!!)

Yesterday, my day started off with witnessing a married woman standing with another man talking and laughing with him out in front of the school. The man was NOT her husband, just a dad (possibly married as well) dropping off his child. Misleading....

Later when I was at the gym, I heard this guy in one sentence refer to 'his old lady'...and the next minute, he was obviously checking out some woman in the gym. He was very obvious with his head turn & head tilted down. Repulsive...

So these two incidences made me wonder:

WHAT IS WRONG WITH PEOPLE THESE DAYS?????

 

Are people not taking their wedding vows seriously???? So you say, 'Jen, what's the big deal...they're just talking and looking?'

 

I ask: What's going on in their hearts, minds, and lives?

 

Obviously with this guy at the gym...It's LUST in it's most raw, obvious form. With the woman, I believe there is a void in her own marriage that she would need to stand on the corner and talk with some guy.

 

Now, before you want to argue with me...I will tell you that before Christ, I was that woman, but NOT married at the time. I love to talk...in general. I do now...and did then, that part hasn't seemed to change since getting saved.

 

But just as now, then I had so many ideas, thoughts, dreams, and ambitions, but most women clocked out when I talked. Plus, I happen to not be ugly...so my biggest audience was...MEN.

 

I had a lot of 'guy friends' back then too. But I will confirm that there was always some underlying, not so pure attraction going on, on one side or the other. Just being honest. This is why, now, saved...I am very adamant to not make friends with men.

 

Many of them do not hold to the same standard of morals as I. Many do not FEAR the Lord as I...and I know that the devil goes around prowling like a lion looking for (a weak) someone to devour.

 

Sadly too....I've heard that divorce is now common in the 'world'. And even in dating relationships, where a woman believes it's monogamous, they are catching their boyfriends texting other women...seeing other women. What has happened to our society's standards? (Oh mercy...If I was single now...2012...I'm pretty sure I would be sworn to celibacy and committed to being a missionary for life.)

 

One of my thoughts is how these Bachelor/Bachelorette shows are so popular...Really? How can a man find someone to commit to when he's dating 10 women at one time? Leave it to TV/Media to promote lust, promiscuity, and adultery!!!!

 

Another thought, how can a spouse be completely committed to their spouse if they have 10 friends of the opposite sex texting and talking to them all the time? When will they have time to connect with their spouse?

 

I do NOT have men friends (in real life...I have some men FB friends that my husband monitors....). I have a pastor that counsels me some....and I have a brother-in-law. That's about all the men (besides my father-in-law) that I really engage in conversation with on a regular basis. And those 3 love my husband dearly.  In fact I met the 3 of them because of my husband!

 

I don't know...I'm rambling...although I do feel better. Now, how to land the plane?

 

My take is that too many married people are not staying committed to their vows and letting room into their lives for drama by letting people of the opposite sex in. I remember working at the church, where the pastors were all about getting women to counsel women. Men do not need to be in a position of being the person a woman (married or not) turns to for every meltdown for comfort.

 

Something intimately happens when we share our real feelings...

and we don't need to be having intimate moments

with people who are not our spouses.

 

This reminds me of why I married Dave. I was at a point in my life where we had become really good friends. We had lunch together after church...we served together at our youth ministry night, would stand around and talk afterwards. He would pray for me a lot. (Special note: Something intimate happens when men and women pray together, for each other...a lot.)

 

I found myself in a quandry in my season of singleness saying: "What am I going to do if I ever get married? I won't be able to be friends with Dave."

 

Lesson here: I understood that my friendship with Dave would not be appropriate if I were to be a married woman (to someone else).

 

What happened? Well, one day...I just randomly had the solution to my quandry:

If I don't know what to do about Dave,

and would die if I had to give him up as a friend....

WHY NOT MARRY HIM????

 

Well, long story short: Dave and I will celebrate our 7th year married in 6 months!!! And I will say, this year has been, by far, the best year!!!!

 

So what does this mean for those who are married?

• Be wise, protect your marriage.
• Do not have deep, intimate, long conversations with people of the opposite sex.
• Do not allow others of the opposite sex to be under the impression you're not married.
• Don't make your new best friend some one of the opposite sex.
• Stop checking out people of the opposite sex, don't disrespect your spouse!

THE MOUTH OF AN ADULTERSS IS A DEEP PIT;

HE WHO IS CURSED OF THE LORD WILL FALL INTO IT.

Proverbs 22:14

 

For those who aren't married:

• Don't pursue friendships with married people of the opposite sex.
• Make friends with single people of the opposite sex, if you must.
• Don't set out to cause a married person to struggle in their commitment to their spouse by being a distraction and yearning for their attention.
• Find someone of the same sex to confide in, find comfort in, and hang out with, married people of the opposite sex are off limits!

HE WHO LOVES PURITY OF HEART,

AND WHOSE SPEECH IS GRACIOUS, THE KING IS HIS FRIEND.

Proverbs 22:11

 

 

Folks, it's time to get wise. I remember when I was dating Dave before we got married. I had many wise, elders, pastors, and friends remind us to not be alone, late at night for the sake of being wise and not allowing ourselves to be in a tempting situation.

 

They would remind me, if it was midnight, with my car parked outside his house before we were married....what did that communicate? What it communicated and what was the truth was not the same. I am proud to say that David and I "abstained" from 'relations' until our wedding night. Really, believe it or not...We did and I see God's blessing in our marriage for it.

 

See folks, God rewards the pure (heart, body and mind, I'll add)...

 

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God" - Matthew 5:8

 

To recap:

• Married men and women - IT'S NOT YOUR JOB TO COUNSEL downtrodden people of the opposite sex. Be wise to NOT let people of the opposite sex in.
 
• Unmarried men and women - Keep your eyes in your head, maintain purity, get rid of the lust. Then, maybe then when you meet a single person, you can have a healthy, pure relationship.

Promiscuity, lust, and emotional voids are attacking our marriages...do what you have to to protect your marriage!!!!

• Pray hard.
• Be wise.
• Seek counseling when you need it.
• Keep a tight walk with the Lord!



 

 

You say you 'believe' in God, but do you...really?

Do you ever feel God’s heart? The tumults within your soul that burdens you to the point of tears. Intercession flows out as a result of connecting with the broken heart of God.

So many around us are stumbling over our judgmental attitudes, materialism, greed, vanity, lack of integrity, and so on. Many times, we look no different from the ‘world’.

We are called to be different than the world, to be a city set on a hill. Our words are to be life-giving and bring freedom to the hearers.

We need more discipline in our lives. Our society is going down in history books as a lazy, materialistic generation. How can this be when we have the Bible as a compass on which direction to live?

We have to read it and live by it. Period. We have to do what Jesus is calling us to do. Despite what we want and would like to do, we need to do what we should do. And the Bible contains the instructions.

We have to become students of the Word. We have to read it and put it into action. This is the roadmap to the center of God’s will for our life. How can we say we believe in ‘God’ when we don’t spend time with Him?

May you take the time to spend with Him. May you take the time to study the Word on what God calls you to be and do. May you come into a full revelation of the purpose for your life. It’s more exciting than anything this world can offer…and what you do for God will remain forever, it will remain when all other things are singed in the fire.

 

What God does lasts forever,

so let Him use you to change the destiny of this generation.

It's Friday & we're tired...but this is what we gotta do!

I did NOT want to get up early today. Yesterday, I couldn't sleep past 4:30 a.m....but today, I wanted to stay in bed until seven. However, I know for all the things I have in the works, prayer assignments, school, kids, marriage, walk with God, dreams, etc. - I have no time to ditch my devotional time. Too much on the table to tap out today!

As I sat at my desk....I was whining a little...and then I asked God, "what is wrong with me?" I was gently reminded that this was an emotionally draining week.

• Daniel started Kindergarten.
• Mom had some important doctor appointments for serious concerns.
• I avoided 2 accidents in 1 day. The first would've been minor, the second one, major.
• A new morning routine of get up, get going, get out of the house derailed my cleaning schedule.
• And...it's official, my 2 year old is behaving like a 3 year old and fits are trying to fly off the charts.

CONCLUSION: Stress has left my body and mind tired. "But tomorrow is the weekend, NOT TODAY...so get up, get out of bed, and show up and do what YOU are supposed to do". (My pep talk with myself.)

This is why I default to the discipline of spending time with the Lord, no matter what. It's like oxygen for my soul. I cannot miss this time. As I sat transparently before Him...I journaled this:

 

“Lord, I am tired today. I am exhausted. My eyes are heavy, my body uncooperative. Help me crucify my flesh today.”

“Lord, I am anxious today. I hear of everyone doing exciting things that I’m not. This tugs at my attention and heart. But I am doing exciting things for You, that only You know about. My heart is overwhelmed, my mind is distracted. Help me crucify my flesh today.”

When we look around at others, what they have, what they are doing, where they are going, we can easily become discouraged. It seems as the old cliché “Don’t compare yourself to others” rings true from childhood to adulthood. But isn’t this what we do?

A phrase I whisper to myself to counteract those moments of comparison: “There is always someone who will have more than you….but there is always someone who has less than you, as well.” This rings true for each of us.

Honestly, these are days we struggle with envy, jealousy, and discontentment. This is when we have to sit down before God and let all our concerns flood our prayers. We have to tell God the things that are specifically distracting our attention and taking our eyes off our plow.

It’s easy to look over at your neighbor’s yard, home, driveway, kids and compare yourself to them. But realize friend, that God has a specific task for YOU. What He created you to do and who He created you to be is not the same as your neighbor. Let go of wanting what ‘they’ have, whoever ‘they’ are and embrace what God has given you. Have a thankful heart for what you do have, reminding yourself that you have more than many others.

This is the opportune time to CRUCIFY THE FLESH. Our flesh wants what others have. Discontentment, jealousy, envy…all symptoms of the flesh reigning. Take your wants off the throne and put Jesus Christ there. He is the spring from where all peace, joy, and contentment flow from.

Interesting that when our flesh is the weakest, it somehow has more power to thwart our plans that are dedicated to God. This is exactly why I pulled myself out of bed today. My flesh had to be corrected, taken out of the control tower. Had I stayed in bed and let it dictate to me what I was going to do, who knows what kind of flustered, frazzled, and frustrated day I would've had.

And now that I've got it all off my chest to the Lord...and my cup of hot coffee in me...I sit with peace and joy. Feeling triumphant before the day has even began.

We have to become disciplined people and do what is RIGHT and GOOD...no matter what we 'feel' like doing.

Get up, get in the Word, get into the presence of God and have a great, Holy-Spirit energized day!!!!

Stay HOME & be a MISSIONARY!

I love missionaries and their hearts. They travel, most times, to a far off place to bring things to meet the impoverished people's needs.

They look to meet their physical needs: food, shelter, clothes. Spiritual needs: Bibles, the Gospel, prayer and healing. And they look to do whatever else the people need.

 

What if you could help a NIGERIAN today......

 without going anywhere?

 

You can stay HOME and be a MISSIONARY!

Let me introduce you to my classmate "Favour" - She is a single mom to a 4, almost five year old daughter. She has been staying at the Bethany Shelter here in Bakersfield for quite sometime.

She's been working on getting her green card to work, but the immigration red tape is an obstacle. She really wants to work to take care of her child. Really...she wants a job!

Somehow, some way, she has qualified for Section 8 housing and receives only $300/mo. to support herself. Who knows when the last time was that she got a new pair of shoes?

 

With that said, Favour....needs a favor.

She told me yesterday in class (oh yes, by the way, she is getting her degree at Summit Bible College so that when she is completely equipped, she wants to go back to Nigeria to evangelize!)....but she told me yesterday that she found a house that is affordable, but for Section 8 to approve it, to pay for it....

SHE NEEDS A REFRIGERATOR AND STOVE/OVEN!

And then...when she does get these 2 things to get it approved to move in...she will need beds, some furniture, dishes....you know the bare necessities to live and eat in her home.

This is where WE come in. So many would love the opportunity to go on a mission trip and travel to Nigeria to build a home for a single mom and child. I am reminded of what Compassion International does overseas.

But, we have a full-blooded Nigerian woman in need in our own city. So if you would like to do the work of a missionary without leaving your family for a few weeks and take time off from work, HERE IS YOUR OPPORTUNITY!

Find me on Facebook and message me. Or email me at flexyourselfjen@yahoo.com.

Before class yesterday, I dug through my toiletries cupboard to take her a bag of personal hygiene items and a bag of fun things for her daughter, Divine. If you have lotions, soaps...that kind of stuff that she could use now as this process of moving takes place, please let me know. Or if you can give some WalMart gift cards, where she is able to buy some food, personal items, and clothes, that would be great.

 

If you are able to help provide a stove/oven and/or a refrigerator....

Please let me know a.s.a.p.

We are the body of Christ, made to reach out and help those in need. Favour and Divine have immediate needs, please consider doing something! Please get a hold of me today! My last class with her is next Wednesday.....I'd love to be the messenger of your love!

Introducing BedHead Devotionals

So a couple of months ago, I started capturing my excitement after my morning devotionals on video (on an iPad). It was super easy to upload onto Facebook and I thought, why not?

Most of my friends on FB know I am wild about Jesus, crazy in love with the Lord. I figured those who know me would love 'em because they are real. The way I talk, the topic, and my excitement is what would be experienced by a friend if they had come over that morning for coffee. This is me.

I am excited about the Lord and luckily, I've learned to get a hold of God and hear His voice. (Thank you Pastor Ron Vietti for teaching me that ability.)

I hope to share with you 'the how-to' by being transparent about some prayers and the words I get from God during my personal devo time in the (very) early A.M.

Now, they are called BedHead Devotionals because...well....I have a fresh, out of bed look going on. I have my bedhead from last night's sleep, and typically my pajamas on.

I decided to do them like this because #1: it really, really keeps me humble. And #2, if I spent time getting myself ready by playing beauty parlor to do the video...it wouldn't have the same excitement, zeal, and passion...and then, it would become more rehearsed....and not raw like I wanted it. Rumor has it that I motivate people, so I want the raw, unrehearsed excitement available to motivate my viewers.

Plus, I just want it to be me. Just as my husband hears it. I'm big on being genuine and real...so this is about as genuine and real as I can be for ya!

So I hope you subscribe on YouTube to watch my channel: BedHead Devotionals....
If that's your thing.

My goal is to serve as a source of inspiration and encouragement to those who are walking with the Lord, seeking His will for their lives.

Enjoy!

I'm not religious...

Did you know that I'm not religious and Jesus isn't either?

It's interesting to me how many people use this word to describe me. I know it's because of their lack of knowledge of the true living, daily relationship that is available with Jesus.

When you read the New Testament, the Pharisees were the religious people. And they rejected the truth that Jesus was God's Son....Jesus was God in the flesh....Jesus was the promised Messiah. They rejected the idea that He would reign forever at the right hand of the Father.

It was the religious Pharisees that crucified Jesus on the cross. This is why being called "religious" is a pet peeve of mine. I do realize that people mean no harm in it. They intend for it to be a compliment. But I don't want to be religious. I equate religiousness to the Pharisees, and they rejected the cornerstone of my faith!

I want to be called a true follower of Christ,

a disciple of Christ.

Somewhere along the lines, even being called a Christian isn't so positive sounding anymore. So many 'Christians' reject the very people that Christ died for. So many 'Christians' are hurting their family of God. So many people are being hurt and wounded by 'Christians'. It is a sad, sad thing. Those 'Christians' are acting like the Pharisees. I guess you could say they are being 'religious Christians'.

It's easy to appear like you have it all together when you only let your immediate family (that lives with you) see the real you. You know....the raging, easily angered, disrespectful, impatient selfish YOU.

But then Sunday comes and you show up to church, smiling, saying "Praise the Lord"...you tithe the 10% because your supposed to...and that's it. There's no overflow of true desperation for the presence of Jesus in your life. You just want to say that "you go to church", "you tithe", and so on. You do what you're supposed to do for mere purpose of feeling as though you are 'fulfilling your duties as a Christian'.

To be a follower of Christ, it actually means loving Him so much that you WANT to go to church, you want to wake up early to read your Bible and spend time talking to God and letting your heart be open to what He says. It goes much deeper than 'doing the right things' alone.

Your passion for Jesus needs to be so intense that all the 'right things'

are just a natural overflow of your commitment to Him and His Word.

You've probably heard it said:

IT'S A HEART CONDITION! 

IT'S A RELATIONSHIP!

See, Jesus wants your heart and a relationship with you! He doesn't need you to try to 'be religious'. He just wants your attention and love. When you abandon the world's standards and open up your mind to the Word of God and ask Jesus to give you His Holy Spirit, your life will change.

This will not make you 'religious'. This WILL guarantee your eternal destination...and it will open the door for you to discover who Jesus really is, and who He made you to be!

So for the record:

I'm not religious....

I'm a lover and follower of Jesus Christ, God Most High!

Do you share INTIMACY with anyone?

"I wish you were more available.
I wish we had better communication.
I wish you took time for me.
I wish you would tell me what is 'really' going on with you.

I would love to hear about your dreams and goals.
I would love to hear about your accomplishments.
I would love to hear about improvements you're making.
I would love to hear from you more often.

We need to spend more time together.
We need to talk more, face-to-face.
We need to share deeper thoughts and feelings.
We need to get together for coffee."

Many relationships have lost the simple touch of intimacy. Friendships, marriages, parent/child, sibling, etc. We're just 'not close' to those we love. Time together is missing.

I've heard it said: "YOU SPELL LOVE: T - I - M - E!"

Intimacy is defined as a close, familiar, and usually affectionate or loving personal relationship with another person or group.

Does your marriage have intimacy? It seems the general consensus for infidelity in marriages happens because of 'lack of intimacy'. Not just physical, but emotional...and greater emotional intimacy surely leads to more physical intimacy.

Couples are not sharing their hopes and dreams with their spouses any longer. Not sure why? I suspect that in many marriages in this day and age, schedules do not allow the couple to come together regularly, daily. Adjustments surely need to be made.

Stress can put you in quite a GRUMPY, non-intimate mood. A mood that doesn't allow you to relax and talk about other things that matter most to you. Stress keeps all the current problems on the table, where blood pressure runs high...and this makes you susceptible to being rude, or an angry over-reactor. This environment is not conducive to intimacy occuring. Adjustments need to be made.

Other relationships are lacking intimacy and quality time as well.

• Family relationships - When was the last time you sat and listened to your kids' ideas, thoughts, and hopes with love and acceptance?  
• Friendships - When was the last time you just let your friend vent, cry, celebrate with support and agreement?
• Our relationship with the Lord - When was the last time you sat and talked to God about your life and listened for His guidance? 

Re-read the bold statements again.

I imagine this is what Jesus is telling us sometimes:

"I would love to hear
about your dreams, your goals - YOU!"

Jesus would love to hear your voice daily. He longs for a relationship where you openly and honestly pour your heart out.

HONESTY, TRANSPARENCY, AND LOVE

CREATE AN ENVIRONMENT FOR INTIMACY TO HAPPEN!!!!

Let your disappointments pour out of you, let your needs be voiced. And then share your favorite things, your longings with Him. See, of all our relationships, the one we have with God is the one that will matter the most (right before the one with our spouses).

In fact, review your relationship with God or lack thereof...and then observe all your other relationships. Are they lacking intimacy like the one with God?

What is amazing is that "Jesus stands at the door knocking"...truly He stands and waits for YOU to let Him into your home and into your life.

We need to read those bold statements above again and then imagine this is a note from your Creator. What will your response be?

Get filled up with the MOST HIGH

When called to serve God and fulfill a special task,
You have to maintain a time to praise, thank, and ask.

We cannot do what He calls us to,
Without quality time with Him and you.

What we pour out, comes from His presence,
His life-giving Spirit,
His powerful omnipotence.

So rest in His quietness,
Listen for His voice.
Experience His lovingkindness,
Every morning you have a choice.

- Jennifer Morin, August 5, 2012, 6:55 a.m.

Living in times of OPPOSITION

It's everywhere:

op·po·si·tion

 /ˌɒpəˈzɪʃən/ Show Spelled[op-uh-zish-uhn] Show IPA

noun

1. the action of opposing, resisting, or combating.

2. antagonism or hostility.

3. a person or group of people opposing, criticizing, or protesting something, someone, or another group.

4. ( sometimes initial capital letter ) the major political party opposed to the party in power and seeking to replace it.

5. the act of placing opposite, or the state or position of being placed opposite.

 

But it should be the OPPOSITE:

har·mo·ny

   /ˈhɑrməni/ Show Spelled[hahr-muh-nee] Show IPA

noun, plural har·mo·nies.

1. agreement; accord; harmonious relations.

2. a consistent, orderly, or pleasing arrangement of parts; congruity.

3. Music .

    a. any simultaneous combination of tones.

    b. the simultaneous combination of tones, especially when blended into 

        chords pleasing to the ear; chordal structure, as distinguished from melody and

        rhythm.

    c. the science of the structure, relations, and practical combination of chords.

4. an arrangement of the contents of the Gospels (stories of Christ), either of all four or of the first three, designed to show their parallelism, mutual relations, and differences.

 

** Interesting how the stories of Christ are called 'a harmony'....

** Interesting how Jesus told us to live in harmony....

 

Matthew 5:9 says:

“Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called sons of God."

 

* * * * * * * * * *

Interesting this day and age we live in,

People everywhere, waging war over their sins.

 

Trying to keep their's, trying to hide them,

Claiming 'what's right for me,

must be accepted by her and him'.

 

Who are 'they'? They're the ones you oppose.

We witness double standards,

when what we do is exposed.

 

Do they want our acceptance? Love or conformity?

Jesus is not surprised, He said we'd see animosity.

 

We don't have to fret over who is right.

We don't have post, rant, or even fight.

 

We say that we love...all of you - all of us,

but which one of you is more like Jesus?

 

Perhaps it's the bum laying in the gutter,

Humbly praying for his thirst and hunger?

 

Or is it the welfare mom, who fraudulently

hands him her last food stamps to eat?

 

WE ARE ALL A MESS, can't you see?

I look in the mirror and hate what is still in me.

 

I have a heart for God,

to serve and love on others, 

But when I sit down to pray, I have to confess

my sins as a wife, woman, and mother.

 

So what do we say?

What do we do, or don't?

 

Jesus said it best when He said:
"He who is without sin, Cast the first stone."

John 8:7

 

* * * * * * * * *

 

We are all working out our own salvation. Or at least that's what we're supposed to be doing with this time we have on earth.

 

Some of us have stayed on the plan since we found it...and some more consistently than others. Some have had heartbreaking trials that sent them searching more deeply and have an even greater reality of God. And some have been heartbroken by believers and ran.

 

This is why we do NOT compare ourselves to one another.

It all becomes 'relative' when we do that.

 

Instead, we need to read our Bibles and compare ourselves to Christ...the ultimate example of true love! Measure yourself to God's standard because He is your audience...YOUR audience of ONE!