Proverbs 17

Look At Me!!!

Psalm 44:8

What has the world become? In times past, men and women functioned very differently than today. The father would typically provide for the family, while the mother turned the house into a home. Children were disciplined in the home, and in turn, were usually well-behaved in public. Modesty was common in the dress code of men, women, and children, and rarely would anyone feel comfortable enough to expose their body in public places. Sadly, the rise of social media has changed our society forever! Not a day goes by, where people aren’t seeking attention, by either exposing their bodies, or doing something unusual with their cell phone camera.

Why do so many people seek attention these days? Well, I’m glad you asked. The main reason individuals yearn to be noticed is, they have absolutely no relationship with God the Father. When God is first in a person’s life, they’ll no doubt place His desires above their own. Another reason people freely expose their personal business on social media is, they lack self-respect, and need the approval of others to feel relevant. What a shame. God made everyone wonderfully, and that alone should make all people feel appreciated. Unfortunately, modesty, humility, and self-control were placed to the side when Facebook, Twitter, Tick Tock, and Instagram became prominent social media outlets.

While it’s not uncommon for “worldly” folk to be drawn to such selfish desires, it’s sad when those who claim to be “Christians” are found yearning to get views on their social media platforms. The body of Christ was commanded to be holy, and that includes all conversation and communication. What you say from your lips, or type on a phone or computer, will be a representation of what you believe. If you claim to be righteous, but post unholy videos, then your claims are false. If you gossip, lie, or support unethical media, then you are just as bad as those who post it. As becoming Saints, we must keep ourselves separate from all things ungodly, and unhealthy. The world is expected to seek attention, as satan did when pride consumed him in heaven, but the church of the living God, should never be partakers of such unholy behaviors.

The Bible tells us to make our boast in the Lord. In other words, brag on God for being the creator of life, and sustaining all things in it. As frail humans, we should never allow ourselves to think highly of anything we do, because at any moment, sickness, tragedy, or any other unfortunate thing could occur. God is the only one who deserves attention, and the glory we place in ourselves, should be redirected toward heaven.

“Words”

Luke 18

Jesus was a great teacher, during His time on the earth. Whenever He wanted to relay a message to someone, He would either speak in parables, or use plain speech. He never used tactics or manipulation to woo men with honeyed words, but spoke clear enough for them to understand His motives and intentions. The purpose of His teachings were to bring to light, the knowledge of His Father’s plan, and expose the darkness that roamed the earth, which had infiltrated the hearts of men. Also, Jesus proved that He cared more for men’s souls, rather than abusing His influence to gain wealth. Oftentimes, those who heard Jesus speak, would either be amazed by His words and desire more from Him, or offended by them and seek to kill Him. Either way, the Son of God came with a purpose, and every word He spoke was in direct relation to His Father’s plan.

One God

Ephesians 4:6-9

Contrary to popular belief, there’s only “One God, and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all” (the body of Christ) (vs. 6). “In the beginning God…”, and there was none else except the “Word”, who was with God in the beginning. So, where did all these other “gods” come from? 1 Corinthians 8:5 reads, “For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many)”, but this was in reference to how the heathen would use not only images, but the sun, moon, planets, stars, oceans, rivers, trees, and all other things in creation to serve as gods.

God stated plainly, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me”, yet men willing ignored that commandment, and placed senseless idols and graven images in place of the almighty God. There’s not a thing any idol or image can do to create life, sustain it, or enhance it in any way, so why do men neglect acknowledging the God of creation, and choose to worship something that was made by the Creator? This makes absolutely no sense, yet there are those who are hell-bent on keeping their faith, hope, and trust in a tree.

Modern-day gods have taken the form of things more subtle, including careers, people, and the mighty dollar. My, oh my, how so many have submitted themselves to the love of money, so much so, until they’ll do nearly anything to obtain it. While some are drawn away by their greed for cash, others get lost in their careers, while forgetting the importance of balancing self and family also. When we place anything above God, we become slaves to what those things represent. A job can’t restore your strength, but God can. Money can’t buy love, but God can give it freely. A tree can’t hug you, and transfer the positive energy you need to make it through another day, but God can place people in your life who can do that, and much more.

If there are things in your life you dedicate an excessive amount of time in, that takes away opportunities for you to get close to God, reconsider whether or not those things are even necessary for your life. If your job is keeping you from living holy, get another one. If the company you keep causes you to drift away from God’s ordinances, find new company. If your TV, cell phone, tablet, playstation controller, or other device gets more of your attention than God does, put it aside, and give God what He’s worth. Let nothing become a god in your life, and guard yourself from the subtlety of the world’s influence, that causes you to devote precious time into futile things.

“The enemy uses our dirt to shame and manipulate us. God uses it to harden our foundation and strengthen our faith in Him.” – Ell

ATTEN-TION!

Luke 6:20-26

Fret not, because of those who appear to be living life a little (or a lot) better than you. Worry not, about men who seemingly have the upper hand concerning matters of finances and other resources. Mind not those things which the world considers as “fancy”, or “flashy”. Don’t lose heart, when your life is full of sadness and pain, while those around you are filled with laughter. Stand strong, even when men hate you, and literally defame your good name. Walk with your head held high, in the midst of snakes, fakes, and ravenous wolves. Be strong, and very courageous, while facing trials and temptations. Get excited, in those moments when you get rejected from the crowd, and appear to be left all alone. While the world makes attempts to keep you in the fog negativity, God will give you strength to endure all of their ploys and distractions. Not only will God keep you in perfect peace during hard times, but He will reward you greatly in Heaven.

Those who seem to be living the “good life” here on the earth, and willfully reject God, will only enjoy good until their death. After this life, comes the judgment, and every man and woman who rejected God, will mourn and weep throughout all eternity, as they spend their next life in that horrible, bottomless pit.

Saints, be encouraged, and continue fighting the good fight. The battle belongs to God, and He’s already won the victory! Soon, and very soon, all our troubles, worries, and struggles will be over, but until then… fight well!

Keep your chin up… it’s easier to see Heaven that way,

Ell

Your faith has made you well

Mark 5:25-34

During His brief ministry on the earth, Jesus had built quite a reputation for Himself, while healing, delivering, and changing the hearts of many who were determined to be in His presence. Despite how much Jesus shunned the spotlight, His miraculous acts brought unprecedented attention to Himself, that was unavoidable.

Not too long after casting an evil spirit out of a man who dwelt in the graveyard, in the country of the Gadarenes, Jesus and His disciples journeyed back to Capernaum, where he was immediately met by a mob of skeptical people, one of which approached the Son of God with a very interesting request. One of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus, came to Jesus and fell at His feet. His daughter was at the point of death, and the man wanted Jesus to lay His hands on her, so she could be healed and live. It’s obvious the power Jesus spoke of from His Father was real, because many witnessed the evidence of manifestation for themselves, but personal faith in that power was still a prerequisite to receive blessings of such magnitude from God. Jesus agreed to pray for the girl, then followed Jairus to where she was. On the way to His destination, the crowd of people continued to follow Jesus, but in the midst of them pressing upon Him on all sides, Jesus asked a question, “Who touched my clothes?” Carnal-minded thinking led the disciples to conclude Jesus wasn’t making sense, as there were many who touched Him, but Jesus was speaking from a spiritual perspective, as He literally felt virtue leave His body. While ignoring the hopeless, yet privileged disciples, Jesus looked around to see who’s faith was responsible for pulling virtue from Him. There are so many points I want to expound upon from this verse, but I’ll keep it short, for the sake of the blog post. Jesus was God in the flesh, and operated in the same power as His Father in Heaven. He was also capable of doing exceeding, abundantly, above all we could ask or think. From then, to now, being able to receive a miracle was only made possible by first having a condition, being fed up with that condition, trying and seeing that man can do nothing, except what God allows, then striving to reach God, but through unyielding faith.

There was a woman who had suffered twelve years with a blood condition. She spent all her money, seeking help from physicians, but to no avail. This is similar to many today, who go all out looking for answers from man, when God’s been there the whole time, waiting to bless us. The woman pressed her way through the crowd, only to touch the clothes of Jesus, because she had faith enough to believe that if the man was as anointed as she had heard, then touching His clothes would be enough to bring about her healing. To her, and Jesus’ surprise, she was right! After revealing her story, and intentions to Jesus, He responded, “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.” Being all man (and all God), I can imagine that every time Jesus healed someone, He felt joy on the inside that caused goosebumps to form all over His body. His love is pure, and has compassion on everyone, including those who plotted to murder Him.

From this lesson’s text, it’s clear that we must have faith in God, in order to be a candidate for a miracle. Some struggle from minor things in life, while others suffer extreme conditions. What may seem shallow to some people, may actually be severe for others. Whatever your need is, whether great or small, God is not limited in His power, and can deliver us from anything. Pray the prayer of faith, believing that God can back up every Word spoken in Scripture, then live your days in expectation of your miracle manifestation.

Walk in love,

Ell