"The Power of what you believe!"

The definition for belief is the state of mind in which a person thinks something to be the case, with or without there being empirical evidence to prove that something is the case with factual certainty. To believe is defined as to have confidence in the truth, the existence, or the reliability of something; although without absolute proof that one is right in doing so. I recently saw a video called Spirit of Python. This is a powerful video with a variety of scriptural teaching for teens based on Acts 16:16 but I recommend everyone see it. One of the inserts in the video was on the effects of marijuana. In the video the speakers talked about the power of this drug that many feel is harmless. He spoke on how if used long term it can alter one’s brain activity substantially, killing brain cells. In the video he also spoke about an experiment that inspired this article. An unnamed college conducted an experiment in which it allowed several select students to smoke pot every day for one month, and every day the students were high. However what the student didn’t know was that at the end of the month, the ingredient that causes the high was removed from the joints, nevertheless the students still functioned as if they were high…why because they believed they were. I have also heard of doctors doing studies where they place patients on prescription drugs for a certain period of time, and do not inform the patient that at some point they are simply taking sugar or water pills that only look like the prescription they are sure is making them feel better. Studies have shown that those patients continued to “feel better,” why…because they believe the medicine they are taking is helping. I said all of that to convey my point that entitles this article; there is great power in what you believe! I find it funny yet saddening that millions believe in the power of the internet, money, self-worth and other things that they can or cannot see; yet the criticize those who believe in God! I am reminded of Thomas in scripture. What a reflection of our world his statement was when he said in John 20, “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.” When Jesus showed up, true to his word Thomas believed, but Jesus had something to say about that in verse 29, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” I submit to you that, if you can believe all things are possible! Furthermore I submit to you the belief in God Almighty, not some random “higher power,” contains a power that is unlimited and everlasting. Don’t believe me…try it for yourself! Think about it

The Short-Cut Life

I was listening to Christian radio recently and their subject dealt with today’s social media and texting influence on youth. They asked, “What things did you experience as a kid that modern technology keeps today’s kids from?” The standard answer was that some today’s youth can barely read or write properly due to the influence of texting and social media. A high school teacher called in and shared how she often returns papers to her students who can’t write full sentences. Along with texting and spending all day surfing the web for answers to everything from changing the staples in a canon printer, to how to change the motor in a washing machine, (both of which I have done)…what other short cuts are we taking in our lives that we may want to reevaluate? Often times we find it difficult to wait. I know you have heard the saying, “patience is a virtue.” We go through great lengths to do things in a hurry in this, “microwave generation.” We want everything, now and as Staples has trademarked we want the use the “easy” button. But life is not always easy, and it seems that it is only at difficult times that many, “find the time,” to seek God. I believe that there are no short cuts in Christ. God’s grace is sufficient for those who believe, and believing in Him is the first step. In order to gain the guarantee of eternal life there are just some things you cannot side step. It is often easy to just “not” make the changes you know you need to make in order to better your life. Make the decision not to be one who follows the crowd looking for the easy way out. No, the life of a Christian is not hard, the bible tells us in Proverbs 13:15(NKJV) “Good understanding gains favor: but the way of transgressors/the unfaithful is hard.” However there will be challenges and as our world changes and revelation is revealed it will be anything but easy to be a born again believer. Matthew 7:13-14(NKJV) says, “Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” Let’s not live the short cut life, let’s follow Christ because in the end the benefits He offers for our earthly and enteral life, are worth much more than we could ever dream of repaying. Think about it.

Eternal Transformation, Applaud That!

Unless you live under a rock, I’m sure you know who Bruce “Caitlyn” Jenner is. Just in case let me describe who this is to you briefly. Bruce Jenner is a well decorated former Olympian. He won many accolades in track and field. Of late he is celebrated for his decision to become a woman after over 50 years of living as a man and being married with children more than once. This article is not about Bruce Jenner. I recently saw a post that said “Celebrities you didn’t know were transgendered.” When I clicked on the link I was floored. I was not surprised that there were so many “so called” celebrities who have changed their gender. In fact I didn’t know who many of them were; I was surprised by the transformations themselves. Had I never seen the article if had I met the majority of these people, in person, I would never have known they were born a different gender without being told. Their transformations were so drastic there was no trace of their birth and might I add “God-given” gender. It appeared as if they had never been the opposite sex and it was apparent that they had no desire to ever be their old selves again! So here’s the point to my article. So many around the world are applauding these people for taking it upon themselves to be transformed; why can’t we applaud that kind of change when it comes to becoming an unashamed, unapologetic follower of Christ? Why don’t people get so fed up with their old sins that they make the decision to be transformed in repentance and determined never to be the same again? Bruce Jenner is so applauded for his decision he was even given a courage award in lieu of many which some say are much more deserving than he. Let me make my final point and it is this; from losing weight, to changing jobs…from changing your opinion to changing your gender, the scripture is clear! I won’t mince words, let me just give you scripture. Here is the only transformation that matters when your life ends. Romans 12:2 (NKJV) “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Acts 3:19-21 (NKJV) “ Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send Jesus Christ, who was preached to you before, whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.” Think about it!

"Don't let your problems, get you down."

Have you ever heard the saying “tragedies are common place?” In the day and age we are living, catastrophes seem to be happening all around us. From earthquakes and typhoons to police brutality and murder our world is definitely in turmoil. Have you ever heard the saying “Don’t let your problems get you down?” This is the principle I believe we should all practice. I’ll bet you are saying “Gena-Mae, how can you talk about the horrible condition of the world then say, I shouldn’t let my problems get me down?” Let’s consider a story by an unknown author of the Donkey in the Pit. In the fable a donkey has fallen in a deep pit and for day cries bitterly as he cannot escape on his own. The farmer who owned him finds him there and cannot figure out how to pull him to safety, as he is poor and has very few means. Finally deciding that the donkey is old and costly to care for the farmer decides to bury the crying animal right there in the pit. To make the process faster the farmer invites others from the village to bring their shovels and help him bury the donkey. One by one each villager filled their shovels with dirt and tossed it into the pit upon the donkey. At first the poor bewildered animal cries even the more for mercy, but to no avail. Suddenly the villagers realize the donkey has quieted and figure he has suffocated. However to their amazement with every shovel of dirt they pour on the donkey, he had begun to shake it from his back onto the ground beneath him and take a step up. Before long as the process repeats the donkey has shaken hundreds of shovels of dirt from his back, stepping up on them he is soon able to step over the edge of the pit and trot off. I shared all of that to say, no matter what the world around you is doing, it is up to you how your life pans out. You can choose to let the cares of this world bury you or you can decide to step up despite of challenges, past hurts etc. In John 16:33 NKJV Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer. I have overcome the world.” In I John 5:5 NKJV the writer says, “Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” This lets us know that nothing can take us out unless we give up and allow it to. As long as we have faith in Christ we can “shake it off and overcome.” Remember the donkey in the pit. Think about it.

Faithful Friends

“You are who you hang around!” “Lay with dogs and you will get fleas.” I am sure most of us have heard these sayings. I’ll bet many of us were warned by our parents about being selective when it comes to making friendships. Even scripture tells us to be very wise when it comes to the friends, company and associates we keep. Proverbs 13:20 (NKJV) says, “He who walks with wise men will be wise, But the companion of fools will be destroyed.” When studying Mark chapter two, I really began thinking about the importance of the company we keep. The story begins with Jesus visiting the city of Capernaum. Word quickly got out that Jesus was in a particular house in the city. Needless to say as soon as word spread, “er-body and their mama,” high-tailed it over to see, hear from and touch The Savior! The house filled up and there was standing room only. Verse three tells us how four men came to the house carrying their paralyzed friend on a bed. Let me stop right here for a moment and ask, “How many of us have a friend who will stop and carry us?” I don’t mean just carry you physically…I mean do you have a friend that can and will carry you spiritually? Sometimes we go through things in life and need someone to carry us in prayer, fasting etc. Do you have friends like that; are YOU a friend like that? These friends in Mark went above and beyond just carrying their buddy. In verse four when they realized there was no room in the house, they climbed to the roof, ripped it open and lowered him down to Jesus. NOTE: they were careful friends, we know this because the Bible says they “let him down,” not the dropped him! Are you a careful friend, do you have them? I also want to note that not once do we see the paralyzed friend “asking” his comrades to do any of this for him, this speaks volumes to me. Finally in verse five the Bible says that when Jesus saw “their faith,” meaning the friends He said to the paralyzed, “Your sins are forgiven you.” Now, he was still paralyzed but he had just been given something much better than the ability to walk…eternal life! The story does go on and the paralyzed man ends up leaving with new life, promise of heaven and complete healing. All of this took place because he was smart enough to surround himself with faithful friends. Are you that smart? THINK ABOUT IT!

"What are you made of?"

Hebrews 3:7-8 “Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” I recently read a really cute post, it had picture of an egg and a potato sitting in boiling water together. The post read, “The same boiling water that softens a potato, hardens the egg. It’s not about the circumstances, but rather what you are made of.” Now I look at the post in two ways, in one sense it’s good to be hard. In my opinion being hard may connote, being firm or sure of what you want, as well as, what you will and will not do, in that sense I believe it is good. I also think it’s good to deal with tough situations with a certain amount of hardness. In another sense it can also be good to be soft. For example when it comes to your compassion for others and your demeanor in tough times, often softness is needed. It is good to be able to keep you cool or softness when circumstances try to push you otherwise.

With all that is going on in our world today and the amount of injustice we see, we have to know what we are made of and when to proceed with hardness or softness. Regardless though of what the world may be doing, and or what we may see happening around us, there is one thing I know to be sure; God’s love never fails. The one time you do not want to be hard is when it comes to the acceptance of God’s love. Hebrews 3:7-8, advises us that when we hear the voice of the Lord, not to harden our hearts. You may ask; “How will I know if I have heard the voice of the Lord?” Anytime you hear of the goodness of Jesus Christ, (like in this article) you are hearing the voice of the Lord. He wants us all to do as we were created to do and come unto Him, live for Him and worship as well as exalt His name. As a child I would always hear older folk say, “We really need Jesus in these last and evil days.” Well now I know exactly what they meant. When it seems you cannot go to the store without the threat of thievery and death, we are indeed living in the last and evil days. But we cannot allow the evil around us to harden us to the point where we do not live by and show the love of God. Allow the power and grace of Christ to soften your heart, because not only at the end of the day, but at the end of your life don’t you want to know that regardless of what happens your soul has a heavenly enteral resting place? So what are you really made of? Think about it!

Listen...why not fix it!

My pastor, Bishop Barry D. Walker of A Place of Refuge Ministries has been preaching on, hearing. I have always considered myself a good listener. He has been talking about the difference between listening and hearing. He explained to us that hearing is not just listening but it is comprehension with intent to follow through and make the necessary changes. His messages prompted me to reevaluate the way I listen and the way I expect others to listen to and hear me. I mean think about it, we expect our children to listen to us but not just to listen…to hear what we are saying and comply, if they don’t…there will be consequences. Furthermore, I don’t know many people who appreciate speaking to their significant other and being ignored, do you? Well God expects the same! He has given us His Word as instructions for us to listen to and follow through with. He told us exactly what He expects; James 1:22-25 NKJV says, “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.” How many of you would walk past a mirror and see your hair out of place, crumbs on your face or your shirt miss-buttoned and NOT fix it? (Stop and re-read that scripture above and take a moment to really think about this.) Ok, now if you know that you would not look at yourself in a mirror, see an issue and NOT fix it, then why would you continue living contrary to the way God has planned for you to live? Are you wondering what I mean by that? Let’s check the word again, James 4:17 is clear it says, “When you know to do right and choose to do wrong, you are in sin.” When we listen to our flesh or others that tell us certain things are ok but we know they are not, we are then indeed in sin when we do them. And what is the end result of sin? Romans 6:23 really tells the whole story, it says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.” So let’s look in our spiritual mirror, see what’s wrong, LISTEN to the word and, why not fix it? Think about it!