Monthly Archives: August 2013

A Testimony; When I make a decision, it is hopefully the correct answer to the choices I have made, whether they are good ones or I have totally lost my mind.  Decisions are also my least favorite thing to consider unless it is fun based.  I know I cannot get around in this world without making decisions, even if I decide to let someone else make them for me, I still had to make the decision to give up control.  As we know there are exceptions to everything, therefore some of us are not capable of making decisions for a variety of reasons; mental health, incarceration, illnesses, don’t want too, and don’t.

When I made the decision to Obey the Will God, I also decided to tell about some of the decisions I made that did not glorify him, in order to give warning.  I was selfish and had a wealth of information some others could use.  Whenever I decided to get busy and expanded my pocket-book, I keep it to myself; I didn’t want to share the wealth of my tactics.  I had a change of heart when in trouble and remembering what my mother told me.  I knew I had to abstain from some of my selfish ways if I wanted the Lord to continue to bless me.

Abstain, how was I going to accomplish that?  I was a young woman managing a bar and the owner of a barber shop.  I was making money hand over fist and on the wild-side. The revelation that made me decide to change my ways concerning sharing what I knew with others, was when my mother said, “God will not keep blessing you if you don’t start sharing and taking care of what you already have.”   It could be the end of life as I knew it, I thought.  She said; “what good is it if you don’t use what you have, it doesn’t matter if it’s physical like money or mental like knowledge?”   I listened but it took a long time for me to put it to use.

The question was, how can I change and abstain with so much abundance?  How far will I go with what I have?  Will I give to an unworthy friend, the homeless, a family member in need?  What if I don’t give to any?  This called for more than just guess-work.  I knew this was a test.  A Test of Wills and a decision had to be made, will I follow the Flesh or Christ?

To abstain is to voluntarily cease and desist, especially if it is harmful.  As most know our bodies will not be in agreement with what the Holy Spirit has in mind for us. But we can get ourselves under control if we approach life in a Christ-like manner.  None of it is easy, although I think giving is easier than trying to control the flesh.  It’s natural for us to become selfish, (born in sin) because at some point we may be afraid to lose what we have, instead of realizing we will if we horde what has been given to us for the greater good.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.”   Romans 13:14

Having great wealth does not necessarily mean money.  So we need to approach what we think Christ means with care, humility and with reason.  Our body and mind will determine how our emotions will affect how we treat others. Generous giving is encouraged when referenced from the bible; a direct response to all Christ has done for us.

Interpretation is to bring out the meaning of something, and the bible does not give directions to everything I am to understand clearly.  That’s why I take heed concerning some of my decisions.  After praying, the best way I found to interpret what Christ is saying is to go to a bible teaching, bible believing church, listening to a preacher and using my inner guidance, The Holy Spirit.                                                 

FYI; I understand the Holy Spirit is designed to help us understand what God’s words really mean and how to apply them correctly.  Nothing is personal in his teachings, so don’t think his words are lessons for only you.

“First, understand this, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any personal or private or special interpretation (losing or solving).”   2nd Peter 1:20

Mishandling God’s words can be dangerous, and interpretation is logical reasoning, so I am assuming most have enough common sense to not read anything into to the word that is simply not there.  We must understand what God (Jesus Christ) has freely given, which is The Holy Spirit, but that does not mean for us to ignore common sense.  Our Holy Spirit is to be used with logical and internal consistency.  My biggest fear is to be incorrect about the teachings of Jesus, something we all should be mindful of.

“Speaking of this as he does in all of his letters.  There are some things in those that are difficult to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist and misconstrue to their own utter destruction, just as (they distort and misinterpret) the rest of the Scriptures.”   Peter 3:16

My life unquestionably consisted of a lot of drama when it came to life choices and other decisions made by me.  After some time I came to realize every time I went against my heart, I went against the Holy Spirit and I paid the price for my decisions. 

Some of us are natural followers and we will not make a decision, even when we know those we put in charge are making the wrong ones, especially when it comes to our well-being, but yet we continue to allow it.  After all, it was our decision.  I know some who can’t say no, so they spend so much time in church or doing for others they allow themselves and families to suffer.  With this approach, some say “we have spread ourselves too thin.”   We get lost in what we think we should or should not do, to serve the Lord, often causing us to outdo ourselves.

ANOTHER TESTIMONY;  I love the expression “given unto me,” and I know to get has definite rewards.  I also know to appreciate it depends on the importance of what it is; like the decision I made in order to receive the blessings promised to my grandfather for me, because of his covenant with the Lord.  Despite his generosity was there for me to take, I had to understand it in order to access it.

God is still keeping his promises to my grandfather, who is long dead to this carnal world, and my involvement coupled with the decisions I had to make.  My grandfather told me, Christ told him if he picks up his cross and follows him, he would bless his generations six and seven times, so he did.  What my grandfather didn’t tell me was how to access those blessings.  It was a process, I had to learn how to receive the Holy Spirit in order for me to understand, in all my decisions be sure to follow my heart.

I had to know Christ, how else was I to get what I thought was rightfully mind if I did not know what I had, who or where it was coming from, why and what do I do when I did receive that long ago promised gift.  Finally, with obedience and my understanding of the Word of God, the wealth of the heavens opened up, and the gift of life coupled with the peace I received.  Not money, friends, etc…. Life and peace.  Until I made a decision to have a relationship with Jesus, my gift was just sitting on the shelf waiting for me to claim everlasting life as my own.

If I had not made the decision to seek out Jesus Christ or knew he existed in my darkest hour, I would have never known the full potential of what God promised my grandfather, for me.  I was merely happy with what I had been given not realizing all I was to receive.  I thought being blessed and highly favored was a monetary gift, a gift of luxury.  I never worried about a roof over my head or money in my pocket, being run over by a bus was not in my future.  Never realizing my life was in trouble and my soul may be in on its way to Hell.

Fortunately for me, because of my grandfather’s obedience, I was blessed with the correct decision to follow Christ, and because of that decision, my life was saved from a horrible death caused by Cancer.  Knowing one of the most important things my parents taught me was, I needed to have a direct relationship with Christ to receive any blessings.  I had to keep myself under the protection of Christ Jesus, my savior.

“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”   Proverbs 22:6

I didn’t all of a sudden decided to follow after Christ, it was in my heart.  I had to make the decision to abstain from all the sin I possibly could and share what I had with others (knowledge).  I had to be still so I could hear the Word of God in order to follow his directions, so when the dark days approached it would be “well with my soul.”   I knew I could change my fate by Serving the Lord.           

The best decision I ever made in my life.

Thank you, Lord, for your wisdom, guidance, and support.   Amen

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What is the point if it is without direction, desire and purpose?

A point is: an essential factor or idea.  It can be a helpful hint or the bottom line of a joke.  A point is also a mark on a compass showing direction; to aim. There are sharp points like needles and good points like those we sometimes make in a conversation.  And of course there are the bad points; for instance pointing your finger in someone’s face, or having the point of a gun shoved into yours.

“We need to be tactful when making a point, the last thing we want to do is make an enemy.”

Direction is a command; the line along which anything that lays, faces, moves, etc., with reference to the point or region toward which it is directed; to be given or shown the way to go, as in directions to a good “bible believing bible teaching church.”

“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined.”

There is nothing wrong with adding a dash of tactful mannerism as we go with confidence to follow our dreams.  I found it to be fruitful if we live the life Christ has planned for us to reach the sometimes impossible ones we need to succeed ; but what’s the point if we don’t know Him?  Without Jesus we may never reach that height, especially if we lack purpose.

The winds will always blow in a direction we have no control over, but unlike the wind we can adjust and take a different route to reach our destinations.

To be without direction is a sure way to fail, understand with directions we may become all we can be.  Life sometimes have those closest to us like our families going in different directions to get to the same point, and sometimes that’s only a matter of where we started from, nothing has to be wrong.  We need descriptive tools and other routes pointing us toward what’s next and how to make it count.

The story of our life is to move forward and face the circumstances that are intended to aim or point us in a specified direction; going to church and seeking the Kingdom of God is a worthy starting point, if you have the desire… Of course there are those who choose an unlikely path coupled with misguided and bad directions; the purpose intended by Satan to send us down a slippery slope.  Some say, “if we don’t watch where we’re going, we’re going to go straight to Hell.”

“A man’s heart devises his way: but the Lord directs his steps.”   Proverbs 16:9

For us to not follow the wrong path we must point our hearts in the right direction in order to survive.  If we know the road is crooked and if we don’t change directions, we may end up where we are going.  Some say “To Hell in a hand basket.”

“Our purpose in life is to find our purpose thru Jesus Christ.”

He who has a why to live, can bear almost any how and whatever in order to have a better life.
For even better successes let us speak the truth in love allowing the words to be a part of the guiding factors of our life.   Ephesians 4:14-15 says;

“That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ.”

All the efforts in the world are not enough if it is without purpose, keeping in mind truth and love are some of the greatest building blocks.  Reminding ourselves a great point brings real facts to life.  We must understand the point of truth is to discover it.

If you lose sight of your purpose, listen for the destination in your heart. Our life may never shine as brightly as it should if we are only hoping and or wishing.  Without desire, we have nothing; it is the starting point for all our achievements, and we have to really want it.  Causing us to have a desire which would be our purpose done tactfully thru Jesus Christ.  So in order to get where we are going in tack, we need Christ to point the way.

I sat in the back of a church for three years because my mother asked me to attend.  So I sat there week after week as the pastor claimed to all I was a permanent visitor.  Since my only purpose was to please my mother and not myself or Christ, the desire to get a closer connection with the others was not there, it was pointless.

A purpose is an intended or desired result.  The very reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc…

Going in the right direction and getting to the point has a variety of meanings.  The direction I am talking about is to have a purpose filled life through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior.  We are 3 dimensional so we can go up, down and side to side in the natural world, but as Christians, we have a Savior that loves us so we can go above, beyond and further than any worldly dimension with our Lord who happened to create all of the Heavens and the Earth?

“There is a God-shaped vacuum in the heart of every man who cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God the Creator made known through Jesus Christ.”   Pascal

The point I am trying to make is;  “In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”   Proverbs 3:6

We love you Lord and thank you for your guidance in all we do.   Amen!

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