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4 Stages of Preparation for God’s Call on Your Life

By
Andrea Matthews
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god's call on your life

Embrace the Process

God is all knowing and all powerful, but He created man to have free will. We make our own decisions and reap the consequences of them. A lot of times, the choices we make are not the best and have negative effects on our lives.

Why would God do that? Why would He allow us to make our own bad choices?

God allows us to mess up so that we would eventually see Him as holy and ourselves as the total opposite in need of Him. Acknowledging our wretchedness and our reliance on God is a crucial, constant step in the Christian walk.

In Isaiah 6, we see the process of the prophet’s commission. At which stage can you find yourself?

Stage 1: He saw God.

In the very first verse, Isaiah describes the grandeur and might of the Lord. He heard the shouts of glorious heavenly creatures crying out His holiness one to another. What a privilege it was for him to feel the roar of their voices in the temple. It shook him to his knees, and there…

Stage 2: He saw himself.

“‘Woe to me!’ I cried. ‘I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips…’” Isaiah 6:5

The opposition of Isaiah’s flesh to the holiness of God was overwhelming to him. He could not stand in the presence of God without seeing his own weakness. And, without this step, he could never be able to fulfill his calling in excellence and truth.

Stage 3: He was cleansed.

Immediately after Isaiah acknowledges his humanity, an angel touches a piece of coal to his mouth and says, “See, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away and sin atoned for.’” How incredible that God not only allows us to see our filth, but to be cleansed from it as well. That’s the whole point. Because once we are cleansed….

Stage 4: He was sent.

Verse 8 of the same chapter states that Isaiah heard the Lord asking who He should send, and Isaiah with a new burst of boldness said, “Here I am. Send me!”

The processes of God astound me. Because Isaiah had been made holy, just as his King was holy, he now had the confidence to walk out his purpose.

Follow God’s Plan

god's call on your life

There are other stories in the Bible and in modern day Christianity of people who have encountered this same process. I believe it’s a standard that God uses to determine and refine those who will be truly used by Him. I want to encourage you to embrace this process, even if it seems you’re stuck in Step 2, constantly reminded of how broken you are.

After it was revealed to Peter that Jesus was indeed the Christ, he denied Him THREE times. Even Peter had to go through the necessary stages to see his own self – weak and scared and unfaithful. You know what’s amazing about Peter is that his story doesn’t end there. He goes on to lead the first church and boldly declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So, What’s the Play Call?

If you’re in a season that seems to only reveal your insecurities and flaws, trust that God is there with you (Deuteronomy 31:8). Trust that this season, no matter how painful it may be, is a part of His master plan.  So stay ready and willing to grow – your purpose-driven season might arrive sooner than you think.

Why It’s Important to Do Life at the Speed of God

By
Alecia M. White
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speed of god

Life Comes at You Fast. Let God Set the Pace.

I was in a rush. I needed to be there at 8:30 am. It was already after 8, and it would take me at least a half hour to get there.

Every time I exited my apartment, I would get to the car and realize that I had forgotten another something. My frustration grew, I hadn’t had my coffee or breakfast, and I was tired of the back and forth.

As I entered my home, oh… I don’t know – perhaps the 3rd or 4th time – I stopped and took a deep breath. With my eyes closed, I said, “God, I’m late, but I know that this is for a reason. I thank You that you are keeping me from something that could harm me.”

I finally got to my car without forgetting an item and I began to drive.

I came to an intersection, and as the light turned green, as I took off, a car sped around my right side to get in front of me. No sooner than this car slid in front of me, a pickup truck sped from the turning lane around my left side to do the same.

All I could do was honk my horn and yell, “Jesus!!!” As both cars almost collided in front of me, I realized that had I left a second sooner, I would have been in the middle of what could have been a terrible accident. One second sooner! That is all it would have taken for my life to be in danger.

Hurry Up and Wait… on God

speed of godThis brings me to my point… See, in our walk with God, we often get frustrated with the pace that things are going. You may follow my example above and get upset when you have to keep going back and forth between where you are and where you’re going.

What we do not realize is that our frustration can cause us to move too fast and that can be detrimental to our destiny. Just as my leaving home any earlier could have caused me to be involved in an accident, so can moving too fast spiritually.

God has a set time for everything in our lives, including our blessings, our calling, and our purpose. We have got to trust His timing.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 in our PlayBook tells us that everything has a specific time in which it should come to pass. In verse eleven, it says, “He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.” The verse said “his time”, not ours.

It is critical that we do not try to get ahead of God’s timing. Because He is already ahead of time, we will only set ourselves back.

SO, WHAT’S THE PLAY CALL?

It is imperative that you not leave your position – not even a second – sooner than God instructs you to. You could cause an “accident” and set yourself back or delay your blessing.

Also, understand that accelerating your speed will never zoom you beyond where God wants you to be and when. Here are a few things to help you “watch your speed”:

  1. Be patient. I’m sure I’ve said this one before in a previous article, but patience applies to so many areas of our lives. Patience is that one “friend” that you have a love/hate relationship with because you need them, but their presence annoys you. “But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4
  2. Rely on God. This is important because if we do not rely on Him, we will allow our own knowledge or that of others to cloud our sense of time. We must understand that giving others clearance to provide us the “time of day” will cause us to get caught in their traffic or operate outside of God’s “timezone”. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5. “It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.” Psalms 118:8
  3. Know that God will not let you miss what is yours. Nope, He won’t. Even when it seems that everyone but you has gotten all their stuff. If He promised it to you, then you are guaranteed to receive it. “For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us.” 2 Corinthians 1:20
  4. Stop your worrying. Worrying only causes you to focus on negativity and leaves no room for the “bright side” of things. So, clear your head with some prayer and thanksgiving to God. “Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6

Remember to give thanks and take God ordained delays in stride. You never know what collision He is saving you from.

5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Getting Married and Divorced

By
Jeannette Tyson
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things i wish i knew before

Things I Wish I Knew

One of the most crucial parts of being in a relationship is dealing with yourself.

Many of us are seeking relationships and looking for meaning and wholeness that can only be found in Christ. Taking time to find Him, and thus finding yourself, is imperative. The security we gain in a relationship with Christ is unmatched. Without it, we run the risk of draining people while trying to find it – especially our friends, family, and mates.

Marriage Reveals Who You Are and Who You’re Not

When you’re married and still dealing with unresolved issues in your spirit, it can be a very heavy burden on the relationship.

There were a lot of issues that I didn’t realize I had until after I married – which is very challenging and straining on a marriage. We didn’t have counseling, we were babes in Christ who didn’t want to “burn with lust”, so we married. I’m sure I pressured him.

All those things I had lived with my entire life surfaced when I had to share my life with another person. I had to learn a lot of things the hard way because I didn’t prepare for marriage during my pre-marital season. Not to say that we should expect perfection before marriage, but it’s important to have invested time for yourself and God before marriage.

When we have more time in the secret place with the Lord, He begins to speak to us about what we need to do to change and grow in Him. Psalm 32:8 says:

“I will instruct you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you”.

Sure, married people still receive this promise, but those who are not yet married need to remember that you are more than a spouse. We are the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). If you are having problems with this truth, check out my article “God told me I was an idolater”.

You Are Still Who You Are After “I Do”

We love to hear all the great things God has to say about us. “We are the head and not the tail, above and not beneath.” But, when God shows you who you are, it’s not always great, blessed, and pretty. Sometimes the truth of who we are can shock and embarrass us. But let me tell you – it’s better for God to show you who you are before marriage than for those issues to constantly surface in arguments with a spouse.

God shows us ourselves in a loving way – a way that we can accept and be moved to change. In life we will constantly evolve and grow, so the farther we get in our development before adding in things like spouses and kids, the easier the journey will be.

As someone who married young while fumbling through a relationship with Christ and then motherhood, I know how it feels to juggle life while dealing with personal development. It can be done, but if you are in a place where you can slow down and take more time out for you and God, do it!

If I Only Knew Then What I Know Now

Since my divorce, I have learned a lot of things I wish I knew before I was married. Here are a few:

  1. My life is not about me. Hard pill to swallow. God showed me that everything He created me to be is supposed to bless and help others. (Matthew 25:40; Acts 20:35)
  2. Walking away is not always a sign of strength. Sometimes it’s a sign of weakness. Discernment is key with this one. God wants us to unify and be one, but that’s impossible when we continue to walk away from difficult situations we have in our relationships. We have to know when to mend fences and not break covenant over petty disagreements.
  3. Keep God first. Whenever we fear, stress, or worry, it’s because we have taken our minds off things above and focused on what we see (Colossians 3:2; Philippians 4:9).
  4. Don’t rush your own process, and be patient with others in their process. We all grow at a different pace. We can’t compare ourselves to others – nor should we pressure anyone else to be where we are.
  5. “Whatever you do, do it as unto the Lord.” (Colossians 3:23) Get used to taking the high road! Sometimes we have to forgive when they don’t acknowledge their faults. We’re called to love one another not to judge.

The point here is – make the most of each season! Life is too short to be focused on things you have no control over (yes, I know, it’s easier said than done).

Think about things you want to do. Ways you can better yourself. Take a class or volunteer. Don’t spend your singlehood sitting around waiting for Mr. or Ms. Right, swiping through Tinder matches. There’s nothing wrong with dating and courtship, but don’t forsake the time of preparation. None of us have “arrived” – there is always room for improvement. Let’s use this time wisely.

So, What’s the Play Call?

  • “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5) God cannot forget anything. He didn’t misplace your spouse. If you’re single, you’re supposed to be (for now). Make the most of it!
  • Don’t waste time! The Word says the ants have no king, but they gather their food in the harvest (Proverbs 6:6-8). Be productive, Teammates.
  • Work on healing anything in you that you have avoided until now. Behaviors and mindsets, even generational curses that possibly have hindered your ability to keep covenant or have meaningful relationships.
  • Always remember you can ask God for help. If you don’t know how to be single or make the most out of this time, ask God to show you how. Don’t get in the frame of mind where you try to fool God into “thinking” you’re ready for a relationship. God knows our heart, we cannot manipulate Him to get what we want.
  • Remember: You are more than someone’s future spouse. Get to know the rest of you!

Be blessed.

 

 

The Honor to Mirror the Character of God

By
Ryan Churchill
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character of god

Today’s Scripture Lesson: Psalm 82

Please read this Psalm on your own and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to you through His Word.

As this Psalm is relatively short, we’ll address each verse because the message God has for His people through this psalmist, Asaph, is incredibly powerful and humbling.

Let’s look at the first two verses:

God takes His stand in His own congregation; He judges in the midst of the rulers. How long will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked? (Ps 82:1-2; NASB)

Asaph’s words proclaim God as the Almighty, Sovereign Authority as He takes “His stand” in “His own congregation.” It’s a beautiful image to see God standing in the congregation,  in lieu of being seated on the Judge’s bench. He stands in the congregation as both prosecutor and judge, revealing Jehovah never forfeits His sovereignty.

In the second verse, God, the prosecutor, has examined the evidence and brings charges against the rulers/magistrates who judge His congregation. Furthermore, God, the judge, is fully aware of whom the wicked are among the people and that they’ve unfairly curried favor with the rulers/magistrates.

Moving forward, let’s look at the next two verses:

Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted and destitute. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them out of the hand of the wicked. (Ps. 82:3-4; NASB)

God gives direction to the judges. His direction is a call to repentance, but more so, it’s a call back to their covenantal responsibility to represent their heavenly Father in faithfulness to His identity.

In His direction to the judges, God tells them whom they were placed in their positions to serve. They were to serve the weak, the needy, the fatherless, the afflicted, and the destitute. He lets them know they have been given authority in order to fulfill the privilege of serving as deliverer, just as their Creator God is the Deliverer.

To give this a little more personal application, let me state it like this: God is telling His people to be His hands and feet, representing the mind and character of their God to those who cannot help themselves.

Verse 5

I’d like to break verse 5 down into three statements and then I want to offer you some Scripture which has served as a lens through which I’ve viewed this particular verse. I hope you will prayerfully allow these Scriptures to shape your understanding of this verse as well.

Statement 1: “They do not know nor do they understand…”

In Jeremiah 9:24, the prophet quotes God saying, “let him who boasts boast of this, that he understands Me and knows Me, that I am the LORD who exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness on earth; for I delight in these things.” (NASB)

When you view God’s Word offered by Asaph through the lens of God’s word in Jeremiah, you begin to more deeply understand God’s covenant call to His people to represent Him.

Over and over throughout the Old Testament, we see God call His people out for “profaning” His name. Profaning isn’t simply using curse words – where we say God’s name in vain. Cursing might be the tiniest tip of the “profane” iceberg.

If you do a word study on “profane”, you’ll find that the Hebrew word for profane has a much greater meaning. Profane can mean defile, pollute, violate, or use its fruits. These rulers whom God calls out here in Psalm 82 were enjoying the fruits which accompany a position of authority while simultaneously defiling the image of their Creator through misrepresentation. They failed to exercises lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness.

Statement 2: “…they walk about in darkness…”

In Proverbs 2:11-14, Solomon writes, “Discretion will guard you, understanding will watch over you, to deliver you from the way of evil, from the man who speaks perverse things; from those who leave the paths of uprightness to walk in the ways of darkness; who delight in doing evil and rejoice in the perversity of evil.”

Also in Proverbs 4:19 Solomon writes, “The way of the wicked is as darkness; they know not at what they stumble.”

In Psalm 11:2 David writes, “For, behold, the wicked bend the bow, they make ready their arrow upon the string to shoot in darkness at the upright in heart.”

Walking in darkness is diametrically opposed to walking in the will of the Father. While God reveals that He delights in lovingkindness, justice, and righteousness, we learn in Proverbs that those who walk in darkness delight in doing evil and they rejoice in the perversity of evil. Not only were the rulers misrepresenting their Creator, they were serving and rejoicing in evil.

Statement 3: “… all the foundations of the earth are shaken…”

It is interesting to see this statement made immediately after a statement about walking in darkness. We just looked at the 2nd verse from David’s Psalm 11 where he writes about darkness. Let’s look at what follows immediately after in the 3rd verse of Psalm 11: “If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” Whoa! That’s a heavy statement.

Let’s not lose hope, though, as Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:19, “Nevertheless, the foundation of God stands sure…”

Isn’t it interesting that a shaky foundation is associated with darkness? Jesus, the Light of the World (John 8:12) is the Solid Rock (Matthew 7:24). He is our firm foundation. He came to reveal the heart of the Father. Several of the gospel Scriptures are dedicated to Jesus calling out the religious leaders of His day for their misrepresentation of God and abuse of their authority and privilege. The association of “knowing” and “understanding” along with the “foundation” should not be ignored – neither in regard to Scripture or in our walks with Christ. God desires to be known. He reveals Himself in order to be known and to be understood.

Let’s look at verses 6 and 7 together:

“I said, ‘You are gods, and all of you are sons of the Most High. Nevertheless, you will die like men and fall like any one of the princes.’” (Ps 82:6-7; NASB)

Verse 6 is a very big statement – so big that Jesus quotes it in John 10:34. It is an easy verse to take out of context and we should seek to understand this statement. Without an understanding of covenant, that is nearly impossible. Fortunately, we’ve covered a good portion of that so far in this study. But, let’s also remember that we were created in God’s image. The Hebrew word here is “elohim” which is rooted in another word, “eloah.” Yes, Elohim is a Hebrew word for God. But, this can also be translated as rulers, judges, or magistrates; all of which are words we’ve been using throughout this study.

For a deeper understanding of covenant,
visit The Covenants, Christ, and You.

Pride taken by the magistrates is misplaced. They placed their pride (boastfulness) in their position and title rather than who their Father is, the Most High. They succumbed to the fallacy of placing the creature over the Creator and ignoring His law and His character.

Death is always pending and will be the end result for each of us. This, regardless of the position we hold, should be the sobering thought which keeps us rooted in reality. It is easy to focus on how we’ll be remembered. Some seek power, some seek money, some seek influence, or any combination of the three. Scripture tells us to seek the righteousness of God. The rewards of this life are nothing in the eye of eternity. God is our portion and our reward.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Finally, Asaph offers these words:

“Arise, O God, judge the earth! For it is You who possesses all the nations.”

We must recognize. Asaph recognized that God is Lord of all creation. Because of this recognition, he does not call on God to stand and judge only in Israel – He calls for God to arise and judge the earth. There is no one Sovereign over the Creator God Almighty.

If there is an area of your life where you are claiming sovereignty, pray that God will help you recognize, exercise faith, and surrender your perceived sovereignty to the only One who can legitimately stand in the congregation as both prosecutor and judge. Allow Him to shower His lovingkindness and righteousness upon you. It is in these things that God takes His delight.

Worship the Giver, not the Gifts

By
Jeannette Tyson
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christian event

We Were Made to Worship

Psalms 139:14-16 says:

worship“I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made, marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest part of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed and in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.”

One of the greatest attributes God has designed us with is our ability to praise. We are all unique, but some things we have in common. We have the capacity to think, reason, and feel.

So then, what happens when a person (who was fearfully and wonderfully made to praise) doesn’t know Whom or what is worthy of praise?

Misguided praise and worship is idolatry and it’s easier than you may think to slip into.

For Whom is Your Altar Built?

altarWe see people who are so obsessed with sports, clothes, and money. If we’re not careful to guard our hearts, we can lust after the things of this world and fall into idol worship.

We all know people so passionate about politics who will debate you for hours about policy and injustice. Sports fanatics who will yell, scream, and gamble on their favorite teams, but don’t give God the glory He deserves. Those who chase money while neglecting quality time with God and their families. Then, some who are pleasure seekers, chasing one empty thrill after another.

These aren’t necessarily bad people, they are doing what they were created to do. But, their passions and their praise is misdirected.

The other day I was scrolling through Facebook and saw an article about a “Beyoncé Mass” that took place in a San Francisco church. They wanted to showcase her music and somehow empower black women in the church.  Is the church the appropriate venue for this display?

In the book of Isaiah 56:7, God says His house shall be called the House of Prayer. Also, in John 12:32, the Lord says when He is lifted up He will draw all men. When I scrolled pass this, I dismissed the notion immediately (mentally imagining Jesus flipping over tables), but the Spirit whispered this to me. He said, “All humans are worshipers, but if you don’t know God, your flesh will still worship something.” It made perfect sense.

Lord, Re-align Our Misplaced Worship

Because we were made in God’s image, idolatry has the potential to be an easy pitfall for us. We were created to rule and reign in the earth, we’ve been given full dominion – yet we must completely submit to God.

We know in our minds that God is the Alpha and Omega and that He is King of Kings, but there are times when we just do our own thing; we somehow decide we’re okay running our own life.  Oftentimes, we don’t even realize it until we run into a problem and we cry out to Him. It’s like raising a kid who becomes rebellious during their teenage years only to later love and appreciate their parents’ guidance and wisdom.

These might be extreme cases, but if we overindulge in anything, we’re in danger of sin. God wants us to enjoy life with balance and moderation. We can live a life of passion and purpose without becoming idolaters.

Here are a few easy ways to tell if you may be misappropriating your worship:

  1. You’re always busy and it’s difficult to find time to spend with God. We all have responsibilities and hectic lives, but we must honor God above everything – nothing matters more.
  2. Your desires overpower wisdom and you tend to make impulsive decisions. We all want nice things, but we have to prioritize and remember that Jesus told us that life is about more than food, and the body is about more than clothes (Matthew 6:25).
  3. Your motives are always self-serving. Whatever you do (or don’t do) is for your own benefit and you rarely, if ever, consider doing things for others if there’s nothing in it for you.

We have to remember to keep everything in perspective. The people and things you give the most time to will reveal where your heart and values are.

Team, this requires ongoing self-examining. We’ve all gotten sidetracked before while living this amazing life. If it was unlikely to get caught up in this world, there wouldn’t be so many scriptures warning us not to.

Everything God made is wonderful and there’s nothing wrong with enjoying life, but we need to make sure we keep Him first and that we don’t begin to love the gift more than the Giver.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Love the Lord God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength (Luke 10:27).

Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and all its righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33).

Don’t allow the cares of this life to make the Word of God unfruitful in your life (Mark 4:19)

Be blessed!

The Benediction of Kanye West: Free Thought with the Mind of Christ

By
Andrea Matthews
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mind of christ
Photo Michael Tran/FilmMagic

Kanye West has been trending all over social media this past week after making disturbing comments about American slavery in an interview with TMZ.

In the live recording, he made the suggestion that African Americans’ prolonged endurance of slavery was by choice.

West has been labeled a genius when it comes to his rap career and business endeavors. I am not a fan of his music, but I am aware of the weight his words carry in this world. And it prompted a few thoughts in my mind – a mind that “freely chooses” to be guided by the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5).

Wisdom is Better Than Wealth

I made a commitment to pursue wisdom a little over two years ago. In an effort to walk out that declaration, I read one chapter of Proverbs each day. These words have slowly but so surely taken root in my heart and I see the incredible benefits of them.

“For wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.” Prov 8:11

Kanye West is a ridiculously famous rapper with an estimated net worth of $145 million. He has the wealth and the fame of a king, but is lacking so deeply in the stability of his mind. Perhaps his goal as a child was to become rich, but money never satisfies and it sure doesn’t (despite popular assumption) demand automatic credibility.

Foolishness Should Not Be Entertained

If you were to watch the full interview, you could notice the confusion going on in West’s mind. There is no doubt that his audience struggled to understand, but it seemed as if he wasn’t sure of the words coming out of his own mouth.

“Do not answer a fool according to his folly, or you yourself will be just like him.” Prov 26:4

Did you know foolishness is contagious? When I see headlines or hear comments that bring confusion, I have to remind myself to accept it as folly and move on. It is difficult to reason with a fool, but it is also dangerous. The Bible says that you’ll become a fool yourself. It’s important to acknowledge, especially viewing events from a Christian perspective in the current moral/social climate we’re in – some things just won’t make sense.

It’s a Privilege to Understand God’s Word

“The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.” 2 Cor 4:4

We must realize as believers, we are incredibly privileged with the ability to hear God’s voice and read His word with understanding. When I first began the journey of pursuing Christ, none of the verses made sense to me. I continued reading because I wanted so desperately to know the God who wrote these letters, and in time, He granted me that understanding.

We must realize that the good news is actually blinded to people who don’t have Christ. Their eyes are shielded from the wisdom and the knowledge of our King.

So, What’s the Play Call?

What do we do when those who have influence in this world encourage destructive thought? We pray and stay true to living the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Like Jesus said, they don’t know what they’re doing. They don’t know the extent of the impact their words hold. Nor do they understand the death that they can produce with their own tongues. This world needs us to rise up in prayer and action for its political, social, and economic leaders – using the mind of Christ.

Will you?

The Walking Dead: The Oxymoron of Born-Again Zombies

By
Lisa Yvette Pearson
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zombie

Disclaimer: I do not watch the show. Zombies are not my thing.

BUT, I had a thought:

Many of us who profess christ
are walking around like zombies.

How are we infected with this zombie condition?

I’m glad you asked.

We are bombarded with false or misleading information that goes unchecked by the Holy Spirit.  Our emotions are manipulated, we ‘check out’ on empathy, kindness, and love for others.

Imagine finding blame instead of empathy for a grieving family because the victim was of a certain color. Or, responding with apathy for another woman who has been assaulted.

Zombie-ness personified.

We are mummified by the number of layers we put on to create an online, Christian, super-successful persona. The real woman or man can hardly unwrap their real, flawed selves in order to be free. We walk around in spiritual darkness that comes from disobedience and refusing to surrender.

How do we yield to the zombie stronghold?

We watch the trends of the world, but ignore the call of God on our lives. We resist opportunities to share the Word of God with a stranger because we don’t want to “force our beliefs on others”.

Yet, we gladly turn around and “share the belief” that yoga is a great way to gain clarity, though we have no clue about the spiritual practice, chanting, or reciting words we don’t understand. As if yoga and a yogi can bring any believer to better spiritual enlightenment and clarity than the Holy Spirit. Though, we mumble through the songs at church and leave no more renewed in the Spirit than when we walked in.

What are the symptoms of a zombie-like state?

Zombie-ness manifests through grief and unresolved pain that numbs us to self-medicate with sin. We drink so much that our livers – not the rocks – cry out to the Lord.  We sex it up with various partners then sit with regret – unless, of course, we declare it’s “just sex” and deny the spiritual implications of soul ties. We sleep the evenings and days away, mired in depression, just to escape the monotony of pain and disappointment.

We have wilted in strength, life slowly draining out of us.

Is There Any Zombie Too Hard for God to Cure?

The Woman at the Well is my favorite person of the bible because she’d been through 5 husbands and was TIREDT. On to #6, who she hadn’t married, she went out to the well covered in shame. We know this because she went out in the middle of the day, when it was too darn hot to be drawing water. All the other women went early in the morning.

When we are walking dead, we don’t want to interact with the living – the true Believers of Jesus Christ. They ask too many questions (or we feel that they will) and we don’t want to answer. The darkness is comfortable and soothing to the flesh. The living will confront you about your error, but we don’t want to be confronted because we don’t want to have to defend it. The living will encourage vulnerability which is the last thing a zombie can stand. Vulnerability feels like weakness. Where there is weakness, we have the ability to be hurt again.

BUT GOD.

The other reason why the Woman went to the well when she did is that it was predestined for her to meet Jesus. He was the answer to her spiritual death and the thirst in her soul.

BUT GOD.

God has a way of showing up right where we are when we think we are hiding out from everyone else. He knows how to jump-start our hearts when it seems we have spiritually flat-lined.

He has a way of being in the place where we need Him to be – even when we don’t know that we do. He meets us where we are to bring us back from the Valley of the Shadow of Death.

So, what’s the play call?

As the Woman learned that Jesus was the Messiah, she “left her waterpot, went her way into the city, and said to the men, “Come see a Man who told me all things I ever did. Could this be the Christ?” (John 4:27)

Leave your waterpot.

Whatever you are filling up on that keeps you in a zombie state and away from Christ, leave it behind.

If it’s alcohol, empty those bottles in your home. Leave the after work bars behind. Leave the drinking buddies behind.

If it is man or woman #6, block ministry is in order. Unfriending is in order. Going to the other Starbucks, library, or professional mixer – is in order.

If you’re wrapped up in the ways of the world, unfollow certain blogs, feeds, or magazines and ask God to reveal new godly influence for your life. It’ll work wonders.

And then, tell somebody about how God brought you out. Your testimony of having once been amongst the Walking Dead can be just the Word of God to resuscitate your brothers and sisters in Christ.

Return to The Lord: 5 Little, Unholy Ways We Walk Away from God

By
Lamica A. Burnett
-
walk away from god

I Thought I was Walking with the Lord 

In my mind, I had done everything right.  I was living how I thought a good Christian was supposed to.  I was supporting the ministry of my local church, signing up to volunteer and lend a helping hand wherever I was needed.  I spent early mornings studying the Bible and praying.  I even read a Christian devotional at night before bed.  I thought I was living well enough, understood what be ye holy meant – but God had something different in mind.

One morning, as I was spending time in the word, I came across a verse in Lamentations that stopped me in my tracks.  It was Lamentations 3:40. When I read the verse, it made me pause – what did my way have to do with returning to the Lord?

The simple instruction in that verse cropped up in my mind multiple times over the next few days.  As I washed the dishes, I remembered, “Examine your way.”   While I was driving to the office the words echoed, “Return to the Lord.” Though I tried, I could not get away from these words. For my own peace of mind, I had to surrender and pray this simple prayer, “Lord help me to see me.”

God answers prayer – and He answers quickly! As the day unfolded, my spiritual state became clear.

I soon found out that I had left God and I didn’t even notice.

Be Ye Holy: My Way vs. God’s Way

As I initiated my self-check, I was snacking on one of my favorite treats – Mrs. Fields Miniature Chocolate Chip Cookies. I told myself that I’d only enjoy a couple, but the sweet goodness of the chocolate coupled with the crunch of the walnuts enthralled me.  I had eaten one soft treat, then another.  By the time I was done, I had eaten ten. Yep, you read it right, 10 cookies! (Insert sad, embarrassed face here)

My Way #1 – Lack of self-control

Around the same time, I received a phone call from my husband.  He asked a direct question and I answered.

Although I conveyed the information he requested, I left out an important point in an attempt to cover my whereabouts.  See, I was out shopping at the mall when I was supposed to be working at home.

My Way #2 – Untruthfulness, deception
(also known as the ‘little white lie’ or alternative facts)

After ending the phone call, I remembered that I needed to go to the bank.  Before backing out of the parking space at the mall, I did a quick check of my blind spot.  All clear.  Just as I put my car in reverse, a large SUV whizzed behind me, barely missing my car’s rear bumper!  When I slammed on the brakes, a few red-letter-edition words crossed my mind (you know the ones). I didn’t actually say them, but they almost slipped out.

My Way #3 – Cursing, profane communication or thoughts

When I entered the bank lobby, I noticed a woman who looked like she was having a difficult day.  We exchanged pleasantries and at that moment I felt like I should share an encouraging word with her. Since I was in a hurry, I told myself I’d do it after I finished my transaction.

As I was filling out my deposit slip with the teller, I immediately noticed and commented on how well her ink pen functioned.  The barrel of the pen had a nice weight and the ink flowed onto the paper like a dream. The ink pen lover in me was excited!

I finished up my banking business and returned to my car. As I was leaving the parking lot, I noticed the ink pen near my wallet on the passenger seat of my car.  Not only had I forgotten to encourage the woman at the bank, I had kept the bank teller’s ink pen!

My Way #4 and #5 – Delayed obedience to the Holy Spirit, stealing

I was having a record day!  In less than 2 hours, I had lied, almost cursed, stolen, disobeyed God, and had severely overeaten.

The Separating Power of Sin

bible1 Peter 1:15 calls for holiness in all that we do. All means everything; everything means without exception.

After I prayed, “Lord, show me myself”, the Holy Spirit helped me to recognize that the little things I dismiss as nothing were a pretty big deal to God. Simply put, sin disconnects us from God.

I had walked away from God and was deceived by the enemy thinking that I was okay.

In times past, I would have brushed these things off as no big deal.  I didn’t think twice about these behaviors because I was operating by my own standards.  I was living a life of good enough.

News flash:  Good enough is not enough! 

God’s standard for His people is holiness.  Point blank. Period (1 Peter 1:16,   Leviticus 11:44, 1 Thess 4:7).

So, what’s the Play Call?

God is calling for all of us to examine our way and return to Him (Lamentations 3:40).

Here are 5 things we must do as we return to the Lord:

Stop Lying

Lying is a deliberate effort to deceive.  The enemy would trick us into thinking that since no one is getting hurt, there is no harm done by being untruthful. Proverbs 6:16-19 reminds us that God detests lying.  He hates it so much that it is mentioned twice in these verses – first as a lying tongue, second as a false witness.

If this is something that God absolutely cannot stand, why would we rationalize and dismiss it?  Revelation 21:8 says “all liars will have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone.”  The word all leaves no liar out, that includes us, Team.

Stop Stealing

Taking things that do not belong to you is stealing – plain and simple.  This is an elementary lesson that we all should have learned at age 4 but somehow we have ignored it.  If you didn’t pay for it, or it was not given/gifted to you then it is NOT yours.  How can this uncomplicated lesson apply to 4-year-olds, but not to us, Team?

God does not deal with this sin casually. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 reminds us that thieves will not inherit the kingdom of God.  This also goes for theft at work.  It doesn’t matter how many overtime hours you’ve worked, or how many years you’ve been on the job.  God clearly sees what goes on at your workplace!  Would you risk your salvation over a sticky notepad or a postage stamp? What about a yellow highlighter, or that blue sharpie?

Stealing time at work also counts, too. You are being paid to perform a job; if you are not on task and using your work time irresponsibly, then you are an embezzler. Think extensive chit-chat with co-workers. Think Internet shopping when you should be working. Do you come in late and leave early? You get the picture.

Stop Cursing

As Team Jesus, our words should be used to build others up (Ephesians 4:29).

When we stand before God, we will have to give an account for every word that comes out of our mouth.  Wisdom says that we should carefully guard what we say (Matthew 12:35-36).

Even if the words never come out of your mouth, and you think evil against someone, this is cause for repentance. Those curse words you dismiss as harmless (yes, those words) STOP IT!

God’s requirement for His people is holiness in speech and in conduct. In 1 Peter 1:16, God instructs us to be ye holy because He is holy. God would not ask us to do something and not give us the tools and the ability to get it done. Being holy is done through Him and through the transforming power of the Holy Spirit as we submit ourselves to Him.

Stop Disobeying

Delayed obedience is instant disobedience. Failure to immediately act on promptings of the Holy Spirit is disobedience to God.  An example of a prompting could be suddenly feeling the need to encourage or reach out to someone. By nature, we are self-absorbed, thinking about ourselves 99.9% of the time. We are not good in and of ourselves – Romans 7:18 reminds us that in our flesh, there is no good thing.  The good thoughts that cross your mind to do something nice for someone is not all you.  See it as God’s attempt to work through you.

If you find yourself suddenly motivated, empowered, or energized to do something for someone else – do it!  It could be a quick phone call, an encouraging text, or sending a card in the mail.  Dismiss it and you miss the opportunity to be used by God in His perfect timing to bless someone through your obedience.  Allow God to love someone through you.  Be His hands to bless them in a real, tangible way. By putting it off, you forfeit the opportunity to be used by God. Knowing to do good and not doing it is sin (James 4:17).

Stop Being Greedy

Don’t take your good health for granted!  Romans 12:1 reminds us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice.  This means that we will have to give up something.  Get the victory in self-control by saying no to Ben & Jerry, Papa John and every other company that wishes to indulge your flesh in an unhealthy way. Don’t eat that extra cookie (or ten)!  Take the time and be mindful of what you are putting into your body and honor God with your body. Walking with God and fulfilling what God has called you to do will require you to have the strength and health of your body.  You can’t walk very far if you’re unhealthy and out of shape.

Even if these specific things are not your issues, 1 John 1:8 reminds us that we all have something in our lives that we need to fix.

 Let the self-examinations begin!

Book Giveaway: “The Way Back” with Phil Cooke and Jonathan Bock

By
Editorial Staff
-

Can the Christian Brand Find ‘The Way Back’ to Christ?

Team! Why is there a steep decline in the perception and credibility of today’s Christians? What can we do to restore confidence in the Christian brand?

As ambassadors of Jesus Christ, we can’t sit idly by and do nothing… we have to find our way back!

As marketers of Christian faith content in media and film, Phil Cooke (Cooke Pictures) and Jonathan Bock (Grace Hill Media) have written: “The Way Back: How Christians Blew our Credibility and How We Get it Back”.

Check out our candid discussion above in the Team Jesus Locker Room on the state of the Christian brand, and what we all can do to be better representatives of Jesus Christ.

Book Giveaway Contest

If you’d like to win your very own signed copy of The Way Back, enter our May 2018 book giveaway contest! Details are below; the contest runs Tuesday, May 1st through Sunday, May 6th!

Highlighters are sold separately 🙂

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Spring Cleaning: Are Dust Bunnies Blocking Your Relationship’s Blessings?

By
Cortne Smith
-
spring cleaning

A Time to Clean

When we think of spring cleaning, we often think of time spent ‘deep cleaning’ our home. It’s a change of seasons where we rearrange our furniture, perhaps lighten up the decor, and take the opportunity to open up the windows to let some fresh air in.

That is, after we sweep, wash, dust, and rummage through the junk that’s been hanging around for a year or longer. By now, it’s time to identify things that can be trashed or things in need of repair before fall or winter use.

Spring cleaning also sets the stage for good times as we prepare the grill or outdoor fireplace for perfect spring nights with other couples, neighbors, family, and friends.

I look forward to this season.  It allows me to purge those things that have not been used or things that have been used up in the past 12 months. My rule is – if I have not used or worn it in the last year, it no longer serves me and I don’t need it.  I should either let it go or bless someone else with it, depending on its value.

Spring Cleaning for You and Bae

When was the last time you spring cleaned your relationship?

Is your marriage backed up with dust bunnies that have been collecting for years? Or, have you become a hoarder of unforgiveness, negative emotions, apathy, and the like?

If you and your mate want to step into spring shiny, new, and refreshed, here are some spring cleaning tips for your relationship:

PURGE…

Those things that have not been used or are no longer working (Philippians 3:13).

Outdated Mindsets

Is stinky thinking keeping you from freely moving to the next level in your relationship? Certain traditions or habits are good, but is the good keeping you from being great? Is the routine something foundational for your life, or is it something you hold on to out of fear?

Spiritual Routines

Are your spiritual routines so tight that they actually stifle Christian growth, or no longer serve as an example for your mate, kids, or family to follow? If yes, this will cause division in your home. Do not be so religious that your relationship looks like an outdated closet of battered, torn, and ill-fitted clothes. Dress in humility and purpose for where God is taking you. Make sure you enter spring wearing spiritual garments that make others want to dress (live) like the follower of Christ you’ve become.

REPAIR…

Any processes, habits, or routines that have value, but need more structure (Colossians 2:7).

Financial Dysfunction

Are you incorporating the five aspects of financial health in your marriage: Making, Tithing, Investing, Saving, and Giving.

Do an assessment to see if you have been incorporating each of the above steps into your financial lifestyle. Otherwise, you are moving in a circle, constantly hitting a brick wall because you are not utilizing each component of the process.

Whether it’s the fear of not making enough money or the acceptance of lack, it’s time for a repair. Even if more time is only spent on making more money, you will never accumulate enough to sustain financial health without the other factors.

Are you feeling like nothing is being reciprocated in your financial relationship? If so, do an honest self-check.  Do you have a closed fist that blocks others from giving (stingy), or do you constantly take without leaving something for someone else to give (greedy)?

Time Management

Are you busy, but not productive? You have a full calendar of events, you and your mate are the socialite couple, however, none of the busyness pours back into building or uplifting your relationship. Schedule your calendar to include quality time with each other, as well as time for personal care and professional relationships.

PREPARE…

To make room for the new things that come with the atmosphere of springtime (Isaiah 43:19).

Daylight = CLARITY

This is a great time to grab some shades, i.e. the Holy Spirit, to assist with discerning the difference between things that shine versus things that are brightened by the Son for your relationship to enjoy.  Know the difference between what is for your relationship and what your relationship is attracted to.

Fresh Breeze = NEWNESS

Open yourself up to fresh ideas, new people, and new situations to bring freshness into your relationship.  Allow for good things to blossom and prosper in this season.

Make sure the screens on your windows fit appropriately. This will filter out debris and prevent an infestation of insects from entering into your relationship. With your windows of heaven open, welcome the wind of God’s word to fill your hearts and your home.

So, What’s the Play Call?

Let SPRING CLEANING begin!

Dust away debris and spider webs that have built-up in your relationship, blocking the free flow of your love, prayers, and clear communications.

Let go of things that were not tailored by the Master’s hands to fit perfectly in your unique relationship.

Sweep your mind of thoughts and habits that are taking up valuable space and holding you back from being abundantly blessed.

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