He loves us like that!

I recently watched a movie called “The Danish Girl.” Set in the 18th century it is the story of a struggling young painter, married to a semi-successful painter for six years. The two are madly in love. He hates going to parties as he is shy and always feels awkward and out of place. One night she reveals a beautiful new nightgown she has purchased, and he likes it so much he decides to try it on. Putting on the gown awakens or stirs something him and things begin to take a turn in their relationship. Thinking it to be a game, she suggests he dress as a female to attend a party she has been invited to. They decide to name him, Lili and to tell everyone he is his own cousin visiting. In the midst of this, the wife has been rejected time and time again by art dealers telling her that her work is just not evolved enough. Soon after the party she begins painting portraits of “Lili,” as she does her husband begins to discover that playing dress up as “Lili” is not enough, he wants to become Lili, permanently. As her portraits of “Lili,” began to gain attention, giving her the exposure and fame she has always wanted, “Lili” begins to take over her husband, who remembering his past, has now realized he has always wanted to be a woman. Now let me get to my point quickly before I lose everyone! In the midst of their discoveries, one thing does NOT change…their love for one another, especially that of the wife for her husband, who is now becoming a woman before her very eyes. Though he cheats on her with a man, changes the way he is affectionate toward her, and constantly let’s her down, she loves him anyway! She never leaves his side and even decides to support his decision to become something she does not want him to be. She tries everything to save her marriage, taking him to several doctors and therapist, who only want to imprison him, thinking he’s mad. She even tries getting him shock treatments. When nothing works, she just…loves him...through it all. Though she has the opportunity she never cheats on him and never cuts ties with him, she is with him the day he completes the surgery, the very first of its kind, to become a woman, physically. She is with him the day he dies from complications. This story (based on a true one) does not have a happy ending per say, but it make me think of how much Jesus loves us! Though we make decisions that He doesn’t want us to, though we “cheat” on Him, putting ourselves and others before Him, though we disappoint Him, despite our past…HE LOVES US! Just like the wife in “The Danish Girl,” Jesus will never leave our side; HE will always be there to love us through whatever we may be facing. He loves us like that, more than that! Ephesians 2:4-5 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) John 3:16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Think about it! Really….Think about it!

You have been warned!

The Surgeon General warns against use of cigarettes, tobacco and alcohol, these products cause cancer, chronic bronchitis, and liver disease among other illnesses. The FDA warns against prescription drugs, many can cause depression, and blindness, among other issues. The makers of new pills and treatments often follow their commercials with warnings that their new products may cause your illness to worsen. Why is it then with so many warning that “we” continue to trust these products, and continue to consume them hoping for the best results? I think it is because faith in the product’s ability to help outweighs the warnings, at least in our minds. When it comes to life and death, the Bible warns against: Idolatry 1 John 5:20-21 NKJV “And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding, that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.” When it comes to life and death, the Bible warns against: Sin Matthew 5:29-30 (NKJV) “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.” Despite these biblical warnings, (and there are many more); many still worship/idolize their cell phone or Facebook page more than Jesus. Many also continue to live riotously on a daily basis with no concern for their soul’s eternal home. Like any warning that is ignored there are consequences…hence the commercials with the fast talker or fine print at the end. Here’s the fine print: Romans 6:23 (NKJV) “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” You have been warned. Think about it!

Beware of what's beneath!

Recently saw a post on FACEBOOK about a man who claims to have been dating a woman he had fallen in love with. He says he loved everything about her, her personality, looks and intelligence. The post went on to say that after they had been dating a while the woman showed up at the man’s house without make up. He described her has having bad skin and said that her make-up had hidden the truth from him. He says that he instantly fell out of love with her upon seeing the face she had been “hiding under the makeup,” claiming “false advertisement.” First, I want to say that I think it is ridiculous that this so called man, (the whole story could be fabricated, you know the internet) to say that he instantly fell out of love with someone he claimed to be madly in love with for more than just her looks. If he truly loved her for who she was why did her skin condition make such a big difference? Of course the question on the post for discussion was, “Was he being superficial or was she being dishonest?” Second, let me say that I don’t think using make-up to cover a skin condition is dishonest. Who doesn’t want to look and feel their best, most of all who doesn’t know that society accepts “pretty people,” much easier than they do those with (for lack of a better word) unattractive looks. The post of course is debatable and that is not what I want to talk about. (You know me; I saw something deeper in this post) I want to talk about what lies beneath the surface of our being…our hearts. See you can dress up and look beautiful day in and day out but if you have an ugly, dirty, sinful heart, you could end up finding yourself rejected by someone, you don’t want to be rejected by…God. I’m talking about Jesus Christ! It is easy to hide behind polite smiles, cordial conversations and even good deeds, but has your heart been converted to the things of Jesus? Are you living in the truth of His word without dressing up only the parts you want to adhere to? I don’t blame anyone male or female for making themselves look nice or feel more comfortable by dressing up their outer flaws. Shoot, I do it myself! But I do have an issue with those who harbor hatred for others and mascaraed as Christians. Matthew 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’ Think about it.

The little member that can kill!

Proverbs 18:21 NKJV “Death and life are in the power of the tongue”

I recently saw a post that said, “You can’t live a positive life with a negative mind.” That is a simple but profound statement and I believe it is true. I will take it a step further by saying, “You can’t have a positive mind with a negative mouth.” If you are a “gloomy Gus,” as they say or always speaking poorly also known as “poor mouthing,” your words will as they say, “come back to haunt you,” and you may find yourself walking under a cartoon like cloud raining only on your head. Everything I have said thus far may be considered cliché but the Bible is clear on the importance of wise positive speaking. Here are a few scriptures to back up what I am saying. Proverbs 21:23 “Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.” Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” I hope by now you see how important it is to speak not only positively but speak in faith as well when it comes to your life, circumstances, and situations. Negative talk breeds negative reactions and outcomes. For example do you know anyone who is constantly talking about their aches and pains and the more they speak it, the more pain they feel? Many may say, “If you put it out into the Universe it will come back to you.” That saying sounds good but I don’t agree with it. The Universe has no control over your life, I don’t believe in karma, I believe in God’s word that gives us clear instructions on how to live and clearly tells us the tongue is dangerous. James 3:8 “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.” If we can’t tame our tongues, you may ask, what are we supposed to do? Well think about the animals in the Zoo. They are still wild animals are they not? Haven’t you seen videos of them when they show their “tamer,” just that? They can’t be fully tamed but they can be “contained” and made to “obey.” This is the approach we must (myself included, trust me) take with our tongues. Simply put, think before you say something damaging to yourself or others. Be wise with your words, Proverbs 17:28 “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Think about what your words can do to yourself or others. When we were kids we would say, “Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt.” I have found that to be a lie. The tongue is certainly one of the most dangerous members of the human body. Because of the tongue men and women have been driven insane, to kill or be killed. So be careful what you say. That little member can kill. Think about it.

Are you having an affair?

Deuteronomy 6:5 “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.” Last year I watched the movie “Addicted” by Zane and I wrote an article with the same title. Recently I watched a Lifetime called, “The Perfect Girlfriend.” These two movies have a lot of things in common but the thing that struck me as worthy of an article is this; the individuals in each film were totally obsessed with someone. So much so that they became, ill, depressed, violent, etcetera; when they couldn’t be with the person they desired. They felt they could not live without their significate other even when that person didn’t want to be with them any longer. Much like be addicted to drugs their desires for the person they loved utterly consumed them. They were not able to properly function. In both cases these addictions were a result of an affair. These affairs became so important to them that they began to become careless of any and everything else going on around them, nothing was as important to them as their affair. This makes me wonder; who’s having an affair on God? Christians worldwide proclaim their love for Christ yet they spend more time on their phone than in prayer or on Facebook than sharing their faith. I’m not perfect by any means; and yes writing this makes me take a long look in the mirror, because the last thing I ever want to do is “cheat on God!” My God has done so much for me! Though I have never seen Him in person, I know He lives and reigns in my life. I am devoted to Him and I want Him to know it. How about you? Check your relationship with the Lord for a few seconds. Does He know how much you need and love Him? Do you spend time with Him, talking to Him and loving on Him? Or is God your “side chick or dude?” Do you only call on Him when who or what you primarily focus on is unavailable or uncooperative? As in any relationship, our relationship with Jesus needs attention. This is why I disagree with people who say they don’t “need to or have to, go to a physical church.” How can you cultivate your relationship with someone if you never take them out, never visit their house, never spend time with them outside your living room, same difference with Jesus. We must invest time in our relationship with Him in order for it to flourish and grow. Would you consider yourself in a real relationship with someone you never talked too? Never mentioned to others? Never expressed love for openly? Then how can this work with Jesus? See, He already showed His love for us by giving His life as the ultimate sacrifice for us, and He continually shows His love for us by; waking us daily, as well as protecting us from dangers seen and unseen. If your husband, wife, boyfriend or girlfriend ONLY acknowledged you when they needed something would you stay in a relationship with them? I doubt it. So let’s remember, our relationship with Jesus needs more than a monthly scripture post on social media. It needs quality time, devotion and open adoration. Are you really in love with Jesus, or are you having an affair? Think about it!

Seeing is not always believing!

Have you ever seen something, you just could not believe, so much so that you had to watch it twice or several times? I recently saw a video of a group of men digging in the rubble of a building that had collapsed in a foreign country. As the video concluded it turned out they were digging a baby out of the rubble. The baby was alive! It was hard to believe. In our society, young people and old alike are greatly influenced by what they see. Many only believe what they see, and feel justified in not believing in God because they can’t see Him. In the gospels Jesus had journeyed with the disciples and did many miracles right before their very eyes. They witnessed lame men walk and blind men receive their sight not to mention they watched Jesus bless a basket containing two fish and a mere five loaves of bread, yet He used it to feed thousands. Not only that the thousands were filled and there were leftovers! How could you not believe in a Savior like that after seeing what they saw right? Nevertheless, there was one who had trouble believing, his name was Thomas. Jesus had declared that once He had been offered up a living sacrifice and killed that He would rise again. No doubt Thomas heard this declaration as he had traveled with Jesus. However when it was discovered that Jesus indeed had risen after He had revealed Himself to the disciples Thomas didn’t believe, as he was absent when Jesus showed up. John 20:25 records Thomas saying, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Not only was he unbelieving he was unwilling to change his mind without very hard evidence. I fear there are many in our world today living under this same mindset. The story concludes by letting us know that Jesus reappears and reveals himself to Thomas, allowing him to see and feel what he was determined he needed to in order to believe. Jesus had some important words to share with Thomas that we all need to remember today. In John 20:29 Jesus said to Thomas, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” You see, many in our world today only believe in what they see or so they say, yet they see people walk away from car accidents when they should have died or babies emerge from collapsed buildings unharmed and still have the nerve to say there is no God! Know this, seeing is NOT always believing. I have never seen God but I have seen His power! I know He lives, how about you? Think about it!

Watching over you!

I recently read a parable and it really made me think, so I wanted to share it. The author of the story is unknown. As a rite of passage from boyhood to manhood, a young boy was taken into the forest by his father at night and left on a stump blindfolded. The boy was instructed not to move, not to remove the blindfold and not even cry out for help. If he made it through the night the next morning he would be considered a man. Standing there throughout the night, no doubt, the young boy must have been very afraid of the things he could not see but could hear in the darkness all around him. The story concludes by saying the next morning the young boy saw rays of sunshine coming through the blindfold and knew he had accomplished the task and was now a man! Removing the blindfold, however, he found his father sitting next to him, as he had been the entire night. The story made me think of how often in life we may feel we are alone. We may become frightened because of what we cannot see or because of things we hear. We may be subjected to very dark times and feel paralyzed. But at the end of the day we must remember what the word says about our Almighty Creator. Deut. 31:6NKJV says, “Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave nor forsake you.” In times of distress, when you feel all alone remember God is with you. He may not say a word, but He is there. Our God wants to see us prosper. He created us to live for Him and praise His name. God is a perfect father. Matt 7:9-12 says, “Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him?” Notice the scripture here doesn’t end with a question mark but with an exclamation, because this is not a question but a statement of God’s love for His children. Are you one? If you know you are a child of God why do you fear because He is watching over you! Think about it!