The Pain of Back Biting

"Sticks and stones may break my bones,

but words will never hurt me."

This is one of the biggest lies we were taught as children. We sang it faithfully when other children said ugly things to us when we were young. The truth is: Words hurt then and they hurt today. Words are powerful. Very powerful. Words shape our belief, they mold us into who we are. Words can cause a positive or negative change in a person's life.

As believers, we know that we should never gossip or backbite, but most of us, at sometime has found ourselves caught up in it. Most would say that they never gossip or backbite, but I challenge you to be honest with yourself and think of conversations present and past which have had no edification value. Think of conversations where you said something about a person that you would not say directly to them because you knew it would hurt their feelings, was not flattering, to avoid confrontation or was not positive in any way. If you can think of either of those types of conversations, then yes, you (like most of us) have been guilty. You would think that none of us would engage in such conversations or even listen to them when we know how painful it is to be the topic of such conversations. But we do it all the time.

Oftentimes the topic is someone famous or infamous. We forget that they are "real" people with real feelings. It's so easy to go from current events to current hearsay and gossip. I wonder how unbelievers perceive us when we go on conversation rampages about the latest celebrity gossip? Some of these people are the most picked on people on the planet. Nothing they do goes uncriticized. Can you imagine how this can kill the spirit? Some of them, no doubt, do die emotionally and spiritually. They begin not to care anymore because of the atrocities that are repeated about them over and over again! I cannot imagine the pain they must feel. We should make it our business to pray for these souls that make the tabloid headlines.

Meditate on the word: backbiting. Without even looking in Webster's the word is self explanatory. We know that if someone or something bites enough flesh off of your back, it can send you into shock and kill you due to the loss of blood and flesh. Not to mention the shock and excruciating pain during the time the backbiting takes place. Even if you survive something eating chunks of flesh off your back, it takes time to recuperate. You could end up sick with a fever and delirious or you might even be bedridden for a while. You most definitely would have unsightly scars to remind you of the attack for the rest of your life. What's even more astonishing is how similar the literal results of backbiting are to how it feels spiritually and emotionally when you’re a victim.

If we, as sons and daughters of The Father, can remember the pain we felt through such an ordeal, maybe we'll be a little kinder to our brothers and sisters when they become victims of this vicious practice. Maybe we will choose not to join in or laugh with the group at someone else's expense. Maybe we'll choose to do the right thing. Maybe we'll even turn the conversation around. Maybe we'll pray The Father for strength and direction when such a situation comes up. Let us show love one to the other!

Peace, blessings and much respect!

Statutes and Commandments

Because if we love The Father we will endeavor to keep his commandments and statutes. Statutes are esoteric in nature - they are laws for a specific person or persons to follow. Many of us mistakenly, think that we have no statutes today, but we do. Each and every one of us has a special thing that The Father has called us to do. Each and every one of us knows what our statutes are or it would be impossible for us to be held accountable. But since we profess to be believers, it should not be a burden to embrace and love the Laws of God.

Perfection and the Heart

Whenever we do something wrong or fall short, we love to say, "Well, I'm not perfect!" The truth is, if we aren't perfect, it's only because we choose not to be. Clearly the Bible tells us that we can be perfect. Remember what God told Abraham in Genesis 17:1"...walk before me, and be thou perfect."

It also states in Deuteronomy 18:13 "Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God."

Matthew 5:48 states: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect."

The problem, I think, is in the interpretation of perfect. Most of us think of perfect as never making a mistake and doing everything well. When The Father looks for perfection, He looks at the heart:

I Kings 8:61 says, "Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day."

God wants our hearts to be perfect. This is why Jesus spoke so much on the importance of us loving The Father and loving one another. The wonderful thing about loving God and His commandments and statutes is that it enables us to love one another even more. We must keep guard over our heart and make sure that it does not get polluted with predjudices, judgment, hate, envy, pride, strife covetousness, idolatry and the cares of this world. We should all strive to be perfect like Abraham, Job and Jesus. We can be perfect if our heart is perfect - at least in the eyes of The Father. Isn't that all that matters?

Much love, peace and blessings to you!

Divinely Inspired

Many times we do things in life just because we want to do them. Actually, more often than not, this is the case. But when we allow The Father to be the guide of our inspiration, marvelous things can happen! When was the last time you were divinely inspired?

I ask this question because recently I was blessed to be able to give an interview on a new business my husband and I are opening which was "divinely inspired". You see, The Father inspired me to began creating the artwork you see featured on this blog and many more pieces. When I obeyed the Holy Spirit and began to create because of divine intervention, something wonderful happened! He allowed me to finish more works in the span of about 2 1/2 months than I had finished in the past 20 years!

When God begins to move on us and we actually listen and obey, He can do something unexpected. No one could have ever told me that I would have so many pieces completed and would open an art gallery less than two years later! No one could have told me that I would have been used to hold an art exhibit of the works at a prominent hotel in our city and no one could have told me that these same pieces would be featured in my home town newspaper in full color and take up more than a full page of a newspaper! Isn't God great! Only He could work such a thing. But then that's what happens when we are divinely inspired!

I am practically unknown in the art world or even my little city and yet He decided to lift me up for the uplifting of His Kingdom! Even though the world might think this is about me, I know that it's ultimately about getting His message out! You know what else? I don't have to hope that I will be divinely inspired to do something else. I know that I will be. I am inspired each and everyday, but the question I ask myself and encourage you to ask is: "Will I yield to the divine inspiration of The Father when I hear it today?" Amen.

Peace, blessings and much respect to you!

Should I Celebrate Christmas?

Most sons and daughters realize the gloomy roots of Christmas. For those who don't, it originated from the celebration of Saturnalia. It included many unholy things such as gluttony, filty lucre, debauchery and even torture. Early Christians in the Roman Empire seeked to blend this holiday with a celebration of our Lord's birth in an effort to win followers. Today, we say that when we celebrate this holiday it is for the express reason of celebrating the birth of Jesus, Christ, Yeshua, Yahshua (or whatever name you know Him as). I think those of us who know better say this to justify participating in the fabulous ceremonies and “glee” of the season. I’m not saying that there is no good there, because I know that God can make anything good, but why (if we choose to celebrate) can’t we celebrate the holiday in the spirit we profess it represents? Why must we go bankrupt giving extravagant gifts and break our backs putting up trees, decorations and lights? Why must we succumb year after year to gluttony and drunkenness? There is nothing holy about that. I believe we can celebrate our Lord during Christmas, but we need to reevaluate how we do it.

Personally, Christmas is a very important holiday in my extended family and it will take lots of prayer, and determination to go against the grain, but each year I am forced to come face to face with the reality of what this holiday is and how we hold to customs that are far from pure. I will not try to offend or disrespect anyone, but God is forcing me to see truth. I think this is a part of living in the Nazarite Spirit! Much peace, love and respect to you all!

Thankful?

Even though I am aware that Thanksgiving Day is considered a secular holiday to many, I ask, "Are we thankful? And why must we wait until this time of year to figure out that we're blessed?" I know this question doesn't apply to fellow sons and daughters because we are always sending up praises for the blessings He gives us each day, each hour, each second! So, I know we don't have to be reminded with a special day. As I think on thanks, one person in particular comes to mind. That person is my husband. He is always so thankful - for the smallest most insignificant things. Sometimes he gets impatient with me when I get in a complaining mood. I'm not saying he's perfect, but he's a great example of a person who knows how to be appreciative. He didn't need the calendar to tell him it's Thanksgiving Day. He already realizes it's everyday! As I said, I know the wonderful sons and daughters who are reading this don't need to be told this. I know that we know the very fact that we are breathing is something to be thankful for. To be even more extreme - just to feel ANYTHING whether it be pain or pleasure is a reason to be thankful - because it means we exist and if we exist to do The Father's Will, then that's something to be thankful for! Unlike most of you, sometimes I forget to be thankful, but unlike many people, I can look around and see that special someone in my life and get a glimpse of his big ole' smile, hear his positive thoughts and remember - however grumpily, that I should be thankful! So I say to all of you: "Happy Thanksgiving Day each and every day! Be blessed!

American Gangster

I went to the movies on Saturday and watched "American Gangster". I really struggled in making a decision of whether to attend or not. I knew that there would be a lot of profanity in the movie and tons of violence, but something was pulling me to see it. So I went. I couldn't see what good would come from attending, but I went anyway. When we arrived, I was surprised to see people of all races and ages buying tickets for American Gangster. Two Caucasian ladies in their sixties in front of me politely requested, "Two tickets for American Gangster. Senior rate." I almost laughed out loud. I never expected it. Well anyway, surprisingly, I did get something positive from the movie through viewing some of the most unpositive representations. There were several scenes which showed thousands of people living in New York's housing projects. The people looked like they were in prison. In some ways more awful than prison because their children were stuck there too. As I looked at the cages that were supposed to be their homes a strong spirit of compassion overcame me. I wondered to myself, "How could they be persuaded that there is something better? That accepting Jesus as their Savior is the only way. That The Father truly cares about them?" I believe that God will have to send someone whom He has bestowed a power upon not seen since Biblical times. That's the only way. How can people in these circumstances see God otherwise? I thought about how fragile they are spiritually and how just anybody could not be trusted with such a responsiblilty. Or is it? Isn't there something I or we can do? I was moved to pray for them, because I care. I prayed for them because I know that I have never endured what they must go through everyday of their lives. I prayed for them because most of them do not know they are lost. Many of them do not have something as simple as "hope". A multitude of them have not been the recipient of love. They think it's just a fallacy. I believe I and we can do more. We can show love. Not just during the holiday season, but year round. Let's start with just recognizing that others exist around us. Start with, "Hello, how are you doing today?" And don't forget to listen for the reply. It could be the start of a conversation. Peace be unto you!

I Woke Up Singing

I woke up singing this morning. I mean really singing. I was sending my praises up and expecting my Father to shower his blessings on me, and He did. My husband was singing too. In fact, he started it. He and I are such opposites. I usually drag myself out of bed. He usually hops up and is ready for conversation. His way of helping me is to count to ten (which I abhor). I did tell him that the best way for me to wake up is for him to cut the overhead light on, not the lamp. The big bright overhead. That's what gets my attention. To my husband that seems harsh and cruel. He really hates to do that and can't believe I asked him to.

So many of us are like that. In order for God to wake us from our slothful ways in this life, he has to do something drastic to get our attention. God has to cut the overhead light on for some of us! When we are first exposed to the light, it hurts, but then as we get used to it, we begin to like it. We don't desire to be in a dark room anymore. But it takes time to adjust. After we, as sons and daughters, have become acquainted with the light, we should not desire the darkness any longer. Why then are so many children of God still hiding in the dark? What is the dark? The dark is all those things we do in our life out of the Will of God. Then there are those of us who constantly cut the light on and off. After doing this for a while, it makes your head spin or worst yet, the light might burn out. This is representative of the son or daughter who wants both worlds. It just doesn't work. Either we take a stand to be holy or we're not. Is that where any of us want to be? If not, then maybe it's time to start taking those commandments that we know so well seriously. All ten of them! If you need a refresher read Deuteronomy 5:6-21. But before you read, pray. I mean really pray from the heart. It doesn't have to be long. It just has to be sincere. And try going into your closet when you pray. If you can't go there physically, go there spiritually. No one else needs to know that you are praying, but you and God!We are already believers and are saved! Now it's time to live it!

Well...as I was saying, I woke up singing this morning, but my husband was singing before I was. Maybe I'll do better tomorrow! Be blessed!

Do We Believe When We Pray?

Isn't it amazing how we pray for something and then when God answers, we find it hard to believe? But when we prayed, we asked in faith that our prayer would be heard. This is exactly what was happening in Acts chapter 12. The believers were praying and when The Father answered their prayers, they could not believe it. Just last night I prayed that The Father would release one of my beloved nieces from bondage. Right now I should be believing that she will be released. And I am, but what if she shows up on my doorstep totally free! Wouldn't that be awesome? And how wonderfully unbelievable it would be for all of my family who has been praying for this very thing! The sons and daughters must have felt something like that when Peter showed up! It was doubly joyous because they had already witnessed James being killed not long before. So even though they were praying for Peter's release, no doubt many had already resolved to accept it if Peter too had been slain.

Simplicity

Last night, my husband and I were watching a show on the Travel Channel about tribal culture. The more we watched, the more we understood the pureness of the people. These people were aware of how the outside world was, but they chose to be different. I saw the Nazarite Spirit in them. They consciously choose not to take part in modern technology, clothes, things etc. that could cause them to lose their simple way of life. In fact, they took pride in living simply. We saw so much beauty in their ways. They gave thanks for EVERYTHING!!! It was so inspiring. It caused us to reflect on how often we forget to give thanks. Their simplicity made us see how unsimple our lives are and how much we rely on modern technology and unecessary things in our life - even though we are striving to simplify. These people are so wise, thankful and giving. It is so sad that when most people look at them all they can see is the poor, ignorant, and even what many call "uncivilized". I think they are the most civilized people I have seen in a while. They have set rules and are highly cooperative with one another. I pray that more of us will "see" these people and learn from them. Amen.