Spiritually Blind

John 9 is a very familiar passage to me and probably anyone who has studied the life and miracles of Jesus. I have read it many times before, but let’s just say this morning I read it with fresh eyes. Just to give you an idea, this is the time when Jesus heals the blind man by making mud and sending him to wash in the pool. But that’s not really what I want to talk about. 

Let’s take a look at John 9:1-3---

1As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”3“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

Now of course, I have read these verses before and marveled at what was being said. I was so amazed that this man came into the world with an issue that was simply to get himself and other people to understand that great gift of love (grace) which was given to us by God. I began to sit and think, how many things in my life have happened, just so I could testify to the goodness and the grace of God. I can look back over my life and thank God for what He’s done for me, but I receive even more joy when I can share those things with someone else, and they are later able to tell me how it helped them, or even how it relates to their situation. I can even think of times when sharing has helped me to heal in ways, I didn’t even know were broken. 

It’s so important to remember as believers that we what we go through is not always for us! Some of the things that we go through are for others. Because we survived, others learn that they can too. Because he did it for us, others realize that He can do it for them too! 

Now let’s fast forward, that isn’t what got me tripping, but remember we talked about it. Now after people realize that this is the same dude who was sitting and begging them everyday, everybody literally trips out and is like hold up, what a minute!!! You can see??? You been fooling us everyday??? Some people even thought it was just a look alike. The man proudly tells them, no it’s me but a man named Jesus healed me! So here we go, the religious in the crowd get mad because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. You know that the Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest for the Jews. This isn’t the first nor last time, that Jesus was persecuted for doing a miracle on the Sabbath. Before he ever even did anything, he prefaced it with the following statement: 

4We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Once in the synagouge, the Pharisees began to question the man. I can just see this dude getting frustrated and deep sighing. He keeps telling them, “I don’t know anything about this man. All I know is that he made mud, put it on my eyes, told me to wash it off, now I can see.” In his mind he was probably saying, “Quit asking me the same dumb questions that you’ve been asking me all day!!!!” 

The Pharisees went so far as to question the man’s parents. They didn’t want much to do with the situation for fear of retaliation if the said Jesus was the Messiah, which we can isogetically assume they believed according to verses 22-23. 

Let’s jump back in at verse 24. Now Jesus opens up this miraculous scene with the following declaration, 

3“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

Jesus never took the credit for what was being done. He lived a life that was purely to glorify God! It tripped me out because in verse 24, the Pharisees said, 

24So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”

This was crazy to me! I had never seen this in the text before! It’s amazing how God will use even those who are trying to find fault to STILL give Him the glory!!! Here the Pharisees are, just itching to find something wrong and they wind up still fulfilling the plan of God. In an earlier verse, they admitted that they thought he was a sinner because he didn’t keep Sabbath (vs. 16) even that idea was divided though. But just think about it...couldn’t we argue that they are breaking Sabbath by convening on the Sabbath and running all over the place gathering witnesses and evidence. 

Verse 25 is what blessed me: 

25“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

In my heart, I believe this man was a brother. Growing tired of all of this, the man says, “Look, I don’t know what your issue is or what you are trying to accomplish. Quit asking me all these doggone questions. All I know is I was born blind, I begged your stingy behinds for money to help make my way since I couldn’t work. This man came along, whoever he is and now I can see! That’s all that’s important to me, now leave me alone!” The Pharisees were still not satisfied with this answer and continued to question him. The man told him apparently you don’t listen, or you just want to become his disciples. 

Verses 28-29 are where I want to wrap up. They apparently realize, that they aren’t getting much further with this man. They say the following, 

28Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

First of all, why would you be a disciple of a dead person? Joshua 1:1a says, “My servant Moses is dead.” Moses was a mortal just like you. Pastor has been teaching on Moses and he raised a point that made even more sense to me now than it did when he first said it, the problem with the Jews were that they knew Moses, but didn’t know God. This further proves that they were stuck in the past. They said that they knew God spoke to Moses, but they didn’t know where Jesus came from...Which is interesting because they have been cited before as saying, is this not Jesus the Carpenter’s son, are his mother and sisters not here among us? 

This story for me was a fresh look. I saw this story completely different from I have many times before. It’s interesting how you can read things over and over and one day you see something you never knew was there.

BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY!!!!

http://vimeo.com/39100758

Check out this video, and share it with others!!!

Define beauty?

Beauty is an inside attribute. Beauty can of course be physical, but for the most part, it is a spiritual matter.

Ask me anything

In history we have seen how religion was used to control people / oppress people. Do you believe that religion is just an institution of ideologies, that are used to enslave people/oppress people?

Actually yes. I believe that your walk with Christ should not be about religion, it should be about relationship. Marx was completely correct, when he referred to religion as the opiate of the masses. It is through religion that things are watered down diluted and changed. Following the tenets of religion will have you bound and crazy if you aren't careful.

It is through relationship, that you come to know Christ and are changed by an encounter with the King of Kings. In a relationship with Christ, you are free from bondage of every kind, only if you walk in it and accept his gift.

Ask me anything

Judgement, eh???

"But of that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. "Take heed, keep on the alert; for you do not know when the appointed time will come." It is like a man away on a journey, who upon leaving his house and putting his slaves in charge, assigning to each one his task, also commanded the doorkeeper to stay on the alert. "Therefore, be on the alert--for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning--in case he should come suddenly and find you asleep. "What I say to you I say to all, 'Be on the alert!'" ~Mark 13:32-37

http://yhoo.it/mPzPRy

This article inspired me as well as my sister to go ahead and share my thoughts on this matter.

If we are friends on Facebook and/or Twitter, you know that I had jokes for DAYS on Harold Camping and his crackpot theory. There are a few obvious problems that I have with Mr. Camping.

Let's start with the natural, then I will share my spiritual objections.

1. This is your second prediction.
2. The week that the world was supposed to end, your website was down.
   
3. You have been amassing money and possessions but you were convinced the world would end. (REALLY?!)
   
4. You're trying to handle a spiritual matter naturally...(God cannot be figured out using math, as he created math...the creation will NEVER reveal the creator, only refer you back to him)
   
5. You made a third prediction. (Didn't you have enough after 2 failed attempts???)

I'll stop there with the natural. My main problem is people just really don't think sometimes. I feel like some of this was superbly obvious.

Now on to my spiritual objections...(buckle your seat built, this will not be nice...)

1. Behold, the LORD'S hand is not so short That it cannot save; Nor is His ear so dull, That it cannot hear. ~Isaiah 59:1 [See also Numbers 11:23] God is not going to have to do the rapture in waves. (per Camping's original prediction, the rapture would start at 6pm in every timezone) I just believe that God has enough power to take all of us at once and not on a time schedule, you know seeing as how he did create this thing called time and all...#ijs
2. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father alone. ~Matthew 24:36 If Jesus doesn't know when HE is coming back, why in the world would he tell you??? Who are you that God can trust you more than his son who is in all aspects an extension of himself because he is God and man at the same time??? AKA God in flesh...
   
3. "For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will also be famines. These things are merely the beginning of birth pangs. ~Mark 13:8 Jesus said that earthquakes would only be the beginning of many signs to come, so why would the actual rapture begin with an earthquake???
4. "The gospel must first be preached to all the nations. ~Mark 13:10 I know that a lot of people have heard the Gospel, but I really believe there are still some that have not heard.

5. "And then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ'; or, 'Behold, He is there'; do not believe him; for false Christs and false prophets will arise, and will show signs and wonders, in order to lead astray, if possible, the elect. "But take heed; behold, I have told you everything in advance. ~Mark 13:21-23 JESUS TOLD US DON'T BELIEVE IT WHEN MEN START TO TRY AND PREDICT THE END!!! I'm sorry, but that's like a big huge duh to me...

6. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away. ~Mark 13:31 If God said it, it must happen exactly how he said it!!!

It's crazy, I know I have more spiritual reasons than natural. But I guess that is my main problem with him. I feel like you can lie about a lot of things, but don't lie on God!!! That's just my frame of mind. I feel like we as Christians should stand up for our beliefs! We must stand up for the Word of God! If you can't stand up for that what else is worth standing up for??? It was Martin Luther King, Jr. who said you must stand for something of you will fall for anything!

We must be filled with holy boldness! In addition, God is calling for his worshippers to hear and answer. We must be obedient to who and what he is calling us to be. We must also pay attention to those things that he has already told us and make sure that our ears remain attentive unto him and unto his heart!

Returning to Camping...Now your response to us is that you misinterpreted. This first date was about a spiritual judgement and we are now all under judgement...hmmm...we have been under the judgement of God, the Bible declares that it is because of his mercies that we are not consumed, but they are new every morning...God was in Christ Jesus reconciling men to himself and not counting their sins against them. So you say that you made a mistake in your "prophecy," you sure did...prophets in the bible never made mistakes in their words, nor were they ever brought to shame. Finally, in my humble opinion, I honestly do not believe anything will happen on October 21st either...

What are the benefits here??? Yes there are some, even if they are not obvious. It does cause you to think, where am I in my walk? It has caused some to evaluate their walk and even their current state of being. In my opinion that's great!!! Anything that will make us realize where we are as believers is amazing.

My heart is increasingly saddened by those who will fall away as a result of this event. It is also hurt by those who may choose to never follow Christ as an effect of this. I will issue here a call for prayer for their souls, that God will strengthen them and keep them. Long story short, it's time out for playing, it's time to get serious about our walk and relationship with Christ!!! If you won't acknowledge him, he will move you out of the way!!!

With that said, I love you all!!!

Romans 8: Words

Today's Reading: Romans 8

Key Verses: Romans 8:4-8

⁵ Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. ⁶ So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. ⁷ For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. ⁸That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Focal Verse: Romans 8:5

Cross References: Galatians 5:19-21, Galatians 5:22-25

Today’s scripture comes from arguably, my favorite book of the bible. Anybody who knows me knows that I love the Apostle Paul and I LOVE the book of Romans. To make this even more interesting chapter 8 is my favorite chapter in the whole book. I don’t know, Romans 8 has just always been somewhat of a go to chapter for me.

But today’s focal verse spoke to me in a whole new way. As many of you know, I have been working on this whole words and thoughts thing. I’ve been working on understanding that your thoughts become words and your words create your reality. I have realized that it is paramount that every Christian does the following three things:

1) Guard your heart!

“Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.” (Proverbs 4:23) (Amplified)

⁹The heart is deceitful above all things, and it is exceedingly perverse and corrupt and severely, mortally sick! Who can know it [perceive, understand, be acquainted with his own heart and mind]? ¹⁰I the Lord search the mind, I try the heart, even to give to every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings. (Jeremiah 17:9, 10)

The heart is the center of every Christian being. The heart determines the course of where we go and what we become. Contrary to popular science, the heart is the center of your thought life; for it is here that your thoughts begin.

2) Guard your thoughts!

“ ²Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].” (Romans 12:2) (Amplified)

Our thoughts are the center of our physical beings. It is our thoughts that cause us to function effectively or ineffectively in our daily activities. We know that before we can accomplish anything. In this order, our thoughts are at the center. It is so important that we remember to have a mind renewed by God so that we are receiving all he has for us. By not renewing our minds in Him we are trapped in a carnal thought pattern meaning that we are thinking after the things of the flesh. As seen in the verses for today, we cannot possibly be in the things of the flesh and expect to receive a Godly return. It is also said that as a man sows, that shall he reap. If you sow in the flesh expect to receive in and of the flesh. But if you sow in the spirit, expect to receive in the spirit.

3) Guard your tongue!

“³Set a guard, O Lord, before my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.” (Psalm 141:3) (Amplified)

“²¹Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].” (Proverbs 18:21) (Amplified)

Finally we get to the root of it all! The tongue is one of the smallest parts of the human anatomy, but it is by far the most powerful in both the natural and the spirit. The tongue creates not only your natural reality, but also your spiritual reality! We are created in the image of God. In 7 days he spoke the universe into being. James gives us an entire look on the danger of the tongue! We must learn to speak as God speaks in order to be who he has deemed us to be.

My challenge to you is to begin to read scripture and speak it! If you speak what you heard, you will see what you say! In other words, give God’s word back to Him. In Isaiah, God admonishes to put Him in remembrance! “²⁵I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for My own sake, and I will not remember your sins.²⁶Put Me in remembrance [remind Me of your merits]; let us plead and argue together. Set forth your case, that you may be justified (proved right).” (Isaiah 46:25, 26) You have heard it time and time again; he is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins if only you will ask him! Remember all his promises are Yes and Amen! (2 Cor. 1:20) What He says He must do and must accomplish! He promises that before his word will fail (Isaiah 55:11, Matt. 24:35) Faith without works is dead! How do you get faith??? Get in the word!!! You gotta know what he said in order to believe it and live it!

What will you say to the Father today???

Let’s Pray:
Lord God, help me to be mindful of your word in all I do. Remind me to speak and to see as you do! Be reminded of your word towards me! Empower me to walk in a spirit of wholeness and victory in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Please let me know what you think!!! Also let me know if you would like to read more!!!

Reflections on Joel 2

Key Verses: Joel 2:11-14

¹¹ The LORD thunders at the head of his army; his forces are beyond number, and mighty is the army that obeys his command. The day of the LORD is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?¹² “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” ¹³ Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. ¹⁴ Who knows? He may turn and relent and leave behind a blessing—grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God.

The thing that stood out the most to me in these verses was the part where it says “And rend your heart and not your garments.” (v. 13a) It makes me think of other verses where it calls believers back to repentance with all of their heart.

I think I am at a place in my life where it is crucial that I remember to ALWAYS seek GOD with my whole heart! This lends itself to the idea of the many things that can be accomplished while in the hands of the FATHER! It is important to remember that he is indeed the master potter/carpenter! We should always lend our hearts and life to his leading.

We must be sensitive to the heart of the FATHER and ready to be lead of Him. Remembering that his plans are not our plans and his ways are not our ways. In other words, His plans are perfect while ours suck. There is a way that seems right to a man but the end thereof is destruction…