The Unsung Hero of Christmas

Matt 1:18-25

I can count on both hands the number of Christmas carols that mention Mary. But is there even a song written about Joseph? He's the forgotten man of Christmas. We celebrate everything, from reindeers to chestnuts to mistletoe, but we forget poor old Joseph. Even the wise men have their own ditty.


But Joseph is the unsung hero of Christmas. Imagine how hard his life must have been. He finds out his girlfriend is pregnant, but the child is not his. Then Mary tells him that she's a virgin and the child is from the Holy Ghost. I'm sure he wanted to believe her, but I'm sure he had doubts.


But Joseph was a young man who could be counted on to always do the right thing. And so rather than embarrassing Mary, he tried to find a way to protect her. In those days, a woman who was pregnant out of wedlock could actually be stoned. She would definitely be an outcast and shunned by her family.


Then the angel of God visited Joseph and confirmed Mary's story. That baby was no accident. That baby was conceived in Mary, a virgin, by the Holy Spirit. That baby was the Messiah, Jesus the Christ. Yes, Joseph would have a courtside seat to the greatest story ever told. God's unfolding plan of salvation and redemption.


God knew he could trust Joseph with this incredible mission, because Joseph always sought to do the right thing in whatever situation he found himself in. It would be Joseph's job to raise Jesus as his own son.


Joseph was trustworthy. Joseph was honest. Joseph had integrity.

Could that be said about you this Christmas? Are you a young person who can be trusted to always do the right thing, even if it costs you something? Teens with integrity are rare—so precious that they shine light bright lights in a world of darkness.


Be that bright light this Christmas.

DAYDREAMING

HELLO EVERYONE!!!

I know, it's been a while, huh? Sorry for the long absence. Actually, I had forgot all about this blog to tell you the truth. This past Monday, my best friend, my soul sister, her mother died and after that, finals and her was all that was on my mind. But from her, I learned the heart of a true servant. First of all, she asked me Sunday if it was her day to do the blog...huh? what? What blog? HOW did she even remember, all the things she must be thinking, and I couldn't even remember, what with my two thoughts? And while I spent a few days with her, she asks me every once in a while, "Ace, you ok?" Ma'am, are YOU ok?

She is so amazing; she is such a rock. I just would like for everyone to keep her as well as her family raised in prayer. Her mother was a wonderful woman, I know personally; a strong woman of God who clearly affected everyone she met, was the backbone of her family, support of her church, and the light of Christ at her job.

I LOVE YOU TRE! I pray you let the Comforter comfort you in various ways and give you peace; just as you are my Comfort and my peace.  ;-)  (Don't be mad; it's a secret!)

Anyways, I'll let DS Ariel Piercing stun you with one of her great entries, and the show is back on the road.

DAYDREAMING


I am a daydreamer. I love to daydream about my present situations, about the way my future will be and about how I could have performed living in the past. I’ve decorated my future home, dressed my future children, told off my future boss and named my students in my future class. I’ve picked a future haircut, driven my future car and organized my future closet. In a few seconds thoughts go from an innocent day dream to a controlling nightmare. I’ve realized that no longer do I think about my future, I essentially try to plan my life. Now, there’s nothing wrong with daydreaming except that God has continually told me that though I must plan for my future , I need to live in the present and focus on what He wants me to do in this season. This requires surrendering all that I want and giving my life – including my future to God.

Considering that I am a control freak, this is a difficult feat for me. Like all people, my sins begin in the mind with my thoughts. 2 Corinthians 10:5 talks about how we must take captive every thought that exalts itself against the knowledge of Christ. Taking captive our thoughts is an active action. Though my thoughts were necessarily “bad,” they were not beneficial. Instead of waking up thinking about how I could serve God for the day, I would lay in bed for a few minutes daydreaming about what I’ll drive when I’m thirty. That’s nonsense! My thoughts were more concerned with my future than they were concerned with present. Basically, my thoughts were filled with me more than they were with God.

I’ve found that when my mind starts to wander, I have to literally make myself stop thinking and focus on something else. This in itself is not enough. I have to replace my thoughts with something that glorifies the Father. So, I’ve started to memorize scriptures - not just any scriptures, but scriptures that talk about whatever specific struggle I have. For example, one of my memory verses in Proverbs 11:2. This verse deals with pride, something that thought I am delivered from, I still have to work at. This has been an awesome way to keep my mind occupied on Christ and also to strengthen me spiritually as well.

If you’re having a hard time keeping your mind on God pray that He’ll give you a technique that works for you! Working on taking captive your thoughts and stay in the Word!

It's Finals time!!!

Well, it's time again. Finals time.

Whether you go to Howard or not, undergraduate or graduate student...the end of the semester is here or nearing and it's time for final exams/projects/papers and all of that. Frankly, I'm tired of it all. Sometimes you get to the end and realize that CLEARLY you're priorities weren't in order and now you have a huge paper due and you're kind of scrambling to get it done at the last minute..*cough, cough*...or, you know, maybe not. Maybe you're the one who is always on your A game when it comes to academics. And the end of the semester is here and you're all caught up, studying for finals and you're really just tired. Ready for Christmas break to begin so you can chill and relax your brain, but you have to make it through the finals. Not that you won't, just you would much rather be at the end than SEE the end. Oh the path to the end of the semester.







Well, today, I just wanted to encourage everyone and encourage myself that the end is yet near!!! I also want to offer some advice as we get into the whole end of the semester thing:






1. Try to get as much sleep as possible: Now, I know some of you who know me are probably thinking I am the LAST person to be talking about getting sleep. And, yes, you are right. But that doesn't mean I don't have a point. Don't study study study and not sleep. Try to get a few hours, at least, so you can go into your exam semi well rested and get an A on your exam. It probably isn't a good idea to study for 3 days then go into the test and have a hard time because your brain won't function. Naps are good friends...they can refresh you when you don't necessarily have time for a full 8 hrs.






2. Eat: Make sure to eat and eat well. It seems the later we stay up the more likely we are to eat worse. Try to throw some fruit and veggies in there to keep you alert and healthy while you sit in the chair or on the couch or in the bed and study.






3. PRAY: Now, these are not in any type of order, but do this early on. Believe me, many a time I get discouraged and definitely need to call on Jesus because I just don't see how any of this is going to get done and the only thing in my head is the date that I'm leaving. But ask God to help you and to bring all things to your rememberance (John 14:26) and remember that you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you (Philipians 4:13).






4. This kinda depends on you, but if it helps, study with someone or have someone check on you: This can be good because it can help you from getting distracted and/or falling asleep. Accountability is great...sometimes we need that push to really be productive or keep being productive. In addition to this, try to have someone that will encourage you. Someone who can tell you when you're semi freaking out, that everything will be ok. Someone to pray for you too! It helps!






5. Know your study environment needs and go there: If you know you can't study in your room because the bed calls your name and 10min in you're sleep, DON'T STUDY THERE. Go to the library, form a study group, go to a study room. Similarly, if studying with a certain someone or someones, DON'T STUDY WITH THEM. Do whatever you have to..just ensure that wherever you are, you can study effectively.






6. Ask for help: Whether from a friend or a professor, if you don't understand something, ask. Someone might have a trick for remembering that equation or (for my fellow language majors out there) that conjugation or that term. You never know! And by that same token, avail yourself to help someone.






7. Relax: Remember Philipians 4:6-7 which states, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." I think this scripture was written for finals time! Can I get an amen!? Second ago I was...almost out of my mind because of these things I have to do, but fortunately I have two very close friends who are encouraging me. And plus, this scripture tells us to present our requests to God..and then..THEN the peace of God..God's peace!? That's some good peace right there. Will guard our hearts and minds. Well, praise God...(Shout out to DS Lyrical Wisdom)..so yes. RELAX...WOOSAH...WOOSAH...






So, yes. Those are some steps to getting through finals...Remember that nothing is impossible with God, but we also have to do our part. Pray..study..study effectively..and when you are finished, give it to God. Yes, give the final to God. We got this!!!


 Happi Graduation to DS Fidelity...we shall miss you!!!



Happy End of the semester, ladies and gentlemen. Love you all =) We can do it!
 

He's Looking For You!

He's Looking for You!  By Gloria Copeland

" For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him" (2 Chron. 16:9).

God is looking for you. That's right. If you'll read the Bible, you'll see that ever since the world began He's been looking for people who by faith and obedience would allow Him to bless them right here on the earth. He's been looking for people who would allow Him to demonstrate His power on their behalf - people whose supernaturally abundant lives would make them a walking advertisement of the mercy and power of God.

For example, look at the children of Israel in the Old Testament. God wanted them to be this kind of people. He prepared a marvelous land for them to enjoy. It was a land flowing with milk and honey (Ex. 3:8). It was a land of rest and abundance where no enemy could stand before them and no sickness or disease could stay on their bodies (Ex. 23:25).


In fact, as soon as they came out of slavery in Egypt, God wanted them to go to that land. It was a short journey. But they wouldn't go! Instead, they spent 40 years wandering around in the wilderness, getting nowhere.


All this happened thousands of years ago, but do you know what? God hasn't changed at all since then. He still wants to lead His people into a place of blessing and prosperity. The problem is that in many ways His people haven't changed that much either. The same thing that kept the children of Israel out of the Promised Land is keeping most believers out of their personal promised land today. The problem is unbelief.


"But Gloria, that can't apply to me. I believe in God." Israel believed in God too. But when the scouts sent into the Promised Land came back and reported there were giants there, the children of Israel became scared.


If they had believed God, it wouldn't have mattered how big those giants were, they could have marched right in there expecting God to make those giants scatter in every direction. But they didn't believe God!


So often we try to be smart and figure things out instead of just trusting God and doing what He says. And as a result, we end up in disobedience-which always leads to unbelief. But God doesn't ask us to be smart. All He asks us to do is to listen to His Word and obey His voice. Why? Because He knows that if we don't, we'll end up living out our lives on this earth in a wilderness of defeat like that generation of Israelites did.

God is looking for you. Don't let the giants in your life scare you into hiding. Don't let them defeat you. Stand up and let God see you. Let Him know you'll be faithful and obedient. Let Him know you'll trust Him and His Word no matter what the circumstances say or look like. Then worship Him knowing you'll see Him demonstrate His power and faithfulness on your behalf!






Speak the Word: I keep my heart perfect toward God so that He shows Himself strong on my behalf. (2 Chron. 16:9)

For Further Study: Numbers 13:25-33
Daily Scripture Reading: 2 Kings 23-24; 1 Thessalonians 2

Source: Pursuit of His Presence by Kenneth and Gloria Copeland

Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers

Lonely

Today, loneliness just hit me like a bullet, piercing through my heart.

I'm the type to love hard. And for all of those in my life, I love you fiercer than you'd ever know.

But sometimes...I just want a man, you know? Someone physically here to share my heart, mind (and it's deep!), and soul with. Because I love hard. And I put every effort into my relationships that count.

Which made me think about my relationships, and how most of them I felt like I loved more, that I loved harder. And I thought about things I could have done to make them love me more, make them want to stay, make them want to make it work as much as I did. Because none of my relationships were bad. I just wasn't good enough. Or something.

That's what I was thinking.

When I get to thinking like this, I have to do some serious positive verbal combat, even if I don't believe it that second. So I took some deep breaths, recited a few things, remembered who I was, and posted this on Facebook:

Sometimes I look back, and think "Why wasnt I enough? What did I do wrong?" but then i gotta shake it off and remember that He is enough for me....

Now, I know that He is enough for me. But at that moment, I didn't totally believe it. (Isn't it crazy how we just deny deny deny the truth sometimes?)

But then my wonderful, beautiful, fantastic friend Machang commented:

goood. And I can answer that question EASY. You weren't enough cause you were TOO MUCH for someone like that to handle. God's gonna send someone that can. Of course it's not as Good as the Real Deal..but God says.."It'll do." lol =]

That's when I realized, I already had the best Man ever and now the roles were reversed. I was the one not loving enough, as Christ loved me unconditionally, without ceasing, forever still. He loves hard. He does whatever He can to work it out. He forgives always. He puts more effort into our relationship than I do.

I stated bawling...just ugly. How can I sit here feeling so sorry for myself, wanting someone to take me in their arms and say that I am all they ever wanted, straight up ignoring Him holding out His arms to me? John 15:16 "You didn’t choose me. I chose you."

God knows I'm a lot right now, and He knows that the only One who can handle this right now is Him because I'm just TOO MUCH. And as soon as He finds somebody who reflects Him enough to handle and take care of this, He will hand me over. Because I deserve the Real Thing, and I got it. But the reflection of the Real Thing is just icing on the cake!

~Dove Sister DeAnna~

Unhealed Wounds

I recieve these daily devotions thru CFAITH Online (to signup, visit: http://www.cfaith.com/index.php?option=com_alpharegistration&task=register&lang=en). They are always helpful and pertinent, and I just wanted to share this one with you:


Unhealed Wounds
By Ron Luce

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. "For my yoke is easy and my burden is light" (Matt. 11:28-30).


It's too bad we can't live in the Garden of Eden where everything was perfect - perfect weather, perfect food, perfect animals, and perfect people. No, we live in the real world. Along with the real world, we have real hurts and real pains that leave real wounds. If we don't deal with those wounds, they will fester on the inside of us and cause us to lose the edge.


There is so much hurt among young people today. Physical, spiritual, and emotional abuses happen to too many young children. Children are being beaten by their parents, sexually abused by family members, and verbally ripped apart. Too many suffer the horrible effects of divorce. It's a wonder any of them grow up to be halfway normal.


But they all learn to cope - one way or another - with their wounds. A rising number of teenagers suffer from eating disorders. We are seeing more and more violence in the nation's schools. Some run away from home, thinking anything would be better than what they are having to deal with at home.


Then there are others who bury everything inside until they are adults and then spend the rest of their lives in a psychiatrist's office. Sadly, many of the wounded people in the world today are Christians. The worst thing is not that they have suffered pain, but that they have never been able to let Jesus heal their wounds.

You may be suffering from a wound yourself. It may not necessarily have come from a parent or a family member. Your pain might have come as a result of a boyfriend or girlfriend breakup. It might have come from a best friend who betrayed you or gossiped about you. But it doesn't matter where the wound came from. What matters is that you have the Answer.


You may be thinking, Well, that can't possibly be me. Sure, I have been hurt in the past, but I'm okay now.
Are you really?
If you see the person who hurt you, does your heart rate go up?
Do you suddenly relive the pain, and do you want to see that person hurt?
Are there times your heart still aches?

If you said yes to any of these questions, you haven't allowed Jesus to clean out that wound and heal it.
Unresolved past hurts can render you virtually ineffective for the kingdom of God, stunting your spiritual growth. But we have the only Answer - Jesus Christ.

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18, KJV).


What hurts do you need to release to God? Write them down as an act of letting them go and turning them over to Jesus, your Healer. Then when you are reminded of them, tell the devil that you have been set free.


Ask the Lord to begin healing your broken heart and your wounded emotions. Pray a prayer of forgiveness for not letting go of that hurt and the memories that are trying to devour your future. Forgive those who have hurt you.

Once you let go of these hurts, never accept them again! The devil will try to convince you that you are not really healed, and he may even have someone come along and try to do the same thing to hurt you, but don't accept it! The only thing you will be accepting from now on is the healing power of Jesus!


Source: Spiritual Shock Treatment by Ron Luce.Excerpt permission granted by Albury Publishing



~Dove Sister Adeola~

Gospel Music

Gospel music is great, but sometimes I get tired of the same songs playing over and over again on my iPod. Every now and then I have to venture out and find another way to experience God musically. Here are some unconventional artists that you may not hear in church Sunday morning:

Leah Smith – hailing from North Philadelphia emerges a soulful songstress with fresh spin on Christian music. At just 20 years old, she has just released her EP entitled “Beautifully Made.” Blending sounds of folk, pop, soul and gospel, Smith’s music is sure to transcend age, time, race and genres. With upbeat hits like “Monster” and lovely ballads such as “Beautifully Made” we can only expect great things from Smith in the future.
Sounds like: Janelle Monae, Lisa McClendon


Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged 2.0 Album – Though not new to the game, this album has become one of my recent favorites. With acoustic melodies and thought provoking lyrics, you can’t listen to this album and remain the same. Whether it’s a socially charging song like “Mystery of Iniquity” or a love song to the Father like “Peace of Mind,” you are sure to not only enjoy good tunes, but a new way to look at the world as well. Listening to this album will only reaffirm that Hill needs to get back in the game.

~Dove Sister Ariel~

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Daily Eating

Jeremiah 15:16 (Amplified Bible) Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.

You are hungry and don't even know it!! Some of you are even starving; I would go as far to say that many of you are dead.

When you don't eat, you get hungry. If you haven't eaten all day, or all week, you may start feeling the symptoms of starvation. If it's been long enough since your last meal, you die.

And so it is spiritually. You need to eat everyday, or you starve your soul (or worse, you become dead spiritually). How much, how often, and exactly what you eat depends on you, how old you are (in your relationship with God), and what your spiritual health issues are at that time.

So ask yourself: Did I eat today, or am I starving?

short, sweet, but what I would like for everyone to do is post how they remember to eat everyday, or what they are munching on right now, or tips on how to figure out exactly what to eat right now in your life, ect.

~Dove Sister DeAnna~

Step Out

The following quotes are from Maya Angelou’s book, “Letter to My Daughter” from the chapter, “Keeping the Faith.” The first one is something that her mother used to say to her and the last one is from a hymn that she wrote. In reading these, I began to think about seeking Godly counsel. It’s important that we all have someone that we can go to get Godly counsel from when we need advice. Of course, we need to first take everything to the Lord in prayer, but I know sometimes I tell God that I also need/want a person here that I can talk to. A person that I can talk to that will take me back to God and to His Word and someone that will hold me accountable. This means that that they will tell me when I am wrong and help correct me, not just tell me what I want to hear.

It’s important to examine your relationships and make sure that you have one or more persons like that. If you don’t or you aren’t sure who to turn to, pray and ask God to bring someone into your life or reveal to you someone that you can talk to.


“I don’t know how to find the things we need, but I will step out on the word of God. I am trying to be a Christian and I will just step out on the word of God.”


“You said to lean on your arm
And I am leaning
You said to trust in your love
And I am trusting
You said to call on your name
And I am calling
I’m stepping out on your word”


~Dove Sister Adeola~

Equality?

If you want to be completely equal, be completely equal. But don't demand special treatment afterwards. Because once you get special treatment, you're no longer equal.

Know what you're asking for when you ask for equality.

Women always want to be treated equally...do you even KNOW what you're asking? They like to twist the meaning and words around to make it say and mean what they want. The truth always comes out, however...that's why there's always controversy and confusion. Because people don't want to face the truth. So they trap themselves in their own bubble spewing crap like "reality is perceptive."

No. Reality is reality. You not CHOOSING to see it doesn't stop it from being there.


The reality of "equality" is: No give or take. You are exactly like me. We are at the same level.


Men will not treat you like "Princesses" or "Queens" when HELLO! YOU'RE EQUAL TO THEM! Meaning you're JUST as much as a PAUPER as they are! Or even worse: YOU'RE ANOTHER KING. Yes, sounds empowering doesn't it? Well not unless you love being single! YOU ARE NOT A MAN. So stop TRYING to be one!


We as women have qualities to match the man. When a man looks at you he should see the soft, gentle, inwardly strong, encouraging, emotionally and spiritually stong, mental prowess, determined, warm and loving, classy and beautiful, nurturing, feminine side of God.


Physical power (but not to OVERpower), brute strength, a tactical mind, scrutiny, strictness, driveness, provision, watchfulness, faithfulness, emotional levelness, a protective spirit -- these are the masculine traits of God that are more prominent in MEN for a REASON. Together we're the likeness of the Divine as an entire entity. Which is why when we bond with each other our spirits become one.


We're made in His like-ness, BOTH of us. We have different sides and characteristics of the Almighty that are meant to be more prominent in one than the other; that's why we fit together so perfectly when we find our God-given match.


You say there are no good men out there...there are no men who truly know how to be a man...well how CAN they if YOU are always trying to be the man!


Be a strong empowered woman but don't go overboard. It's not bad to be strong and independent. You have to take care of yourself before anyone else. But don't lose your natural strength trying to become something you were never created to be. Become a strong Woman. Not a Man.


Ask to be treated like a respectful Woman. Because when you ask for that, its MUCH more fulfilling and natural than to be treated "equally."


Adam never demeaned, down-talked, or disrespected Eve in any way. See how he treats her in the Bible. That's true respect, trust, love, and relationship between a man and a woman. Just look at sucessful marriages or couples that you know are meant to be or are always going to last. You know the MAN and you know the WOMAN, and it's kinda sad if that gets skewed because the woman wanted to be sooo much of a man that the man can't even be a real man....


So Ladies, aim to be a strong, intelligent Woman of God who created you... and ask to be respected and treated as such.

Be careful of what you ask for...that goes for everyone.
Love and Peace


~Machang Sanga~

PHILEO--He Calls You Friend

phileo - Verb translated ‘kiss’, ‘love’ philia - Noun translated ‘friendship’
philadelphia translated ‘brotherly love’, ‘love of the brethren’

philadelphos translated ‘love as brethren’
philos translated ‘friend’ from which the above four words all originate


‘...the love of friendship’


In Christian circles we are so used to saying, “I love you,” to each other. When it comes to your special friends you have to add, “I love you very much.” The English language is very limited. In the Greek they could have said it very easily.

The New Testament uses phileo a lot; it tells us to phileo each other. Phileo speaks about friendship love that is established between various people. It is a very broad word and covers everything that has to do with the relationship of one person to another person with a friendly affection. It can even go to the extent of a friend that is closer than a brother. Phileo speaks of being endeared to someone, such as a nice acquaintance that you enjoy chatting with occassionally. Within the family there is storge love and phileo love. For example between a parent and a child: Dustin has storge love for his son, Daveon. As we learned before, storge is family affection. As the son grows up they become friends. So then Daveon could also say to his father, “I phileo you.” Dustin could also say to him, “I phileo you.” It speaks of those nearest and dearest sometimes without the relation of blood. This bond can be very strong and it’s easily mistaken for agape love. Philia will, at its worst, produce cliques and factions within a fellowship and exclude those who aren’t felt to be a part of the friendship circle. At its best, it will produce a bond between people that’s not easily broken, the best example of which in Scripture is probably the friendship that existed between David and Jonathan (I Samuel 18:1). It can also be between a husband and a wife. Between husband and wife they have more than storge love; they have eros love where they open themselves up to one another and move into a unity both of body and of soul.


And the same word phileo is the same word that has also been used to refer to how our Father loves Jesus Christ. We know that God loves Jesus Christ with agape love, but He loves Jesus with phileo love too. A friend is someone who stands along side you. Our Lord Jesus Christ Himself is our friend. Yes, He is the King of Kings and He sits at the right hand of God all authority in heaven and earth and hell is in His hand. And yet He says, "I am your friend."

Of course you give respect where respect is due. You give honor where honor is due. Those of you who are in business know that it is one thing to have a business partner and yet another thing to have a business partner who is also your friend. It is one thing to work for the boss, but it is another thing when the boss is also your friend.

In Revelation 3:19 it’s used with God as the subject and man as the object, but it’s directed at those who are already ‘in Christ’.  It’s said that God loves the disciples in John 16:27 and John 20:2 speaks of the disciple that Jesus ‘loved’ (in John 19:26, however, it’s agapao that’s used).


In each of these three occurrences, it refers to believers and it’s not used to denote God’s love in sending His Son into the world for fallen mankind, the ‘unsaved’. (That love is agape love.) This means that it's not just that He loves you because He created you; now He loves you because you have a personal relationship with Him. He KNOWS you, He likes you, He's endeared to you. Look at it like this: you love your little sister, but you do not have the best relationship. She annoys you, yet you still give her guidance and direction; you still look after her and would die for her. But your best friend, you chose to love him. You picked him out of everyone, got to know him, and LIKED him. You want to hang out with him, because he's just that cool.

KNOW THAT GOD CHOSE YOU TO NOT ONLY BE HIS CHILD, BUT TO BE HIS FRIEND.

sources
http://home.clara.net/arlev/loveofgod.htm

http://www.eaglevision.com.my/l13four.htm

AGAPE-- Being "Chose" by God

I really hate when I’m dressed nicely and people say, “Ooo, who you tryna get chose by?” or “Girrrrrl, you tryna get chose!” Instead of amping on people like I want to, I simply smile and say, “Oh child, I’ve already been chosen by the only One that matters.” Although I smile, this whole charade irks me to NO END!!! Why do we as a Howard culture think that when you dress up, you are trying to gain attention from someone? And why do we equate gaining attention with “being chose”?!



Being chosen is defined as being selected from several or as being preferred. Of course, it makes sense that people would eagerly desire being “chosen” by somebody. In the Howard culture, people want to be chosen for a romantic or sexual relationship, an organization, a process, an interview or a campaign. They will skip class, go to class extra early, chase people down, run themselves down, wear certain clothes, wear very little clothes at all, study or fail to study all in the name of “ tryna get chose”. The sad fact is that few people try as hard to be chosen by God. Maybe it’s because God does not require any of that to be chosen. Maybe it’s because God welcome you with open arms, pleading with you to choose Him in return. Maybe it’s the fact that we don’t have to do anything to be chosen by God, except believe in His son. Perhaps people enjoy the chase of attaining something that will never bring fulfillment?


Being chosen by God is something completely different than “being chose” on campus. According to Noah Webster’s Bible Dictionary, being chosen by God, means being set apart as an object of mercy or divine favor. To be chosen by God, you neither have to fill out forms or an application. You would never qualify on your own merit anyway. To be chosen by God, you do not have to keep calling and txting him, only to be ignored or told to call him back later. He is available every minute, of every hour, of every day, just waiting to talk to you. To be chosen by God, you do not have to chase him all over campus only to be avoided. He is seeking you out in spirit and in truth. To be chosen by God you do not have to memorize the founders of the early church or impress Him with your extensive knowledge of the Torah. He is not interested in the wisdom of this world.


To be chosen by God, you simply have to believe in His son and allow His spirit to work in you. He loves you unconditionally.


That’s it. That is the only pre-requisite. There’s no “tryna get chose” with God. You’ve already been chosen. Will you choose Him back?

1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
~Dove Sister Ariel~

STORGE: the love of family

A little girl went to her bedroom and pulled a glass jelly jar from its hiding place in the closet. She poured the change out on the floor and counted it carefully. Three times, even the total had to be exactly perfect. No chance here for mistakes.


Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twisting on the cap, she slipped out the back door and made her way 6 blocks to Rexall's Drug Store with the big red Indian Chief sign above the door.


She waited patiently for the pharmacist to give her some attention, but he was too busy at this moment. Tess twisted her feet to make a scuffing noise. Nothing. She cleared her throat with the most disgusting sound she could muster. No good. Finally she took a quarter from her jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!


"And what do you want?" the pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of voice. "I'm talking to my brother from Chicago whom I haven't seen in ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.


"Well, I want to talk to you about my brother," Tess answered back in the same annoyed tone. "He's really, really sick...and I want to buy a miracle."


"I beg your pardon?" said the pharmacist.


"His name is Andrew and he has something bad growing inside his head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save him now So how much does a miracle cost?"


"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help you," the pharmacist said, softening a little.


"Listen, I have the money to pay for it. If it isn't enough, I will get the rest. Just tell me ho w much it costs."


The pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man He stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does your brother need?"


"I don't know," Tess replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know he's really sick and Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."


"How much do you have?" asked the man from Chicago.


"One dollar and eleven cents," Tess answered barely audibly. "And it's all the money I have, but I can get some more if I need to..."


"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "A dollar and eleven cents---the exact price of a miracle for little brothers."


He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her mitten and said "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."


That well dressed man was Dr. Carlton Armstrong, a surgeon, specializing in neuro-surgery. The operation was completed free of charge and it wasn't long until Andrew was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about the chain of events that had led them to this place.


"That surgery,' her mom whispered, "was a real miracle. I wonder how much it would have cost?"


Tess smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost..one dollar and eleven cents...plus the faith of a little child.




THE HUNT

And the winner is...
CHANTEE JACKSON!!!

We shall be contacting you so that you may receive your prize!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: The Power of the Tongue and its Fruit

“9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” – James 3: 9-11 (NIV)



“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” -Proverbs: 18:21

This weekend I had the opportunity to see Tyler Perry and Oprah’s new film, “Precious”. The movie is about 17 year old Precious Jones – an African American girl who is obese, the mother of two children, struggling to get her GED, and living with an abusive mother (played by MoNique). While I would strongly suggest my “under 18 crowd” not see it without being accompanied by a parent (there is very harsh language and adult situations), the movie was powerful and portrayed some of the darker realities that some of our sisters face every day. While there were many issues that stuck out me as I watched the film, I was maybe most disturbed by the use of language in the movie. In scene after scene after scene, Precious was referred to in a number of degrading ways, such that she began to internalize those words and began to view herself in a negative way because of it.


As I watched the movie I was reminded of how much power our words have. Psalm 18 reminds us that the things we say to people have the ability to breath life into persons’ lives or to slowly tear them down to the point of death. This is a power that we cannot take lightly! Ephesians 4:29 reminds us that when we speak, we should only speak words that will lift people up (Paul uses the word edify). Even when our classmates, our friends or our siblings get on our last nerves, it is better for us to walk away and say nothing then to tear people down with our words.


Like Donald Lawrence, make the decision to speak life! Not only should I try my best to talk to people in a way that encourages them, but I should even speak life into myself. We have all things about ourselves that we may not like, but speak positively about yourself. When in doubt, say what God says: I’m the head and not the tail, I am fearfully and wonderfully made, I am made in the image of God, I can do all things through Christ!


~Eagle Brother Joshua Mitchell~

Got It Bad

It’s funny what people do for love. I’ve always looked at women who were so pressed over their man with much disdain. Growing up, I vowed to never be the woman who stayed up late into the wee hours of the morning crying for her man or the girl who was up all night just talking to him. No, I just knew that I would never be that woman.



I’ve never been the type of woman who dressed up for her man. I’ve never been the type of woman who dedicated facebook statuses, tweeted about how sprung I was, or rushed home just so that I could talk to him… until I met the perfect one.


I now find myself taking extra time in the morning, ironing my clothes just right because people know that I’m with him and well, even when they don’t see him I want to be a good representation of how beautiful he is. I find myself putting my phone on silent when we’re spending time together, because I don’t want anyone to interrupt our most intimate moments. I find myself telling him everything. I’ve realized that I’m calling him every few minutes and somehow I never get tired of talking to him. I find myself singing love songs to him randomly throughout the day. I find myself not doing certain things, because I know he doesn’t like it. And I’ve started doing certain things, because I know that it brings him pleasure. I never thought that I would admit to being thirsty – but I am – as thirsty as a deer pants for water, that’s how thirsty I am for him. I never thought that I would change so much for love and I certainly would have never imagined myself admitting my adoration for someone like this, but I’ve come to a place where I cannot deny how I feel. Every fiber of my being is in love with him and I am unashamed.


Yes, I love Him like that.


Psalm 63:3 Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.

~Dove Sister Ariel Pierson~

Guys,
It is not too late to do THE HUNT! We already have one winner, and there is room for two more! Go to Saturday's entry to find more info!

ALSO, THERE WILL NOT BE BIBLE STUDY THIS WEEK! ENJOY YOUR THANKSGIVING!

THE HUNT

So today is the SCAVENGER HUNT!!!

THE HUNT is about love. There are four different types of love. Your job in this hunt is to identify them.

Instructions: You will be given webpages and scriptures in a specific order. On each webpage is a clue about the type of love that is being represented. Each scripture is also a description of the type of love. Your job is to identify the type of love (you may have to actually do further research to find out its true name if you don't know it). Then you must either send an email to doveconnect@gmail.com or post a comment listing all the types of love in order.

Rules:
1. You have to give the Greek word followed by its English meaning
2. You have to post something from the website that you learned, or summarize the scripture (pretty much tell us how you came about figuring out what kind of love it is)
3. You must list them IN ORDER
4. You cannot post a comment or send an email until after 6pm this evening
5. No cheating

THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE RECEIVE A PRIZE!!!! So leave your email address so that we can notify you if you happen to win.



CLUES

1. http://weddingwire.com/saheedandalex ;Song of Solomon, yes, the whole thing (if you want a focus, try 4:9-13)

2. http://www.focusonthefamily.com/ ;Colossians 3:20-21

3. http://www.allaboutgod.com/god-is-love.htm ;Romans 5:8a (the beginning)

4. http://www.friendship.com.au/ ;John 8:13

Have fun guys!!

Do You Have the Holy Spirit?

In Romans 8:9, Paul wrote, "Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His." If you are like the twelve men of Acts 19 who didn't even know about the Holy Spirit, you need to take the first step of faith. First, you must admit that you are a sinner who needs God's forgiveness. Then, believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins, agree that He conquered death, and place your trust in Him. If you do, you will receive His forgiveness of your sins. Ephesians 1:7. You will receive a new guiltless standing before God and be accepted by Him. Romans 5:1-2. You will receive a new birth--making you a child in God's family. I John 5:1. And you will receive the Holy Spirit as the divine tenant in your body to give you power over sin (I Corinthians 6:19) and to give you a guarantee of eternal life (II Corinthians 5:5-8; Ephesians 1:13-14).

Believe on the Lord Jesus today. Don't hesitate if you think of yourself as unworthy. It is because no one can earn heaven that God provided the way to Himself. John 3:16 says, "For God so love the world tht He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

When you believe in Christ, you will have His Spirit. Then you are to let His Spirit have you.

Adapted from What About Speaking in Tongues? 2001 RBC Ministries www.discoveryseries.org/q0302

btw...TOMORROW (SATURDAY) IS THE SCAVENGER HUNT!!! SO GET READY!

Does the Holy Spirit Have You?

The same all-powerful Holy Spirit that the disciples discovered in Acts indwells God's people today. Paul reminded the Christians in Corinth of this truth by asking, "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit?" I Corinthians 6:19. Why, then, are we so often powerless, defeated, and fearful? The answer is found in our failure to take this truth to heart. We try to live in our own strength. We don't give the Spirit of God full control over our lives. We grieve the Holyt Spirit with our disobedience and quench His power in us by our half-heartedness. Ephesians 4:30, I Thessalonians 5:19

But we don't have to live this way! God's Spirit lives in us, yearning to help us. To be "filled with the Spirit" (Ephesians 5:18), we must recognize His presence, depend on Him, and submit to Him. Then as we "walk in the Spirit" (Galations 5:16), He will produce in us the "fruit of the Spirit" (Galations 5:22-23).

Another benefit of being Spirit-filled is the assurance that we are God's children. Paul wrote, "The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ." Romans 8:16-17 The path to spiritual power and joy is not that of seeking spiritual gifts but of dependence upon and submission to the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Adapted from What About Speaking in Tongues? 2001 RBC Ministries, wwww.discoveryseries.org/q0302

The Next Best Gift

Acts1:8 "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Jesus promises us the Holy Spirit,and with it, power. Personally, I know that I have had a very different journey with each part of the Trinity. We have to realize that the Godhead is neccesary in all its parts: God as Father, Jesus as Son (and Friend), and the Holy Spirit, who is the Comforter. I banged with Jesus, because I knew about real friends. I personally love love love my friends and I really felt the love from Him. I mean, He gave His life for me, what more could I ask?!? With God Himself, it took a while for me to actually trust Him and recognize His love for me. I don't have a great relationship with my own daddy, and I pretty much thought unconsciously that God was this distant disciplinarian who only saw my faults. I am constantly working on my relationship with God, and I would just like to add here that God is the best EVERYTHING (especially Father) in the world. We cannot put Him in a box as to what role He has in our lives.

Now, in relation to these other relationships, my journey with the Holy Spirit began somewhat recently. I am still discovering It as well as Its power. The Holy Spirit is the very Spirit of God inside of us. This is my opinion: when the Lord created the world, He created it pure and unadultered. That is how He wished us to be. Along the way, we got lost. Who we are now is who God created us to be, yes, but with a few unneccessary additions. I feel like the Holy Spirit in us shows us how to be the person He truly created us to be.

The Holy Spirit manifests itself in many ways in our lives, which can be read in Acts (go and read it, it's very interesting). However, I feel like the central, most important thing the Spirit does for us is listed below:
Romans 8:27-28
26 And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. 27 And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will.

I think that it is both amazing and evidence of real love that the Spirit keeps us in harmony with God, even when we, in our flesh, don't even know we are sinning. That is the best gift, other than His life, that God could ever give to me.

So how do we recieve the Holy Spirit? Stay tuned...

~Dove Sister DeAnna~

Bible Study: The Character of Christ

So, tomorrow, we shall resume our talk about our relationship with the Holy Spirit. But right now, we're going to have the much  awaited Bible study recap for those who could not make it!!!

What is the definition of character? When someone says that a person has a good character, what does that mean? What would you say of your own character? Can we name some people that we know with good character? Is character something that we can fake? How do we know?


Definitions of Character:
-the inherent complex of attributes that determines a persons moral and ethical actions and reactions
-an actor's portrayal of someone in a play
-the aggregate of features and traits that form the individual nature of some person or thing


We find out early in the Bible, in Genesis 1, that God made man in His image:


Genesis 1:26-31
Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all[b] the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.” 29 And God said, “See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food. 30 Also, to every beast of the earth, to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food”; and it was so.


Here we see not only that God did in fact make man in His image, but He also gave us a few instructions or charges. He told us to have dominion, be fruitful and multiply. He also states that earth is for us, He gave it to us. That being said, it also stands to reason that since God gave us something to be in charge of and we were made in His image, that we are to live like Him. The fact that He made us in His image make it evident we can. Doesn’t mean it’ll be easy, but we are able.


What are some characteristics of Christ? If you were 4 yrs old, what are some things you would say about Jesus: Nice, Pretty (lol), Forgiving, Loving, Good, etc. All these things.


Starting with Jesus’ childhood what are some of the characteristics we see?
Same characteristics listed above. But we saw them at an early age. In Luke 2:39-52 we see a prime example of this. Jesus is 12 years old and his parents come back to find Him talking and teaching the teachers! Amazing. At 12 He still embodied the characteristics of Christ. And why shouldn’t He? I’m sure at 5 years old He did the same thing…no matter His age, He was still Christ…in the flesh. Meaning that, as it says in Hebrews 4:15, Jesus was tempted as we are being, will be, but still managed to stay without sin. NOT at all saying that we are to be without sin, because we won’t, but just to emphasize that Christ knows what we’re going through so we need to draw on Him to keep having the mind of Christ. Draw on Christ to get a Christ-like mindset.


At my church we are doing this thing called “Twenty-One”, where we are reading the book of John in 21 days. So we read a chapter a day and then answer some questions. There is a lot to learn from that book alone, so using John 15, let’s read through verses 1-20 and answer the following questions:


What did Jesus do/say?
What does this tell us about His character?
How can we be like this in our own lives?


Basically, some answers were that Jesus lived as an example showing us that we can strive to be like Him.
It’s also clear that He has our best interests at heart. He is trying to have us live like Him so we may live life a little bit “easier”. Easier in the sense that we are able to tap into His power, tap into HIM. This passage is full of advice of what He would have us do and how to do. The truth is, however, that it’s not easy to have the mind of Christ. Sometimes it’s just difficult or it’s not something we want to do. Some practical steps to having the mind of Christ or working towards having the mind of Christ are:


-Prayer- talk to God about it, about how you feel and why you feel that way and ask Him to help change your heart/mind

-Accountability- in talking to God, ask Him to show you who can hold you accountable, who can remind you that you should/shouldn’t be doing or saying these things; someone you trust and someone who isn’t just going to tell you what you want to hear

-Search scripture- Search the Bible to see what the scripture says about what you’re feeling/thinking and find ways to combat it. WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) is really important in some cases. Maybe all you need to do is repeat that to make it through.


Also remember that having the mind of Christ includes being wise, making wise decisions, saying things that may need to be said, but saying them in the right way. Jesus was God in the flesh, but He was still God. Let Him lead you and guide you…sometimes it’s not so much an issue of responding, but how you respond.


~ Dove Sister Adeola Oyelabi~

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: fruit

Matthew 7:16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?

Now, I just wanted to introduce you all to this passage. Please think and meditate on it because I will be talking about it some Monday soon. But right now, we are going to be talking about fruit, and our relationship with the Holy Spirit--are we allowing Him to have reign over our life? That's what we will focus on for most of this week.

Galations 5:22-23
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

It sounds like a garden in the Bible sometimes...we are the branches and He is the vine, He wants us to be fruitful, the fruits of the Spirit...Let’s think about what’s growing in the gardens of our hearts. Do you see more of the weeds of sin or more of the fruit of the Spirit? You know, God wants to be the Gardener of your heart. He wants to help you pull out the weeds and then plant some good fruit, the fruit of His Spirit, to grow there. Will you let Him do that today?

I was just thinking about this really cute song I used to listen to when I was little. It talks about the fruits of the Spirit, and it was how I learned most of the fruits of the Spirit. But really, take away the silliness and really think about the words. Our life is a bowl, empty, and God is just waiting for our permission to fill it up. Do we have spiritual flavor? Do others get a taste of us and want more? Think about it.

THE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT SONG (FILL ME UP)

God's apple is love
His orange is patience
Banana is self-control
His lemon is peace
His kindness a peach
And my life is the bowl


CHORUS:
So, fill me up (with your Spirit)
Fill me up (Let me hear it, yeh!)
Fill me up, Lord
Fill me all the way up
With the fruit of your Spirit


Way down, down in God's Adventure Land
All God's children are growin'
When I'm put in a squeeze
I get down on my knees
And let the juice of God's fruit start flowing


God's apple is love
His orange is patience
Banana is self-control
His lemon is peace
His kindness a peach
And my life is the bowl


(To Chorus)

Way down, down in God's Adventure Land
Up come the fruit God's growin
It's gotta spiritual flavor
A gift from the Savior
So let the juice of God's fruit start flowin'


God's apple is love
His orange is patience
Banana is self control
His lemon is peace
His kindness a peach
And my life is the bowl


So, fill me up (with your Spirit, it's delicious)
Fill me up (let me hear it, it's nutritious)
Fill me all the way up
With the fruit of Your Spirit

©1994 Encouraging Music
Rick Muchow & Rick Warren


ONE LAST THING GUYS: This coming up Saturday, we will be having a SCAVENGER HUNT!!! So don't forget to check out the blog Saturday morning to find the details and instructions. The winners will be recieving a prize. "THE HUNT" will be about relationships, more specifically, how to show true love in relationships. So get ready!

~DS DeAnna~

This Week's Events

Monday
Prayer Booth 10am-5pm Lower Level Blackburn
Bible Study 7pm Blackburn Room 142

Tuesday
Gamma Sigma Sigma Panel 7pm Founder's Library Browsing Room
School of Law Gospel Choir Concert 6:30pm Law School (shuttle leaving from Cramton at 5:30pm)

Wednesday
Noonday 12 noon Chapel Sanctuary
Wednesday Night Live 6:45pm Chapel Sanctuary
Alpha Nu Omega Fraternity Formal Interest Meeting 7:29pm Locke Hall Room 242

Thursday
Word Up Bible Study 8pm Locke Hall
last day to register for the Homeless Walk

Friday
Noonday 12noon Chapel Sanctuary
Prayer at the Flagpole 1pm
HU Gospel Choir Concert 7:30pm Chapel Sanctuary

Saturday
Fannie Mae Homeless Walk, National Mall

UNTITLED

"UNTITLED"

lying inside of me
i see
what I choose to be
not we
when i find
the frame of mind
that turns in kind
the frame that settles
that nestles, that wrestles
with the other me
struggling to be free
when finally,
i open my eyes and to my surprise
i realize that i all these years
i shed tears because of fears
brought on by...me
and my views of society
and finality
walk into a room...writing on a tomb,
"go back to the womb"
you don't belong, follow along
words to an old song
wracking my brain
no time to explain
watching in vain
as i slowly spout words heard in my youth
how uncouth, like ruth
growing older we forget what we're told
instead we are sold
straight into a mold
to be like those we see
...in society...
...the finality...
creeps up my spine, like a vine
telling me to unwind
and as i do, i wonder why i didn't fight
reach for the light...
why didn't i...
fight
it's not like the blood in my veins that boils with pains
soothed by rains
seeking the way, the hope that one day
i may
step out of the mold
in manners untold
cross the threshold
and gaze at the REAL me
finally free
i'm who I want to be

*Dove Sister Ade Oyelabi*

Are You Worth A Lot?

*NOTE: THIS APPLIES TO MEN AS WELL...WE ALWAYS HEAR ABOUT WOMEN WANTING MEN OF GOD, BUT MEN NEED WOMEN OF GOD AS WELL*


In a brief conversation, a man asked a woman he was pursuing the question "What kind of man are you looking for?"






She sat quietly for a moment before looking him in the eye and asking, "Do you really want to know?"


Reluctantly, he said, "Yes."


She began to expound... "As a woman in this day and age, I am in a position to ask a man what he can do for me that I can't do for myself. I pay my own bills. I take care of my household without the help of any man...or woman for that matter. I am in the position to ask, "What can you bring to the table?"




The man looked at her. Clearly he thought that she was referring to money. She quickly corrected his thought and stated, "I am not referring to money. I need something more. I need a man who is striving for perfection in every aspect of life."


He sat back in his chair, folded his arms, and asked her to explain.




She said, "I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection mentally because I need conversation and mental stimulation. I don't need a simple-minded man. I am looking for someone who is striving for perfection spiritually because I don't need to be unequally yoked...believers mixed with unbelievers is a recipe for disaster. I need a man who is striving for perfection financially because I don't need a financial burden. I am looking for someone who is sensitive enough to understand what I go through as a woman, but strong enough to keep me grounded. I am looking for someone who I can respect. In order to be submissive, I must respect him. I cannot be submissive to a man who isn't taking care of his business. I have no problem being submissive...he just has to be worthy. God made woman to be a helpmate for man. I can't help a man if he can't help himself. When she finished her spill, she looked at him.


He sat there with a puzzled look on his face. He said, "You are asking a lot."




She replied, "I'm worth a lot."

YOU

I never knew who I was before You



I never knew love before You


So I dedicate my entire being to You


Holy, acceptable, sacrifice


Only to You


My Joy, my everlasting Peace


You delivered me from inner turmoil,


The wiles of the devil


You became my armor


Protecting me from the ways of this world


The perversion of the enemy


You are unwavering, always consistent


Never judging, ever present

Love

Whose grace is more than sufficient


In my weakness it is Your strength that is made perfect


You work through me


Molding this mound of clay into a perfection that only You can see


Forever grateful You made me into a new being


Shining through me unto others


You turned me into the light of the world


Spreading Your grace, and Word with every work of my hand


I serve only You


My Joy, my everlasting Peace


Through You they can cease nights of tears


Creating puddles of insecurities, worries, and fear,


Through You they can cease wearing colors like red and green


Knowing only hate and envy, but find joy and peace


Through You they can cease searching for the fountain of youth


But drink of eternal life


Through My Lord and Savior


The Alpha and Omega


My Jesus Christ


Disclaimer: The most important relationship in my life is the one I have with God, over my mother, father, sister, boyfriend. It's crazy thinking how God has molded and evolved me over the last four years, from being semi-happy dealing with insecurities, and low-self esteem to feeling completion, joy, and knowing my identity and claiming my destiny.


This poem is for all you questioned their existence, questioned their purpose in this life....if you keep pressing toward God, trust in him and his plan for you....he will heal all wounds and elevate you 10 times higher than you could have ever done yourself.


A few Scriptural references from this poem: 2 Corinthians 12:9, Matthew 5:14-16, Philippians 1:6

~Dove Sister Taylor Smith~

Be on your P's

We all know the saying be on your p's and q's. Well, at yesterday's Bible study, Dove Sister Ariel Pierson talked about being on your p's; what to do when you have too much to do and how to handle it.

The first P was Priority. Matthew 6:33

33 Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.

A lot of times we confuse this scripture and use it as an excuse when we shirk our responsibilities for "ministry." This scripture does not say ministry, it says KINGDOM. KINGDOM does not equal ministry, KINGDOM is seeking time with God. Ministry should not run your life because God runs your life. You should be at His heels everyday, which brings us to the next P: Pour.

The only way we can pour out is if we are being poured into everyday. Luke 10:38-41, Matthew 26:7

38 As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” 41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!

7 While he was eating, a woman came in with a beautiful alabaster jar of expensive perfume and poured it over his head.

The woman with the alabaster box was Mary. Mary only had oil to pour out because she sat at Jesus's feet. We pour out of our abundance, our overflow. We do not just pour to pour. If we do that, we will eventually become empty and drained, and that is not what God has promised. He has promised to fill us, and the only way to be filled is to come to Him everyday. When we come to Him everyday, we don't even have to neccessarily work to do ministry; our overflow automatically helps to add drops to others' cups. Why else do we have an overflow? To bless others! When we sit at His feet everyday, we will be able to minister and minister and pour and pour and remain filled because we are constantly overflowing.

The next P is Plan. Make a plan everyday if you have to, stick to it, and most importantly, incorporate God into it everyday!. Give it to God and don't worry! He is already in full control of our lives; we merely have to acknowledge this fact and submit it all to Him.

However, be Prepared, because God may change your plans. Acts 16:6.

6 Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time.

God changed Paul's plans; he thought he was called to Asia, but God changed that. This is another reason why we must be on God's heels, because if He moves or gives us something, we can catch it quick if we are already right there at His feet.

Another important P is People. don't try to do it all on your own; ASK FOR HELP! Remember, you are not God, so you cannot do everything. And God sent certain people in our lives for specific reasons; utilize them. We are not solitary creatures.

The last P is Peace. Psalm 34:14

14 Turn away from evil and do good. Search for peace, and work to maintain it.
 
This passage is very curious as it does not describe peace the way we usually define it: It does not say that peace will flow to us all sedately and embrace us, it does not  put it in a soft light at all. It tells us to actively obtain and pursue peace, and when we get it to cling to it. As a matter of fact, the Greek word used here for peace means pursue but with a military connotation. That means it is a battle to get peace. But when you have it, you will see it is absolutely neccesary. Peace surpasses all understanding--this means that when we should be stressed and going crazy, we aren't becasue we know God and we know that He will handle it all for our good. That is peace.

At the end of Bible study, before we prayed out, we discussed ways that we actively pursue peace in our personal lives. It was a short, sweet, and powerful message (just like the facilitator!)

Single, Saved, and not quite Satisfied

So, here's a question for you: Why do you want to get married? No, it's not rhetorical. Really, like right now, write down EVERY single reason. I don't care how trivial it may be, write it all down. Now, here comes the challenge. Ask God to fulfill everything that is on your list. Is companionship on your list? Ask God to reveal to you the many ways that He expresses his sincere friendship with you on a daily basis. Is love on your list? Ask God to reveal the unique ways that He loves you. I'm not talking about the, "Jesus loves the little children" type of love...no, I'm talking about that especially designed for fill in your name right here type of love. What about intimacy? Well try to spend some intimate time with God. As much as you desire it from others, God desires it from you even more. Now, you may be thinking...how is God going to fulfill the desire for sex without a man/woman? Clearly, God placed that desire in us for a reason. The question is, why is that desire so high? Ask God to reveal to you the things in your life that constantly increase that desire (music, television, friends, pornography...let's be real). God created sex, but He also created in us the power ( Eph 3:20 , 1 Cor 10:13 ) to control that desire until marriage. Activate that power!
Here's an analogy to make this easier:


Think of yourself as cake and the husband/wife you desire as icing. While the icing can make a piece of cake delicious, a piece of cake on its own is quite satisfying. The cake is complete before the icing is even applied. It was completed the minute all the ingredients were mixed together and it was placed in the oven to bake.

Now, let's take this a step further. We know that icing can only be put on the cake when it is completely baked and cooled off. So why would you want to put icing on a cake that is still a little raw on the inside? All that does is deceive others who think that the cake was fully baked. You're left with nothing but a big, raw, unsatisfying mess. Now say that the cake is fully baked, but you try to put the icing on as soon as it comes out of the oven. Clearly, the icing becomes all runny because the cake was not ready for it to be applied. Again, you're left with a nasty mess.


Now, back to you being the cake. Until you realize that you are already completed---you still have come baking to do (yeah, I know it's hot in the oven, but it's all a part of the process).

Furthermore, once you are taken out of the oven, don't think icing (husband/wife) is going to come right away. You have to wait. If icing comes now, you'll just mess up its consistency.

[SIDENOTE: Icing may never come. It simply might not be a part of your plan. As hard as it is, you're going to have to accept the fact that you are complete and satisfying without it]

So, what stage are you at? Maybe all of your ingredients are still being mixed together? Maybe you're baking in the oven? Or, you may have just come out and need some time before icing is added. Regardless of your stage, recognize that God has, is, and will continue to sustain you until the appointed time...just TRUST Him. God is more than enough for us...do you believe it? Then walk in it!

~Dove Sister Renee Davis~