Battle of Conformity

* Sigh * i dont even bother reading the newspaper or watching the news channels anymore because i know what's coming I know all the lies, all the drama ,all the fakeness and the most disgracing sight of all is people making a mockery of themselves in the name of Fame.Suicide is the new black, Alcohol and drugs are like myspace, still active but not as famous as facebook and since when did homosexuality become a cup of tea?. The world calls this a rebellion i call it Conformity to the World.

Being a loner in this generation is statusfied as an outcast, as an untouchable, as a leper. "If ever i touch a leper i would catch leprosy and die!" this is our present mindset.Breaking all traditions ,one man decided to start a true riot, he stood out ,decided to touch the leper and healed him.He rebelled against the World.His rebellion made a difference, not to follow the crowd but to lead the crowd.Not to be prisoners to the World,but to be set free in the freedom that he has given us. This man is Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of my Soul.

We are not failures or defined by the false accusations of  people,but we are royalties, we are Sons and Daughters of God, A Holy and Prefect God. We are heirs to the kingdom of God.How much more fame do you need people?!!. We dont need the recognition of people to tell us how pretty we are, We are fearfully wonderfully made, and that's coming from the creator of beauty.The only conformity we need is to the likeness of Christ. To step out of our nut shells and tell the world " I Refuse to be like you, to act like you, to walk and talk like you, I refuse to be made your slave, to live in the fear you boxed me up in, I am no longer held down but picked up and dusted off to start a new, I am a new person and this is my stand".

I do not fight to be like you, But i fight to be like Christ.

Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness

Grow

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Mathew 16 : 16-18

The Word of God is SO real that sometimes everything else seems unreal compared to it. I could've read this verse many times before, but it never struck me like it has sense recently. That is the reason the Word of God, even though it remains the same, keeps changing us, keeps changing who we are as people. Gives us new direction every time, helps us discover our path.

I woke up at around 6 in the morning today, it's been a long day today. But somewhere in the tiredness there is joy. One day I might understand this even better.

If your read the whole chapter mentioned above and the surrounding chapters you will see that Peter was really outspoken here. The things that he says show a lot about his character. Sometimes he said things out of reverence of Jesus, however, these things were not always from God. Like when Jesus declared that he will be crucified and raised on the third day again, Peter said that this should not happen.

Now, we all know Peter as one of the greatest heroes , who did many great things and eventually gave his life for what he believed in, for Who he believed in.

Sometimes some of us may do things that are okay, but that doesn't mean that's who we are destined to be forever. When Peter declared who Jesus Christ is, Peter was not perfect, he was far from it. He did some things after ward I'm sure he didn't feel so good about.

But we also know that there was change, over time in him which made him one of the most radical apostles ever.

Do not feel just cause you may have done something that is not so great, that it will define you. But let Jesus be the one who will define who you are, let Him tell who you are like He told Peter.

Be Encouraged. God is good.

Learning To Let Go

How many times in our lives , do we hold on to things so tightly that we leave no space whatsoever for anything to slip out? it could be someone or something very precious to us, that means a lot or maybe lets say costs a lot or why not go to the routes, lets talk about Money.
The most essential thing needed for a human being to survive in this world, with it you're everything without it you're nothing. Heard that before!!

Sometimes we regard this before God and forget that whatever we have in this life is due to his grace and mercy, we forget that our God is a God of multiplication and abundance, with him everything is possible and even a little is too much. Offering is the hardest thing sometimes. letting go of that hard earned money is ridiculous, every penny matters and has to be spent for needs.

Lets go back in the day and look at that lady that honored God and gave that little flour and oil that she had left in her house. With that she was supposed to prepare the last meal for her son and her. Regardless of the severity of the situation she agreed to let go and let God. she opened up her palm and lay it flat in front of God and He found space to Bless, and in abundance He gave. After that day the bible tells us that the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry (1kings 17:16)

How often do we close our hearts so tightly in fear of loosing that something that matters most, that we leave no space for God to enter. Lets open up today, in trust and in faith and in belief that in our God our everything is safe. may it be money, someone you love or something and know He will take that little that is there with us and multiply it a hundred fold and fix the broken hearts and fill them with abundant joy.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

Matthew 6:33

Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for--both riches and honor--so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings.

1kings 3:13

Fears and Temptations

Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help. Hebrews 4:14-16

What are the things that we get worried most in our lives? it may be the fear of losing a loved one, of failure, rejection, a break up, marriage or divorce.. these are the things we generally loose our self control in (we get tempted) we become bitter and fearful and ugly or sometimes broken, hurt and fragile.
Jesus says that these are the things we need to be constantly praying about - things you fear the most, things that hurt you and scare you to death.

The bible says that Jesus went through the same temptations that we did, but the Bible clearly says that h did not sin.
Its not a sin to be tempted but giving into that temptation is a sin and thats what Jesus smartly restrained
Jesus came to earth, walked for thirty- three years and experienced the same temptations any other human being would experience but he did not give into the.

Jesus experienced the greatest temptations ever, yet, he didn't give in. But that also means when you pray, "I'm struggling in this area. I'm just not making it here. I keep stumbling. I keep falling," He understands because he knows what its like, He has been there, He knows how it is to feel lonely, depressed, angry, to lash back and misunderstood.

Because God understands every weakness of ours we can approach his throne in confidence where His grace lies.

You Are Accepted

Therefore, accept each other in the same way that Christ accepted you. He did this to bring glory to God. Romans 15:7 (GW)

Most of us spend our entire lives trying to earn acceptance. We want to earn it from our parents, peers, partners in life, from people we respect, maybe even from people we envy. The drive to be accepted is a deep drive that can influence the kind of clothes you wear, the kind of car you drive, the kind of house you buy, even the career you choose.

Remember as a kid you wanted so badly to be in the in-crowd that someone would say to you - "I dare you to do this" - and they’d suggest something that was either stupid, or that put your personal safety at risk. But, you did it anyway because your desire to be accepted overruled the desire for safety.

We do it because we love the feeling of -- "I'm OK, I'm accepted; somebody accepts me." When you’re accepted, it does tremendous things for your self esteem. The truth is – Jesus accepts you and that acceptance is not based on your performance. In fact, you may have received Christ and accepted Jesus into your life, but do you realize that you’re able to do that because Jesus accepted you? You don't have to earn his acceptance; you don't have to prove yourself to him.

We need to stop thinking, “I've got an unpleaseable God up there and I've got to be a good boy, or good girl, to be accepted." God, through Jesus Christ, has already accepted you. That’s the Good News!

An Unconcious Sin

We've all heard especially as christians that flirting is a very nasty thing to do, It basically means to court trifingly or to act amoursly without any serious intentions, in easy words: playing with love. Now generally speaking we're always so careful of whats in our hearts that we completely and totally neglect what our actions convey. As its said that actions speak louder than words and this thought just utterly slips off our very minds. Thinking what only matters is whats in our hearts, we foolishly let go and selflessly jump into the unknown, unprecedented circumstances of our inglorious actions that would lead us no where but into conveying the wrong message. Sometimes unintentionally, yet on the same page.

Too often we settle with our emotions so much that we dont really care about our physical actions, not knowing the fact that it conveys more. It could be a little pat on a boys shoulder who you apparently consider as your brother in christ, sometimes playing with his hair, a little giggle a little shoulder hug a little rub and thats how it keeps going, now even if its done without any bad objective its still noticed by people around you, most importantly what looks to us like ' just playing and having fun' won't look the same to someone else, as a matter of fact that would'nt look appropriate to anyone especially when you're a child of God setting the standard for people around you. Sometimes we might just convey the wrong message to the other person we're fooling around with and thats completely compromising with God's word that asks us not to lead our other brothers into sin or even worse make him develop feelings for us.

Our unconcious mistakes or ignorance can create a huge impact especially effecting our relationship with God. What this is, is a sin, unconciously but yet a sin. Lets be more aware of our actions, be more wise in them because the little mistakes have a huge price tag.

Differing weights and differing measures-

the Lord detests them both

Even a child is known by his actions

By weather his conduct is pure and right

Prov 20: 10-11

The Breakthrough

I slept but my heart was awake.
Listen! My lover is knocking:
"Open to me, my sister, my darling,
my dove, my flawless one.
My head is drenched with dew,
my hair with the dampness of the night."

-Song of Solomon 5:2

God waits for us to open our hearts for him.
He lovingly, heart-fully knocks on our hearts doors waiting for us to let him in,
He expresses his love by calling us His sister, His darling, His dove, His flawless one.
He is our everything and everything in us is perfect in him.
Let us let our lover in today, Lets enjoy the love/romance and joy that he has for us
Lets cherish in him today and be glad in him.