Tag: Learning

Have A Heart

Luke 11:5-13

Why are people so mean these days? Have you thought about that lately? I’m not too sure how things went on back in the olden days, but from my experiences growing up in the 80’s and 90’s, men showed a bit more respect for one another, than they do today. Fathers taught their sons proper work ethics, and how to be kind and courteous to women, and mothers would show their daughters the ways of womanhood. Far gone are the days of “yes sir”, and “no ma’am”, because children aren’t being taught to respect their elders. Instead, are youth are being groomed by Disney and Nickelodeon, rather than good old fashioned wisdom, and Bible teachings. Old cartoons usually conveyed chivalry by showing a man laying down his coat over water, so a woman’s feet wouldn’t get wet, or by young boys holding doors open for elderly women. Those virtues are hardly seen today, because men have become selfish, and more self-centered than ever before.

In my 38 years of journeying on this planet, I’ve learned, the farther men drift away from God, the more inclined they are to entertain immoral, and unethical behaviors, but the closer they remain to the Father, the more apt they are to show love and kindness by default. Jesus taught that friends are to always be there for each other, even if it comes at a cost. When you say love someone, there will ALWAYS come opportunities for that love to be proven. Our text gives a few examples of the proper way to handle friends in need, and the importance of showing kindness to those in desperate situations. If I’m hungry, and come to a friend in the wee hours of the night for food, is it right for them to shun me away saying, “it’s too late”, or give me a bag of rocks? Not at all. Instead, they should make it top priority to see that my need is met, especially if they have more than enough to spare. This is especially relevant for the body of Christ. No brother, or sister joined to God, should ever deny a fellow believer assistance (within reason, obviously). Even if you can’t personally assist someone, the least you can do is help point them in a direction where help can be rendered.

If you claim to have the love of God residing in your heart, it should ALWAYS show in your actions. Remember to treat all men the way you desire to be treated, and love them with the same love God shows you every day.

Walk in love,

Ell

Proper Prayer Posture

Matthew 7:7-11

There are countless verses of Scripture in the Bible, that teach us how to receive answers for our prayers, from God. Whether we ask, seek, knock, fast, meditate, perform good deeds, worship, or praise, there’s a requirement that must first be met, in order for our prayers to reach God ears, and merit a legit response. God is holy, and demands that His children be holy as well. Just as a good parent seeks only good for their children, God cares for the church as a good Father should. But, in order to justly receive all God has stored up for us, we must be free from sin. Free, not in a sense that we’re perfect, or mistake-free, but free as in forgiven, born-again, and striving to do God’s will daily.

Oftentimes, men pray amiss, and seek things that will only please their selfish desires, but God blesses us, so that we can be a blessing to others, while bringing glory to His name as well. Even children born into wealthy families have rights to obtain an inheritance, but certain behaviors must still be maintained, in order to receive what’s due to them, at the appropriate time. The prophet Isaiah understood this when he wrote, “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear” (Isaiah 59:2). When we live outside of the will of God, He’s not obligated to hear, nor answer anything we cry out to Him. This is similar to a parent being asked for a treat, from a child with consistent unruly behavior. A good parent understands, rewarding children for bad behavior is not a common standard, and could possibly encourage the child to continue in their unhealthy habits (although there are times when you can actually show kindness to a child who’s deserving of punishment, and shock them back into reality). When we learn to desire only those things that are pleasing to God, then He’ll be more inclined to listen to our requests, and bless us accordingly.

So, when you pray to God, what do you ask, and seek from Him. Do you make petitions for things to make your name great, and draw attention to your own plans, or do you desire things that will benefit yourself, and others, spiritually and naturally as well?

Walk in love,

Ell

A New Home

Acts 1:6-11

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to another exciting episode of, “A New Home”! Starring, Papa, and little Johnny! I’m your host, “holyell”, and I’ll be bringing you all the details of tonight’s most fascinating scenes!

Papa: Okay family, I called you all here to tell you that I’ll be going away for a while, on business, but I won’t be gone too long, so I expect everyone to be on their best behavior.

Children: Ohhh no pappa, where are you going, and how long will you be away, and why are you leaving?

Momma: It’s okay kids, papa’s going away to work a new job, and guess what? He’s building a new house for us as well!

Papa: Ahh honey, you spoiled the surprise!

Children: Yaaaaaaay! We’re getting a new house! We’re getting a new house! We’re getting a new house!

Little Johnny: Papa

Papa: Yes Johnny

Little Johnny: Umm… while you’re away, who will take care of momma and this house?

Papa: Johnny, I leave you in charge.

Little Johnny: Really papa?!

Papa: Yes. And, I expect you to always listen to momma, do your chores and homework consistently, and without complaining, protect your sister’s from those pesky Johnson boys across the street, and never forget, although I’m away, I’m always watching you.

Little Johnny: Okay papa! I promise I’ll do my best to protect our home while you’re away, and I’ll be nice to Cindy and Rachel (most of the time), and ummm I’ll beat up the Johnson boys if they mess with them, and I will always do my chores and homework, and listen to mommy everyday, and…

Papa: Okay okay little Johnny. I believe you’ll do great while I’m gone, but remember, I’ll be back soon to see whether you kept your word, or not. So, I leave you in charge of keeping things right while I’m away. You represent me, little man, so I expect you to behave the same, as if I’m still here.

Little Johnny: Scout’s honor papa. I will do my best!

This concludes another episode of, “A New Home”! Thanks for tuning in.

This story conveys a similar message Jesus left to His disciples before He ascended into the clouds. They were to carry on, where He left off; witnessing of His purpose to all the world. Knowing the journey wouldn’t be easy, Christ was also sure to leave them with a comforter, to assist them on their endeavors.

The power that ignites believers to boldly proclaim the message of the Gospel comes by way of the Holy Ghost, and absolutely NO OTHER SOURCE. In order to effectively preach God’s message, one must have God’s Spirit within them. When Christ returns, He’ll do as Papa did in our story, and check to see whether we obeyed His commands, or not, so live today, as if Jesus was still here, and allow His Spirit to empower you to be great until He returns.

Walk in love,

Ell

Are You Convinced?

John 17:20-26

Have you considered lately, why there has been so much difficulty for Christians to convince the world, that Jesus was sent by God, to become the savior of all mankind? Well, I have, and it’s rather disheartening to witness how men give more reverence to dead athletes, than to a man who sacrificed His life, to save their souls.

All who are adopted into the royal family of God, have been blessed with power, love, and a plethora of amazing benefits, that when exhibited properly, should easily convince men, that God is the only way to gain eternal peace. So, why does the world make mockery of men and women, who preach the Gospel? The main reason people today shun Christianity is, because there is great division among the body of Christ, and where unity is absent, the power of influence is non-existent. Take for instance, those who gather in protest, to stand for certain rights. The power of their unity and togetherness is potent enough to cause change, even in government. An example of this was made evident when the lgbtq community fought to legalize marriage. Not only was this an example of the power of unity working in one’s favor, but throughout history, men have banned together, standing for what they believe, in order to induce change. This makes me wonder, why don’t Christians join together, rather than separate themselves, to show the world the truth, and power in God’s love? There are countless churches today, that all teach from the same Bible (or at least they should), yet their messages are watered down with doctrine and opinions that are irrelevant to one’s salvation. The church is divided, because leaders aren’t representing themselves appropriately, and the message of the Gospel has been altered to keep “members” in the seats, rather than “disciples”.

Gone are the days when church was a place where men, women, and children would go in feeling one way, then leave ENERGIZED, and ready to face what may come the next day. In our text, Jesus prayed sincerely to the Father, that the disciples, and those who would come to God in the future, would be unified, so that the world could see real evidence of Christ’s purpose, and mission on the earth. Christ knew, a unified church, would be more than enough to prove His love to an evil world.

I pray now, that all who have given their hearts to the Lord, submit yourselves once again to His will. I pray that you allow God’s Spirit to lead, guide, and direct your paths, as well as keep you safe from all harm. I ask God to give you power, boldness, strength, and courage to stand against those who seek to divide you from those who fight alongside you in faith.

I believe that you are a powerful piece in God’s plan, and you WILL accomplish what He created you to do. Keep your heart and mind fixed on Jesus, and try your best to encourage those around you. We all need each other to be effective, and make an impact in this crazy world. In those moments when you feel the pressure of conflict or drama arising, pray quickly, and ask God for resolution, because only through His strength, can we overcome the enemy’s plans to break us apart.

Walk in love,

Ell

Haters Gonna Hate

Daniel 6:6-13

Life can be interesting in so many ways. Some people work hard, earn a good living, and treat others with kindness. They live according to the “Golden Rule”, and give respect to those deserving of it. These persons typically mind their own business, and seek only to make the lives of others better. On the other hand, there are those who seem to have their lives in order, and lack no good thing, yet they make it their business to find fault in those who consistently do good, and not evil. One thing I have learned in this life is, it matters not how good you are, nor how many good deeds you perform for others, there will ALWAYS be someone waiting, and hating on you. They’ll even go to great lengths, just to find the most minute flaw in your life, in an effort to expose it, in hopes that it’ll damage your image, and reputation. Whether through lies, deceit, or manipulation, these lame and wicked individuals will do all they can to mess up your life, when they need to focus on enjoying their own.

In our text, the prophet Daniel had a first-hand experience with haters. Daniel was blessed by God, and promoted from his captivity, to be preferred above all the presidents and princes of the land, because an excellent spirit was in him, and the king set him over the whole nation. Daniel’s exaltation pricked the hearts of the presidents and princes, who developed extreme jealousy toward him, and eventually plotted to find any occasion, or fault against him. Following extensive research, the jealous men found nothing negative against Daniel. One would assume the men would drop their act, and let Daniel live in peace, but their jealousy had converted to envy and hatred, thus causing them to go way out of bounds, and attack Daniel on a spiritual level.

Nearly everyone knew, Daniel prayed with his windows open, to His God, three times a day, so the evil leaders enticed the king to sign a decree stating, “that whosoever shall ask a petition of any God or man for thirty days, save of thee, O king, he shall be cast into the den of lions”. Seriously?! These men were so jealous of Daniel, until they made a decree for an entire nation, simply to target one man? People do the same today, as they go to the extremes, just to make the lives of others, hell on earth. I often wonder, what is it about a good man, that others intentionally hate on them, for no good reason? Well, the king signed the decree, and the evil plan was set in motion. Later on in the story, Daniel was found praying according to his usual time, and with his windows open, by the peeping little minions, who hurried back to the king to give their report.

Many know how this story eventually played out, but if not, feel free to read the entirety of chapter six. I admonish all Christians to continue doing good, despite being hated on by others, because as believers, our main goal is to first please God, and not man. So, all our works should be done with good intentions, and motivated by God’s love. Hopefully, through our continued kindness and generosity, we can eventually win the hearts of our haters to the Lord.

Walk in love,

Ell

Prayer Power

Matthew 6:9-15

How do you pray, and after what manner do you model your prayers? Growing up in the 80’s, my siblings and I would often recite Psalm 23, Psalm 103, and the obvious Matthew 6:9-13. On most Saturdays, our mother would have Bible study with us, and teach us things from the Word of God. The more we would quote the Scriptures, the more they were cemented in our minds. This was an awesome thing she did, because it helped us to understand the Word at an early age, and taught us how to pray, and what to pray for.

Prayer is simply conversing with God, and although He may not respond in the conventional manner, His replies are usually manifested in some shape or form. God is a Spirit, and responds when we come to Him in spirit, and in truth, so approaching Him in the flesh, or with carnal motivations, is not the wise choice.

Jesus taught His disciples to first acknowledge God, for who He is, even before making a request. This is important to help us understand proper prayer posture, as well as how to keep God as the focal point of our petitions. Oftentimes, we come to God in our feelings, rambling things out of hurt, shame, or worry, causing us to pray amiss, but thankfully the Holy Spirit takes over when we struggle communicating with God, and cleans up our mumbo jumbo, so that He can have a more clear understanding of what we really mean.

In the same way healthy communication is vital in natural relationships, it’s even more important in our relationship with the Father. God is all, knows all, and sees all, so refusing to acknowledge His guidance and wisdom seems senseless. So, why don’t we pray more, and worry less? Could it be, we trust more in our own wisdom, or the wisdom of men, over the God who created EVERYTHING?! God desires that we come to Him, and seek first His instruction in all things. When we learn the value of prayer, we won’t use it only when things are going bad, but we’ll find great delight in simply enjoying moments of boasting in the God, who made all things.

Take more time out of your busy days and pray to God, and rather than blurt out selfish requests, brag on the goodness of our Father, and how He has blessed your life immensely already. God knows what we have need of, even before we ask. He also knows our thoughts, before we think them. How amazing is that?! So, as you continue to mature in godliness, be sure that prayer is always in your heart, and not only used as a last resort, because like a good parent, God would love to hear from His children, and shower them with all His blessings.

Walk in love,

Ell

… Next Time Won’t You Sing With Me!

Ephesians 4:25-5:2

Children learn the ABC’s, for the purpose of developing an understanding of word formation, pronunciation and other grammatical concepts, they’ll find important as they mature in knowledge. At times, it’s difficult for a child to grasp certain concepts of learning, so teachers and parents develop methods to make learning fun. During my childhood years, I always enjoyed watching, The Letter People, during elementary school classes. This was a show, dedicated to helping children learn the ABC’s, by using music and small skits, to keep us interested. I’m not sure how the other children turned out from those experiences, but it worked wonders for me!

Learning is always fun, especially when it’s applied, and yields positive results. The same can also be said in reference to Bible learning. In the same way children take instruction from teachers, to grow in knowledge, Christians grow in grace, from studying the Scriptures. God’s Word holds the ABC’s of life, and all who meditate on it, day and night, will be better equipped to maneuver through this evil, and perverse world.

Our text lists a number of simple commands the apostle Paul admonished the Ephesian church to follow, that would assist them in maintaining righteous living. These include:

-put away lying
-speak only the truth with one another
-control your anger, and don’t hold grudges
-settle disagreements quickly
-NEVER give the devil an opportunity to influence you to sin
-don’t steal, GET A JOB!
-if possible, give to those in need
-let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth
– speak words that edify, and make others better
– don’t disrespect the Holy Spirit by partaking in evil acts, instead appreciate Him for all He does for us
-put away malice, bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking
-be kind, compassionate, and forgiving to one another

Following these simple commands could prove extremely beneficial for babes in Christ, and seasoned Saints alike. No one ever “arrives”, or reaches their peak in godliness, instead, we continue to grow daily, and develop in our spiritual maturity. “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children”, and never forget the importance of the Bible ABC’s.

Walk in love,

Ell

Money Can’t Buy Love

2 Corinthians 2:5-11

The love that God offers, in comparison to what men teach, are on two totally different levels. Where the culmination of how men define love is comprised in a certain day (Valentine’s), God introduced His definition of love, by giving up what was most precious to Himself. While it’s nice to treat a significant other to things like sweets, flowers, and even time away from the norm, true love is defined by sacrifice.

Many get married for the purpose of love, yet they lack the understanding of what it truly represents. God sent Jesus to the earth, in love, to unite all men back unto Himself. God also instituted marriage between a man and woman, so that the same love He imparted into His creation, could join in a combined love, where He could get greater glory from their union. Love is more than feelings, and emotions; it involves all things exhibited in the character of Christ. This same love that’s to be practiced between a husband and wife, is developed over time. The more each person grows in their knowledge and understanding of godliness, coupled with learning each other, the better their union should be, in the long run.

Do you ever wonder why marriages aren’t lasting as long as they did in the past? Well, there are many reasons why divorce rates have skyrocketed, but one of importance is, the abuse of the word love. When God says He loves us, He means it, but many often use the term loosely, which causes it to gradually lose its value. Love is action, and when there’s no evidence of what is spoken, trust and all other virtues begin to fade away. These are reasons why it’s imperative that we understand love more from God’s perspective, rather than what’s promoted through the media. This world has painted a rather deceiving picture of what love represents, by flashing expensive jewelry, perfumes and colognes, and other items on TV, in order to gain riches, for love’s sake, but real love doesn’t cost a thing! It’s proven not only in words alone, but in consistent acts of sacrifice, selflessness, commitment, trust, and all those things Christ taught while in the earth.

Walk in love,

Ell

Forgiveness Is Key

Luke 17:1-4

In our lesson today, Jesus brought to light, something of extreme importance to His disciples, that could also prove valuable to all believers today. In His own words, Jesus said, “It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!” (vs. 1). This is quite interesting, because Jesus understood, despite being joined with Himself, there will ALWAYS be those who will place impediments in the way of believers, to cause them to stumble, or fall.

While it’s no surprise when an enemy of the Gospel attempts to block the paths of the righteous, it’s extremely disheartening when a fellow believer commits heinous acts against their own. How sad it is, knowing the world already hates you (as it did Jesus), then to discover, those whom you expected to fight alongside you, attacked you more than your enemies. That’s just wrong on all levels, but if you think that’s high on God’s naughty list, Jesus added, “It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones”. (vs. 2). When men block little children from growing in the knowledge of God, it would be better for them, and the world, if they would just die, and leave the earth. That’s intense, but I get it. I don’t enjoy hearing about anyone dying, nor experiencing pain, but when you hinder a child from learning the truth about God’s Word, or distract your brother or sister from maturing in the faith, you deserve nothing but the worst punishment (unless you repent wholeheartedly, and change your behavior… yeah, I’m all about that “forgiving” life).

Jesus desired unity among the body of believers, and stressed the importance of forgiving those who admit their mistakes, and seek to return to right standing among the brethren. These days, it’s obvious to tell when a person is sincere in their apology, or if they’re just talking out of their “bleep bleep”, because their actions, following their confession, will reveal what’s really in their heart. As Jesus did with His disciples, I also advise all who abide in God, to take heed, that they keep forgiveness readily available to all who seek it, but to also guard children, and fellow believers, against men who seek only to block their path to God’s glory.

Walk in love,

Ell

Don’t Tempt Me!

James 1:12-15

Of all the ingredients that go into satan’s recipes of sinful ploys, only two are required, that allow for temptation to be effective; enticement, and the lust of men. There’s not one thing the devil can do to tempt God’s children, except they first reveal their hidden desire for what he offers. God tests His people, to prove what’s in their hearts, and to help make them better for His purposes, but satan tempts Christians, in order to pull them away from their allegiance with the Father, and keep them bound in sin.

There are times when men assume that God is tempting them, but our Father would never do anything to cause intentional harm to those He loves. On the other hand, the enemy would do everything within his power, to see that the followers of Christ are all destroyed.

Temptation is very powerful, and can sever even the most solid godly relationships. Don’t believe me, just ask Adam and Eve how powerful temptation can be. The first humans placed in the earth, who inhabited God’s very presence, gave in to satan’s wicked scheme. After conversing with that unusual couple, call and chat with Lot’s wife, and ask, what was so valuable in Sodom, that caused her to look back, and lose her very life. The key to understanding temptation is, recognizing that satan knows what we desire, even those secret things, because oftentimes, we speak our thoughts into the atmosphere. So, when he tempts us, it’s usually with something we’ve always yearned for, but probably don’t need.

Anything that will lead you to sin, is not a blessing from God, but a trick of the enemy. I often wonder, how Judas was so close to Jesus, yet couldn’t overcome his lust for money. The hidden greed in his heart, was coupled with satan’s allurement, which led him to his eventual demise.

Be wise in these last and evil days, because our adversary, the devil, is trying harder than ever, to keep us out of God’s will. All who endure the temptations of the enemy, along with his wicked schemes, will one day receive the crown of life, God promised to those who love Him. Always remember, sin brings eternal death, but obedience brings eternal life.

Walk in love,

Ell