Last night I was watching a TV show and one of the characters had expressed that she felt she was too ugly. It kind of made me sad because I relate a lot to this character on the show. I kept thinking to myself am I ugly? Then I went and prayed and asked God what He considered to be beauty in His eyes and before I knew it my husband came through the door and called me beautiful. To me it was like God was telling me the Godly woman I am is what makes me a beautiful person, if your beautiful on the inside you are beautiful on the outside as well. For what you put in you will surely come out.

            As I walk through the checkout lines at various stores and look at the magazines it seems that this entire world it obsessed with is beauty and it isn’t even the right kind. You see screaming from the covers ‘How to lost 10 pounds in a week!’ ‘How to rev up your sex life’, etc. Yes, God wants us to take care of ourselves and to be healthy, but not become obsessed with it to the point where it takes priority over Him. Beauty fades but the glory of the Lord lasts forever!

Give to the LORD the glory due His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness! (1 Chronicles 16:29 NKJV)

Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised. (Proverbs 31:30)

            If you take a look in the Bible you see most sin was committed because of beauty. Abraham lied not once but twice about his wife saying lest I be killed because of her beauty and his son Isaac did the same thing with his wife. (Abraham and Sarah were really half brother and sister, but that is a topic for another day). Most adultery was and still is committed because of the lust of the eye, so if you’re not placing your heart in seeking the right kind of beauty you can easily fall into the traps the adversary has set for you.

            Today if you are feeling down in yourself be of good cheer! The Lord has made you a beautiful individual and takes delight in you. He skillfully crafted you in your mother’s womb and has a plan for your life. So if you are seeking to be beautiful seek His face for beauty fades but wisdom remains. Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, And He who formed you from the womb: “I am the LORD, who makes all things, Who stretches out the heavens all alone, Who spreads abroad the earth by Myself; (Isaiah 44:24)

He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)

A man should hear a little music, read a little poetry, and see a fine picture every day of his life, in order that worldly cares may not obliterate the sense of the beautiful which God has implanted in the human soul.
 ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe ~

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On Thursday evening I had the pleasure of attending a wonderful women’s meeting at my church. The theme of the meeting was the bride of Christ. We as Christians are considered the bride and when the time comes we will attend the marriage supper of the Lamb. Jesus is called the bridegroom so we are in fact married to Christ. Unfortunately, we have also left our first love (Jesus) and have chased other lovers and have become a mistress to Him.

Being married to Christ and being married to your spouse share a resemblance one to another Jesus is referred to as our “first love” and the bridegroom. Nevertheless I have this against you, that you have left your first love. (Revelation 2:4 NKJV) “Then the kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. (Matthew 25:1) And in order to have a successful marriage as a Christian it takes having both your spouse and Jesus. Jesus should be the first and the third person in your marriage, for a threefold cord is not easily broken.

The most important aspect of marriage is love, without it you have nothing.  And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13)

Love is patient- (Ephesians 4:2), Love is kind-(Ephesians 4:32), Love is not selfish-(Romans 12:10), Love is thoughtful- (Psalm 139:17-18), Love is not rude- (Proverbs 27:14), Love is not irritable- (Proverbs 16:32), Love believes the best- (1 Corinthians 13:7), Love is not jealous- (Song of Solomon 8:6), Love makes a good impressions-(1 Peter 5:14), Love is unconditional- (Romans 5:8), Love cherishes- (Ephesians 5:28), Love lets the other win- (Philippians 2:4), Love fights fair- (Mark 3:25), Love takes delight- (Ecclesiastes 9:9), Love is honorable- (1Peter 3:7), Love intercedes- (3 John 2), Love promotes intimacy- (Proverbs 17:9), Love seeks to understand- (Proverbs 17:9), Love is impossible- (1 John 4:7), Love is faithful- (Hosea 2:20), Love always protects- (1 Corinthians 13:7), Love Vs. Lust- (1 John 2:17), Love forgives- (2 Corinthians 2:10), Love is responsible- (Romans 2:1), Love encourages- (Psalm 25:20), Love makes sacrifices- (1 John 3:16), Love’s motivation- (Ephesians 6:7), Love brings unity- (John 17:11), Love meets needs- (1 Corinthians 7:5), Love completes each other- (Ecclesiastes 4:11), Love is accountable- (Proverbs 15:22), Love agrees in prayer- (Matthew 18:19), Love fulfills dreams- (Psalms 37:4), Love endures- (1 Corinthians 13:8), Love is a covenant- (Ruth 1:16), Love is Jesus Christ- (Romans 5:6), Love is God’s Word- (Psalm 119:105), Love is satisfied in God- (Isaiah 58:11), Love celebrates godliness- (1 Corinthians 13:6), Love and Marriage- (Genesis 2:24).

So you see love and marriage go hand in hand just as Christ and marriage go together. The fact is you can’t have one without the other. When God established marriage He established it not only as a relationship between a husband and wife, but also a relationship between Himself and us. We can have a deep intimate relationship with God that no one else has experienced with Him, our experiences are our own and that is what makes each person special to God. For all the love birds about to tie the knot or for the love birds that have had the joy of being married for awhile I’d like to remind you how important God is in your life. He is love, His love is perfect and unconditional and without Him love would not exist.

"God loves each of us as if there were only one of us."--- St. Augustine

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            In this crazy world that we live in it is important to protect not only ourselves, but also every aspect of our lives. Nowadays you can buy insurance for everything from your home to different body parts, but the most important thing we want to insure is our souls. Material things can be replaced and aren’t really that important in the grand scheme of things because you can’t take them with you when you die. We want to be sure that our soul rests safely in the hands of God. With this insurance we can rest easy knowing that we have a home in heaven with Jesus after we die and the assurance that Jesus has complete control over every aspect of our lives.   Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. (Psalm 138:7 NIV).

Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. (Matthew 10:28)

            With the Jesus protection plan He doesn’t guarantee that nothing bad will happen to us, He guarantees that He will watch over and protect you, and in most cases use the bad and turns it around for our good. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble. (Ps. 46:1 NKJV) Now I don’t know about anyone else, but I’ve never heard of a protection plan that could offer than kind of security. And one important thing we need to remember as children of Christ; if something bad does happen it doesn’t mean that God is any less good because God is good all the time.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death  I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. (Ps. 23:4)    

Safety does not depend on our conception of the absence of danger. Safety is found in God's presence, in the centre of His perfect will. ---T. J Bach

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            In church on Sunday during our announcements the Pastor took the time thank everyone that was involved in the basketball program. As he called out various people’s names they were asked to stand so the congregation could see who they were. And I noticed that some people were quick to stand and receive praise for the work they had contributed and some were reluctant. There were a lot of names that weren’t called, all the people who worked in the background didn’t receive any praise, but in my opinion they are the greatest of us all. If you look at any major cooperation the big CEO’s are the ones who get the credit for the success of the company but it really is its workers that make it successful. The same goes for the body of Christ, most people wish for the roles out front, but the Bible says that God considers the greatest to come from the least of the roles conducted in the church. “Assuredly, I say to you, among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. (Matthew 11:11 NKJV)

            The key to being an obedient Christian is to always remain humble and serve others. If your role in the body of Christ is cleaning the church or sending out cards on holidays and to the sick you may not think your role is as great as the worship leader for example, but in retrospect yours is just as important if not more.  Your role is the glue that keeps everything running smoothly. If it wasn’t for the humble servant willing to clean the church it would be a mess, and if it wasn’t for the thoughtful servant who remembers the saints we would probably not have a congregation because the cards they send out helps uplift, encourage, and let people know they are loved and valued. You can’t make up a body without members and people have quit churches for lesser reasons. LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, (Psalm 10:17)

The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked down to the ground. (Psalm 147:6)

For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. (Psalm 149:4)

            Today I want to take the time to thank all the people who faithfully keep God’s commands and serve in the “lesser” roles in the church and willing vessels. Without you we as a body would be nothing, God is well pleased with you and will bless you immensely. Don’t lose heart you are appreciated and loved more than you know. If you feel like no one sees the work and commitment you provide just remember God sees and He will take the things you do and bless you for it. Thank You!

“Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work.”—Mother Teresa

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            It seems more now than ever that the adversary is at full force and unfortunately most of us are not equipped to withstand the wiles of the devil. It is getting close to the last days and the devil knows his days are numbered so he is trying to take as many people with him as possible. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV) That is why it is vital that we make sure every day we are girding ourselves with the whole armor of God. We can do nothing on our own and if we let God fight our battles we are insured victory every time. The devil has already been beaten and a lot of us forget that we already have the victory we just have to remind the adversary of that and send him back to where he came from.

Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11)

            When it comes to putting on the armor of God I put it like this… You wouldn’t walk outside half dressed would you? Well that is the same mentality we have to have with the armor of God. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 6:12)

The belt of truth: Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32)

Breastplate of righteousness: and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; (Phil. 3:9)

The shoes of the Gospel: How beautiful upon the mountain Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace,  Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims   salvation, Who says to Zion,   “ Your God reigns!” (Is. 52:7)

The shield of Faith: who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.(1 Peter 1:5)

The helmet of Salvation: The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? (Ps. 27:1)

The sword of the Spirit: For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

So today I ask you, are you dressed?

For Further Study: Ephesians 6: 13-20

“Those who He chooses He equips.”--- Unknown Author

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            It seems that God is in the process of putting the church in order, everywhere I go that is the main message being taught and emphasized on. I believe God wants to cut out all the confusion and chaos and restore the church to its rightful order, because as we all know confusion is of the devil. And it’s a plan fact that a house divided house cannot stand, even the forefathers of this country knew and understood the importance of that.

             A divided body is an epidemic everywhere not just in any one certain church. Even in Old Testament times we see Paul addressing the same issue in the church of Corinth. Paul encouraged the Corinthians to agree on the necessaries and not to let the body be divided by petty differences.  The biggest necessity of which is spreading the Gospel of Christ, fulfilling the great commission. The congregation was fighting amongst themselves and following different Christian leaders and placing that leader in a position above God Himself. No one is above God, point blank. God gives us the opportunity to be used by Him to further the kingdom, but we should never think ourselves better than our Creator. We are replaceable and when the pronouns Me, My and I come into the picture you’ve left no room for God.

            I believe the worst spirit a church could have is the spirit of dissention, when dissention enters a church it allows the adversary room to move about and destroy. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV).  When the body of Christ (the church) is in disarray it doesn’t allow for God to work the way He needs to and this fighting amongst ourselves is even causing a stumbling block for some and turning others off from joining the church to begin with. We are a community and are suppose to be showing Christ to the outside world and when we act unbecoming of Christians we’re not setting a very good example.

Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. (1 Corinthians 1:10)

For you are still carnal. For where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? (1 Corinthians 3:3)

“Where there is unity there is always victory.”--- Publilius Syrus                      

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            I woke up this morning and realized that God had granted me another day of mercy, do I deserve this? No, not by a long shot, but He loves His children so much that He allows us this day. I look throughout the Bible and see how fortunate I really am I could be like one of the few people who were struck dead because of the sins they committed. But I have a heavenly Father that loves me regardless of my sins. He died on the cross so that we could come boldly to the throne and ask for forgiveness and He is just to forgive. Have mercy on me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. (Psalm 6:2 KJV).

            When we think of the word mercy what is the first thing that comes to mind? Me personally I think of the movie Brave heart when the main character William Wallace is being executed for fighting for freedom in Scotland and halfway through the process they stop and give him a chance at mercy. The crowd so horrified by the gruesome display begins to chant “Mercy, Mercy!” This strikes me as funny considering a few moments earlier they were yelling for his death. Kind of sounds like what Jesus had to go through. Anyway to make a long story short William Wallace knew that if he took what they considered mercy that he would be giving up the freedom he fought so hard to achieve, so instead he screams “Freedom!” and dies, which changes the course of Scotland’s history because afterwards the country bands together to win their freedom from England. This shows the difference between what man considers mercy and what God does. If you paid close attention to the details of William Wallace’s chance at mercy you’ll notice that they started to torture him first then offered it up, but with God we are given mercy automatically without us having to beg for it. We rightfully deserve dead but God withholds it because He loves us that much.

            For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)

            So today if you are reading this I want to remind you of the goodness of the Lord and employ you to take the time to thank God for His loving mercy and grace. The fact is we are not promised tomorrow, and if God shows fit that we live another day we should be moved to tears that God loved us so much that He took all of our sins: Past, Present, & Future so you could wake up every morning and experience His love so pure and unadulterated.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

“Grace is but glory begun, and glory is but grace perfected.” –Jonathan Edwards

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            As I was spending time with my best friend the other day we were discussing how people spend half their lives searching for the missing piece in their hearts. The truth is we all have a Jesus shape piece that exists in our hearts and it is that piece that people try so hard to fill with other things and obsess their entire lives with. This search I would like to call the Jesus jigsaw puzzle.

            As an avid fan of jigsaw puzzles I know the time, effort and patience it requires to piece one together. This is much like our walk with God it requires time, effort and patience to successfully have a relationship with Him. When one piece of the puzzle is missing it can completely throw off the entire puzzle as a whole, it is not complete. So when we don’t have Jesus in our hearts it throws off our lives, it is virtually incomplete. If we try to fill Jesus’ spot in our hearts with worldly things we are still left with emptiness because there is nothing that can fill that place but God.

            Speaking from a personal stand point when I fell away from God during my divorce I consumed my life with trying to fill the emptiness and hurt of my heart with everything but God. And all of it was in vain because it only led me further and further down the wrong road, before I knew it I was drinking on a daily basis, having ungodly relationships and just becoming someone that I wasn’t meant to be. When I asked for forgiveness and gave my burdens and heartache to Jesus it was like a peace came over me and I no longer felt as if I was missing something in my life. So in retrospect I was looking for anything but God, I was looking for a cure for the symptoms and not going to the source.

            So today I employ you if you are on a desperate search for the Mr. /Mrs. Rights, the perfect job, the perfect marriage, and the perfect children or are just trying to figure out why all the relationships in your life have gone awry I’m here to shed light on your search. Jesus is what you’re looking for. If you give your life to Christ He will put you with the person that He created for you, He will bless you with a job you will enjoy that play to your strengths and open up opportunities to witness about Him in that work place. There is no perfect marriage but when you let Jesus be the first and third person in your marriage He will help during the rough times, He will be the guiding force behind that holy union. And as for perfect children there are none, children are just small adults that God entrusts us with to love, nurture, teach and enjoy. To be completely honest our children are not our own God is just letting us “borrow” them from Him, so we should gain a new perspective and love for our children as God’s gifts to us. It is unfair to expect them to be perfect when we as adults are not perfect either.

And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5 KJV).

“You change your life by changing your heart.”—Author Unknown

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            With spring on the near horizon most people are getting the urge to clean out the junk that has accumulated during the winter. Not only should we use this time to clean our homes, but also our hearts. We should clean out all the junk and sin that has built up in our hearts and renew a right spirit with God. And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; (Ephesians 4:23 KJV). By cleaning out all the junk we can then reconnect with our Lord and Savior and have a renewed relationship with Him. I look at the build up like a bad connection with a telephone; you can’t hear the person on the other end of the line because there is something preventing you from getting through. Sin does this in our communication with God; it prevents us from hearing Him and Him from hearing us. That is why it’s so important to pray without ceasing and ask for forgiveness of our sins, so that we don’t get a buildup of sin to block our communication with our heavenly Father.

            God wants to pour His spirit out on the church but in order to do that we as a body need to clean out all the junk and start operating as a true body of Christ. He also wants to do great things for and through us, but we need to put our lives in order and prepare for what He is about to do. This is a new season which means a fresh start; we make New Year resolutions but the best time to really start is now! With spring comes the holiday Easter which means we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. When Jesus rose from the dead He also gave us a chance at a new life.  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10)

            Today if you’re carrying around things that are pulling you down whether it be sin, people, things, situations now is the time to clear all that out and get right with God. He can renew your mind, heart, life, strength, spirit, trust, anything! We must constantly renew ourselves daily or we will become harden.

How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. (Proverbs 28:14)

“Having thus chosen our course, without guile and with pure purpose, let us renew our trust in God, and go forward without fear and with manly hearts.”—Abraham Lincoln

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