Month: February 2012

Loving God: Are you a Spiritual Adulterer?

Dear Beloved One,

Today I was looking and searching for a topic to write about and I came across something that struck me or more like convicted me.  I narrowed my choice to two topics. During this mental “tug-o-war”   God directed me to Hosea.  I  will say that I didn’t  want to read it because I was  so hyped up on  “exploring purpose” and picking  out  “what not to do when given  divine instructions” that I  almost  missed one of the best lessons God had to teach me .

In Hosea chapter 1, it tells of a prophet who was instructed by God to marry and have children by a prostitute, Gomer (Hosea 1:2). This act was to demonstrate to Israel how their worship of other gods, specifically Baal, was seen as unfaithfulness to God.   Chapter two was the real kicker for me. At the beginning, God brings charges against Israel explaining and providing proof of their unfaithfulness and the consequences they were about to suffer for their actions. My eyes fell upon verse 13 and the interior of my heart was exposed.  It says

“I will punish her for the days she burned incense to the Baals;

She decked herself with rings and jewelry,

And went after her lovers,

But me she forgot,

declares the Lord”

This means  they  did everything  for  their other gods  to please them  but  when it  came  to the  Lord He became an afterthought . They put all they had into these “sideline affairs” with these other gods and they received nothing in return. Although there were limited results,   they continued to pursue those things that did nothing to help them.  The line that says “But me she forgot” made me realize that I was/am Israel and I felt ashamed. At  that moment, I  realized how God feels  when  we  as  his people  put  things  in front of Him. I imagine how he feels when we in our present day build things up in our lives to be small gods. How do you know they are small gods?  My way of knowing they are small gods is by reviewing my priorities. What things am I willing to do to get the things I want?  How much of my schedule am I willing to rearrange to be with someone? How far am I willing to go to impress someone? The time that I spend pursuing happiness is the time that I could spend with my God.

The  guilt  did not  stop there because in  the  next  verse , it  begins to tell of  how the  Lord was going  to restore Israel in the  future.   What, is He serious! After all of the things that Israel has done! Yep He says “Therefore I am going to allure her; I will lead her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. 15 There I will give her back her vineyards and will make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.” Even in discipline God is telling of how He will win Israel’s heart.

When I finished  reading  all I  could  hear   is  when  will you love God  like these things  that  you want.  There is nothing wrong with praying for things but gosh when will we pray  “Lord I want to get to know you. I want to love you like I first loved you. I  want  to love  you so much  that the  things that   I  prayed  for are   the  extra perks  and  not the main  reason  for me  talking to you” .  We  want things  so much  that  we  forget the  source and  that  we have a  relationship with Him that  tops  all relationships and things. My sacred time with my Lord should not be just about the  things that I  think I need  or want . My first priority should be to my Lord and Savior.  I have been overlooking my Lord as my first, my last, my everything.

I used to say that God was in a one-sided  relationship with  people .We ignore Him , we  pump our  fist  at  Him ,we  use His name in vain ,  we  don’t  like  to acknowledge  Him  in front of  people,  we  use and abuse  Him and  we just flat out  call Him a liar.  If  our  friend  was  in a  relationship like this  we  would  say  divorce, breakup , leave  that  loser  you’re  worth  so much  more. But  God  says  no, I  love  them ,I’ll do  whatever it takes to see them at the  end . If it takes a little discipline, I’ll do it. If it takes staying my hand this time, I’ll do it! If it takes me leaving royalty, I’ll do it! If  it takes me  coming into an environment  that  is  hostile  towards me , I’ll do it! If  it takes me  being  marched  from  judgment hall to Judgment  hall, I’ll do it !  If it takes me  being   beaten , I’ll do it, If  it  takes  me  being  crucified , I’ll do it ! If it takes me being put in a barred tomb, I’ll do it! If it takes me   going to Hell to set the captives free, I’ll do it!  If it takes me  using  the  power to  raise myself  from the  dead , I’ll do it ! If  it takes me  ascending  back to Heaven  to  sit  on the  right  hand of  God then , I’ll do it !  So my prayer in response to HIS unwavering dedication has become:

“Lord I really want to know you. Lord I really love you. You are my beginning, my middle and end.  I know  Father  that  I  don’t  do  everything  right   but  I am  grateful  for  your  grace and  mercy . You Father are an awesome God. You are a God in which no one can compare. A God that   is  well worth and  well  fitted  for my  praise  and the  praise  of  every living  thing . You put the sun in the sky for the day and the moon at night. You are so big and you care so much for little me.  Who am I that you are mindful of me?  Who  am I  that  you  would  send  your  son to  die on the  cross for me and in turn  make  me an  heir  to the  kingdom. You have fashioned me and given me your image. And for that, I am grateful, honored to call you My God.  I am honored to be given a chance to glorify your name. You God are the one true and living God that will remain forevermore”

Now what will you do???????????

Love,

L

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. –  Matthew 6: 33-KJV

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

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Be Extraordinary

 Dear Beloved One,

   I  was  sitting and  thinking about life and how people ( like myself) get stuck in a routine and  life itself  becomes  ordinary .  We live that routine to the fullest and dare someone or something to change that routine .But Jesus did not live that way. He lived an extraordinary life and all in an extraordinary 33 1/2 years. In  the second part of  John 10:10 Jesus says “ I  have  come that  they  may  have  life  and they may  have it more abundantly “( NKJV).Sound great  right? Well why aren’t more of us (including me) living it?   I thought about this question because when you say it, it seemed so simple. It seemed like “hey you take a couple of trips buy a couple of toys and called it a day” type of thing.  But  when you actually take time to  process the  question  and  analyze it, you  realize that there is a  life that  comes  between those  trips and buys.   And that life  may not be  so  extraordinary .I  finally  came  to the conclusion that I  had to check   what I  call  extraordinary  and  if  it  lined up with  the  Bible .

 I have to admit that what was extraordinary to me may have been a little out of line with the bible. It  included the trips and the expensive buys along with   the  upscale  job ( with  the power  title to match ),  the pay( can  anyone  say  six figures!), and  the  “you better  not sit on my couch  or  waste  anything on my floor” house.  Can you see anything missing? Well what I called living didn’t include anything spiritual and it was most certainly selfish. Now  before I  move on , I know  you are saying  what’s  wrong  with the  trips and if I can “ afford it” buys .  Nothing actually. I believe they have their place, but as a believer our extraordinary life includes Jesus Christ and service.   Jesus traveled and while traveling   rendered service. He  wasn’t  too proud or too  snooty  to get  with the people  that  weren’t  like Him . He made an impact on people live that changed them forever for the better.

Extraordinary calls for extra work and more time than we are willing or can’t give up. It’s giving more of yourself than you are comfortable with for the betterment of others.  That type of stuff takes time.  I  understand that  but  Jesus  took the  time  to make sure we  would be  impacted  by His life  for  the  better , all by  giving His . As followers I believe we can do the same.  Impact someone else’s life for the better

 

Love,

L

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Dear Beloved One,

I knew He would come through! I knew it!  Jesus gave me a chocolate rose for Valentine’s Day!  Ha I believe and He did it .  You see some  weeks ago  I  knew  this  day  would  come  so I  said   I  am  going to  ask  Jesus   if  He would  He  be my Valentine.  He said Yes (John 3:16) ,of course, and I was happy with that.  But in the back of my mind I was like “Lord I  know  you said  yes but   can  you  give me  something so I know  you  heard my  prayer ” . It did not have to be big and flamboyant as flowers or a jewlery. I just wanted something to say “I heard your prayer” . So  as  the  days  went on I kind of  got this  feeling that He was going to give  me  something .  And what do you know! I got a chocolate rose from my Secret Pal at church! Awesome, right? Ha just awesome!

Well ,I tell you this to remind you that God hears all of our prayers, even the small ones. And  if  He  would  fulfill a small prayer as small as a  chocolate  rose then you  have to know  without a doubt that  He loves  you  more than   you  can  ever know . He is the greatest   love story that will ever be told. So if  for this Valentine’s  day  you are  alone  , single , just broke up  with  your  honey  bunny , don’t  worry  you  still have a  great  Valentine in  Jesus. Besides , He  loved  you  first and  more than  any other  person  ever  will .

Love ,

L

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