An awesome follow up to my previous post - Lecrae - Church Clothes

This is a good follow up to my previous post. If you aren't real good at listening/understanding rap please try looking up the lyrics. Lecrae is rapping in an ironic & also a bit sarcastic way from a worldly/judgmental perspective view of The Church.


PS. If you're one of the kinds of ppl that see no glory in Christian rap please try to at least open your mind/heart to the lyrics & for 3 minutes forget about how you feel towards this particular Christian music/worship.

Change in the world & in the church can only start with YOU...

Do you think this world needs change? Are you one that says "I don't need to be in church while there are 'fake' ppl in it."? So you feel justified to do what you do. Well if y'all want change why not be part of it instead of making endless wishes when you're not part of the answer to your wishes or prayers. I thought just like that for many years growing up & if it weren't for one night that I realized I needed Jesus to be the change in me & acknowledged change came from ME ALLOWING JESUS to do the work, I would never go to church or be who I am today. I go to church for Jesus, I go to be a change in the world and yes I go the be PART of the change in the church & with the church. Church can't change me, Jesus can. You've might've heard that "the church is like a hospital for sick ppl" and yes its a good analogy, but think about this: when you go to the hospital to get cured/better do you seek to get cured by the nurse or by the Doctor? I go to church not to be changed/better by the pastor I go to get cured by The Doctor/Jesus. Nurses like pastors are simply "good" helpers, but they can only do so much. So if you go to see how well the church can make you its like expecting the nurses to give you their own personal "medical" advice instead of actually waiting for the nurses to come back with a reply from the doctor. Also, the nurses do give us many times a reply from the doctor but they always set an appointment for you to personally meet the doctor & to truly see what the doctors advice is. Same thing in church we can get a word from our heavenly Doctor trough our pastors, but we get to personally meet Him & know His genuine advice when we set an appointment to meet Him personally trough His Word/trough His Holy Bible! _\m/

I hope this all made sense and it wasn't "all over the place", lol.

RECONCILIATION trailer

Very good movie! I actually believe is one of the most honest movies ever made. I don't mean necessarily the Christian part alone ('cause sadly not many "Christians" ever get to this point) I mean the real life struggles that Jesus came to set us free from, TOO! HIS Grace is for ALL and not for a select few.

As Paul once said...

Romans 7:13-25 (NIV)
13 Did that which is good, then, become death to me? By no means! Nevertheless, in order that sin might be recognized as sin, it used what is good to bring about my death, so that through the commandment sin might become utterly sinful. 14 We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15 I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16 And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. 21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.

{God knows my sins, He knows those recent sins I've been continually falling into. I know that God is a forgiving God. However, recently I've asked myself:

"Can God really forgive me even when I continue to sin in that which I hate & wish I did not do, in the sin I feel I can't really control nor feel like I have enough self will to stop?"

So today I remembered the verse above #15 & decided to read more into its entire context (vs 13-25) to see if I can find some hope for my struggles. Thankfully I do find hope in it. I understand that I am sinful I'll never get it entirely right on this side of heaven & it is the sin of my flesh that causes me to do what I do NOT want to do. But ,I also know that the Holy Spirit dwells in me that convicts me continually. & I acknowledge that God's law & commandments are Truth. It is because of my remorse that I know I'm wrong & I know that who I am, whether I like it or not, is a sinner. I, also, know that as long as I have the Holy Spirit in me & I feel remorseful there is still hope for me yet. I am not saying that because I feel what I feel & know what I know is wrong - excuses me & therefore will allow me to enter into eternity with my LORD, what I AM saying is that while I still am alive & I am conscious of my sin I still have hope of being set free of that of which I hate, so I will continue to pray (& ask others to the same for me) to Jesus to help me turn away from that I feel I'm becoming captive of.
I THANK GOD FOR THE HOPE HE HAS GIVEN ME TROUGH THESE VERSES, SO I CONFESS TO EVERYONE, I SIN! I PRAY GOD THAT YOU WILL BLESS ME & SET ME FREE FROM THAT OF WHICH YOU HATE & THEREFORE I, TOO, HATE! MY HEART BRAKES WHEN I KNOW YOUR HAS BEEN THOUSANDS OF YRS AGO & HOW EACH TIME I SIN IT BREAKS YOUR HEART AGAIN. FORGIVE ME & THANKS FOR THE DELIVERANCE YOU WILL SOON GIVE ME FROM THIS BONDAGE. IN JESUS' NAME I PRAY. AMEN!}

Philippians 2:4 (NKJV)
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Romans 3:23 (NKJV)

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

(NKJV)
1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

Ephesians 3:17
that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,

Matthew 25:41 (AMP)

41 Then He will say to those at His left hand, Begone from Me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels!

Trials & Adversities are like an oven...

"He pours the cream of His Spirit over everything, sprinkles some grace and mercy on top, puts it in a hot oven of trial & adversity, & - voilà! - a delicious offering we never thought our lives would ever produce again, ready to serve to a hungry world that's equally in need of redemption." ~Priscilla Shirer (A study from Jonah: Navigating a Life Interrupted)

(This is perfect for me to remember. When I'm in hardships all I need is to remember is that I'm still in the oven & The Master Chef is watching when I'm ready to be taken out & be served to feed this hungry world) Ha!, sometimes I wanna think I know more than the Chef & so I demand to be taken out of the oven because I feel I might just be over cooked & its not til I realize I'm the product of the Chef & not til He knows I'm ready will I be a serving for others, so it's when I realize "yup, I need a bit more roasting" :)

When you throw things into your buggy at the grocery store do u stop & think how blessed you are because YOU CAN buy those things? I'm talking especially to ppl like me who sometimes have it hard & live check by check. Why do I? Because we can complain how hard we have it (& we do have it hard no doubt about it) but I know there are many out there like me who lash out at God 'cause we're stressing, fretting about living on a real tight budget, but hey at least we have a budget. I've always acknowledged how others have it worse, but right now as I was shopping & throwing things in my buggy that were wants & not needs made me realize it even more. It's like God was telling me "why do u complain so much when others have NOTHING & u get to do what u just did? I gave you the blessing to pick what u wanted to throw in your buggy. Thank me, stop complaining & acknowledge what I'm doing for u" (& I did do as He said which also persuaded me to ask y'all these questions) I've never been much of a complainer, but in the past year I have, which its been mostly about life & God's purpose for my life. So I'm glad He is faithful & a Great Teacher who teaches me how blessed I am. I can't wait til the day I can be a big blessing to others & to be God's vessel in which He can display His love & mercy. I thank God for the very lil (or a lot as those who aren't as blessed would say) of what I have & I pray He would bless, as much as He's blessed us, to those who have it worse than us. I pray He continues to be patient & show me all that I am blessed w/ every day! All in Jesus' Name I pray & thank Him... Amen!

This is so so so hard especially when I have to empty things I grew to believe were good and right. But I guess that's why I have to empty myself to allow the One who knows what's good to dwell in me, control me & help me be more like Jesus.

K-LOVE Kari Jobe "Steady My Heart" LIVE

♬ Even when it hurts ♫
♪ Even when it's hard ♩
♫ Even when it all just falls apart ♬
♩ I will run to You ♪
♪ ‘Cause I know that You are ♫
♬Lover of my soul, Healer of my scars ♪

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT)

21 The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

I don't know if it's just me or what, but I have an even deeper reason to think God is soon to come because there are tons of ppl coming to know God, being saved, and surprisingly these ppl are ppl no one would think they would. However, sadly, a lot more ppl are becoming even more wicked & surprisingly these are ppl no one would think they would be. (Ironic, huh?)

Matthew 7:14 (NLT)
14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Ask yourself, "which group do I fit in?" If your answer is w/ God, AMEN. So be alert you don't allow Satan's temptations get a hold of you, because trust me he wants to add you to his group! Now if you answered either "I don't know, I'm a 'good' person so I think I am worthy of God" or your answer was "eh, God, really?" I pray you would come to meet Him before it's too late! Remember no one is saved because they are 'good' NO ONE is good. God is good! We are saved only trough Jesus & we can only try to be good IMITATORS of what it truly means to be Good (Jesus)!

I pray I can be the best possible Jesus IMITATOR!
Lets all be the best Jesus IMITATORS!

I've been seeing lately a lot of men faithfully serving the LORD & honestly growing up I've never really seen that in many ppl (particularly men) And I don't think there is ANYTHING more attractive in a man than his love & fire for God. A man who places God before ANYONE/ANYTHING (even his own fleshly desires) & isn't ashamed of being called a fanatic or "obsessive". (This applies to everyone, even women). Too many ppl like to say "too much of anything is bad" Well I faithfully disagree when someone says that a persons obsession for God is bad. There's no such thing as too much love for God if anything there isn't much love :( The kind of obsession that is bad is the one when we are hooked/idolizing things we think are "good." Obsession is not bad if its placed in the One & Only God. My obsession is love & devotion to God & to live my life for Him & not for me or anyone else. So of-course I think these things make anyone extremely more attractive than anything else. God is my 1st, 2nd, & 3rd choice (only choice). He's above the love for my fam/frnds, above ANYONE elses beliefs or rules, & above my OWN fleshly desires. :)

I woke in the middle of the night (the night before last night) thinking of this (1st)picture & how happy it made me. Hmmmm does anyone think I'm silly & weird for waking up in the middle of the night having this thought & happily falling back to sleep with that thought? Well whatever... call me silly :)

I TRULY BELIEVE THIS. I THINK THE REASON MANY WOMEN ALLOW BAD SITUATIONS OR NEGATIVE RELATIONSHIPS GO UNSEEN TO THEM, BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THEY'RE WORTH. THEY CAN'T SEE THE BEAUTY IN THEMSELVES NOR THE BEAUTY IN FRONT OF THEIR MIRROR. I HONESTLY HURT WHEN WOMEN (OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER) DON'T LOVE AND RESPECT THE WORK OF GOD IN THEM, WHEN THEY CONTINUE TO ALLOW OTHERS TO DISRESPECT OR JUDGE WHO THEY ARE.

Psalm 139:13-18 (NIRV)
13 You created the deepest parts of my being.
You put me together inside my mother's body.
14 How you made me is amazing and wonderful.
I praise you for that.
What you have done is wonderful.
I know that very well.
15 None of my bones was hidden from you
when you made me inside my mother's body.
That place was as dark as the deepest parts of the earth.
When you were putting me together there,
16 your eyes saw my body even before it was formed.
You planned how many days I would live.
You wrote down the number of them in your book
before I had lived through even one of them.
17 God, your thoughts about me are priceless.
No one can possibly add them all up.
18 If I could count them,
they would be more than the grains of sand.
If I were to fall asleep counting and then wake up,
you would still be there with me.

Matthew 19:14 (ERV)

14 ... Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me. Don’t stop them, because God’s kingdom belongs to people who are like these children.”

Genesis 2:24, Matthew 19:5, Ephesians 5:31 (CJB)
This is why a man is to leave his father and mother and stick with his wife, and they are to be one flesh.
Matthew 19:6 (CJB)
6 Thus they are no longer two, but one. So then, no one should split apart what God has joined together.”

1 Corinthians 7:2 (CJB)
2 ... let each man have his own wife and each woman her own husband.
Exodus 20:14 (NKJV)
14 “You shall not commit adultery.

Colossians 3:19 (CJB)
19 Husbands, love your wives and don’t treat them harshly.

1 Peter 3:7 (CJB)
7 You husbands, likewise, conduct your married lives with understanding. Although your wife may be weaker physically, you should respect her as a fellow-heir of the gift of Life. If you don’t, your prayers will be blocked.

Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word

                                             I feel that any Religion that says they're the "right religion" is claiming to be "self righteous". Now is that something God wants us to act like? I believe that any Christian Church that does not call or believe they are the "right church" & does not believe that they are the only way to Jesus is what a Church is/ The Bride of Jesus. We are all humans who are sinners & therefore can never be RIGHT on our own or w/ religion but only tru Jesus who cleansed us from our sins. So how can we meet w/ Jesus if not tru religion?... You can meet Him tru His Word, The HOLY BIBLE. We can all be in communion w/ our fellow believers/Christians in any building because a church is not a place where we go learn about God, but rather a group of people who just meets up in "one" place a few times a week. However, we're the church 24/7, we are The Church and Gods hands & feet. Any Christian Church (group of ppl) that follows the Bible & knows our salvation comes from Jesus & not from any religion/denomination is what I believe to be The Church that is allowing the Holy Spirit to the preaching. The Church CAN be in any & all parts of the world all we need in order for that to happen is ask God to help us & guide us in the way we should spread His Word & His Gospel. I pray that I may have been able to help someone who didn't care for Jesus or His church based on religion based on how some self proclaimed "self righteous" person treated them. I also want to make clear since we are the ones that consist of what is called The Church please understand who we all are, you & I are not perfect so don't depend on someone who calls themselves Christian or Pastor to be Christlike 'cause at the end of the day you are responsible of your own relationship with Jesus and what He has to offer, SALVATION . Are you going to allow what other Christians do affect the way you feel towards Jesus or are you going to allow Jesus/The Bible to be the One to control how you feel and live? Its a choice, YOUR choice, & like Joshua 24:15 says, ... But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. 

NOTE: My blog page is in no way related to this guys page. I don't know him, so my comments might not necessarily mean we see things the same way. However, I clearly see somethings the same he does and it is why I have posted, so far, two of his videos. Also, I don't ever mean/intend to judge or condemn any one so if it does ever come across that way I truly apologize c~:

Sexual Healing

From 4:05 on, this guy always triggers something in me, I can feel Jesus speaking tru him telling me how He loves me. It really does make me love Jesus even more & I wonder "why???" I who could never love Him as much as He loves me & while I continue failing Him He remains faithful, loving, merciful, just, and MORE than willing to forgive me. It makes me realize how unworthy I am of such love, but it also makes me want to be more Christlike & live my life to worship & honor Him! Like a quote I once read "I cant brag about my love for God because I fail Him daily. But I can brag about His love for me because it NEVER FAILS." _\m/ Jesus

Laminin: a glycoprotein component of connective tissue basement membrane that promotes cell adhesion.

hmmm... Now who can't trust in God and His cross that even something within our bodies that holds our cells together is shaped like the Cross.

One of my favorite stories in the Bible are found in Acts 5:17-42 I especially love this part:
40 The others accepted his advice. They called in the apostles and had them flogged. Then they ordered them never again to speak in the name of Jesus, and they let them go.
41 The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the name of Jesus. 42 And every day, in the Temple and from house to house, they continued to teach and preach this message: “Jesus is the Messiah.”

wow rejoicing after having their "behinds" whooped. Now that's what you call being positive no matter the circumstances. :)

"Stronger" Mandisa (ASL)

Exodus 20:16 (NKJV) *9th commandment

16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

Proverbs 14:5 (NKJV)

5 A faithful witness does not lie,
But a false witness will utter lies.

Proverbs 23:7 (NKJV)

7 For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.
“Eat and drink!” he says to you,
But his heart is not with you.

The Five D's that the Devil Uses Against Us:

Delay- makes you put off something that never gets done.

Diversion- makes the wrong things seem attractive so that you want them more than the right things.

Defeat- makes you feel like a failure so that you don't even try.

Discouragement- makes you look at your problems rather than looking at God.

Doubt- makes you question God's word and His goodness.

Stained Glass Masquerade by Casting Crowns *w/ lyrics*

I remember when I first made the choice of going to church & truly seeking God I felt the same way as the lyrics of this song. The reason I did was because I was living a life I refused to admit was a sin, so I questioned if I was really myself at church would they still have Jesus' love for me? Plus, when they worshiped I wondered what was I missing that I couldn't praise God in the same way they did? I wanted so badly to have that which made them praise God the way that they did. This song reminds me that what we see isn't always what it really is. For all I know maybe it was a "show" I don't know all I know is that I just need to allow for the Holy Spirit to lead ME into praising Him the best way He wants ME to do it. I no longer live in that sin, thank God and have grown to be more comfortable in church. But, recently this song still has some meaning just not in the same way as before, but I will not allow any feelings to jeopardize my relationship with God :)

Trip Lee - I'm Good Ft. Lecrae

To some being martyred maybe a horrible thing, but I think it would be an honor for me to die for the One who died and resurrected for me. Yes, it's also scary but remember the one who seeks for his life will lose it and the one who loses it for God's sake shall win their life.                         

We Love You - Iran & Israel - ASL

                                            Within 0:51 seconds you'll hear an Israeli man talking about love for the Iranians :) and this woman will be interpreting for him in ASL

I think everyone should, I mean must, read the Bible on their own & not depend only on someone elses "teaching." We are All HUMANS & therefore SINNERS, so one can't expect to know everything God REALLY wants from us or hear His voice if we depend on someone else, ANYONE, other than depending & believing in the Bible & His Word than some mere mortal. Remember your salvation depends on you & not on any religious "leader." Jesus is our Salvation & an example of how we should/NEED to be/live. Church has many, many benefits, but not as much if u stay away from reading the Bible & praying to God for Wisdom & understanding of His Word. No church is perfect. No one church is the right church. The church does not save anyone, (we're the church). Only Jesus can save, so how will you really meet/know Jesus for yourself & receive His salvation if you have not read the Word for yourselves???
 
JUST SOMETHING I FELT DEEPLY THE NEED TO SAY TO EVERYONE. DEPEND ON NO ONE, DEPEND ONLY ON GOD!!! xoxo God bless! If you truly seek Him & His Word you WILL find Him & be blessed!!!

If this life has anything to gain at all I'll count it loss if I can't hear YOU, feel YOU, 'cause I need YOU. Can't walk this earth alone. I recognize I'm not my own, so before I fall I need to hear YOU, feel YOU, as I live to make my boast in YOU alone.

Show them the love of Christ & live in the light, so they can glorify our God when they look at our life & we win for sharing the truth & hearts get changed we win if we're rejected because of His Name we win if seeds get planted & watered & grow

Must be tiring to meet my resistance My stubborn will can be so twisted Pride can steal the best from me But it’s not what I want But You’re what I need So I surrender

I'm a fanatic! I'm not extreme, I'm redeemed with faith! To serve a God who's EXTREMEly great!

Lecrae - Just Like You - OFFICIAL VIDEO

                                         
I just wanna be like You,
Walk like, talk like, even think like You
The only One I could look To
You're teaching me to be just like You
Well I just gotta be like You!
I wanna be like You in every way,
So if I gotta die everyday
Unworthy sacrifice
But the least I can do is give the most to me
Because being just like You is what I'm 'spose to be
You said You came for the lame,
I'm the lamest
I made a mess You say You'll erase it,
I'll take it
You said you came for the lame,
I'm the lamest
I broke my life, but You say You'll replace it,
I'll take it!

Proverbs 5:3-6
3 For the lips of an immoral woman are as sweet as honey,
and her mouth is smoother than oil.
4 But in the end she is as bitter as poison,
as dangerous as a double-edged sword.
5 Her feet go down to death;
her steps lead straight to the grave.
6 For she cares nothing about the path to life.
She staggers down a crooked trail and doesn’t realize it.


THOUGHTS ON THESE VERSES: LIKE LUST, SEXUAL IMMORALITY, AND COUNTLESS OF OTHER THINGS THAT ALL SEEM ATTRACTIVE, THEY ALL FEEL RIGHT AND GOOD FOR A WHILE BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN BECAUSE THEY FEEL RIGHT AND GOOD THAT THEY ARE. I MYSELF HAD STRUGGLED W/ THIS IN THE PAST AND SOMETIMES STILL HAVE A HARD TIME UNDERSTANDING WHY THINGS THAT SEEM RIGHT AND GOOD ARE ACTUALLY NOT. WELL THAT'S WHAT THE DECEIVER IS GOOD AT. SO RUNNING IN TO THIS VERSE TODAY MADE ME THINK HOW IT APPLIED TO MY LIFE AND HOW IT MAY APPLY TO SOME OF U :) JUST SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT. (This is how I understood the verse, hope it makes sense to y'all)