A Quiet Voice

Ever experience that still, quiet voice of God? You know, the one that taps into your heart and reminds you that everything is going to be ok? The one that tells us what we need to be looking for? The one that gives us vision and guidance? Yeah that's the one! The one that reminds you that you are loved and you can actually feel its truth? Yeah that one!

This morning I heard that still, small voice tapping into my inner-most being. Only, it wasn't telling me something I wanted to hear. And while this voice was ever so quiet, it spoke volumes! It said "Jamila, you need to change your attitude." We'll if that isn't a smack in the face before 10am!  This most certainly wasn't what I wanted to hear. And I knew it wasn't me because I was "right." After all, I'm always right! Ha! Yeah right!

Even if I were right (and I was), I was still reminded that I wasn't walking in the Spirit. Did you know that you could be right AND wrong all at the same time? The Bible states, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22, 23 NIV)"  Let me tell you, in my "rightness" I wasn't displaying any of these traits. Well... maybe self-control because I didn't actually say what I was thinking!

But on a serious note, I was dealing in the flesh. None of my thoughts reflected love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness or self control. I didn't even stop to think about what my facial expressions were expressing or what my body language was stating. I'm sure I came off exactly how I was feeling and what I was thinking. Irritated, upset, impatient, etc.

This is not what God wants for us. No doubt we will have these moments of annoyance. However, we cannot let the words or actions of other people change who we are called to be. Huffing and puffing never changed a situation. So if we must do or say anything, it should be to make a situation better. And if it seems like there is nothing we can do, then We must pray. Ask God to cleanse our hearts and our thoughts. Ask for a new prospective. Ask for guidance. Surely He will give it to us if we seek him.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added into you
Matthew 6:33

So lets try this... The next time we find ourselves getting irritated or annoyed, lets take 10 seconds to stop, take a deep breath and ask God to help us walk through whatever is going on. Surely he will. We just have to listen to that still, small, quiet voice.

With Love,
JC

Training Day

Today while I was running, I was thinking about some things and praying about some things. About half way through, I started to get tired and I remembered something I heard Joseph Prince say in one of his sermons last week. He was talking about a race he was running. While he was running, he kept mediating on God's word and repeating "they shall run and not get weary." So I began to do the same. Its amazing how much strength we gain when we apply the word of God to our life. Like Joseph Prince, I began to pick up the pace. I was able to finish my four miles. Not only that, but I was feeling like I could have kept going. I was great!

But while I was running I began to think about all the things we put ourselves through to look good or to be the best at something. We train for all types of things: races, work, certifications, etc. But what about discipleship?

When Jesus was speaking to his disciples he told them in Matthew 28:19 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…" Now… who were the disciples? Theses were the guys that followed Jesus everywhere and hung onto his every word trying to the best of their abilities to live out their lives according to the way God ordained it. They prayed, they fasted, they listened, the spread the gospel, they helped heal the sick, they allowed God to use them. Then Jesus tells them to make disciples of everyone! That includes you and me too! But what does this look like?

I think training to be a disciple can be a lot similar training for a race to be run. You may be thinking "whoa! Running and being like Jesus are two totally different things!" Yes, but just hear me out.

One of the first things you learn about when you begin training is what to eat. Food is so important to our daily lives. Food is not just used to make yourself bigger or smaller. Food is (or should be) used to fuel your body, giving you the energy you need to complete the activities of the day. 

Like food is to your body, the word is to your spirit. And just like food shouldn't just be used (or not used) to make you skinny, the word shouldn't be manipulated so that you or others can do what you want. God was very specific about how He wants to live and He gave us instructions on His word. The word should be used as fuel for you to live your life as God intended. The word gives you hope when it seems all hope is gone. It give us wisdom for when we've been foolish. And answers to every question! 

So how do you feed yourself? I'm glad you asked! Spend time with God! When you wake up, before you go to bed and all throughout the day. After all, we feed our bodies every 2-3 hours. Some of us even snack all day! You can read, pray and meditate for your meals and listen to awesome praise and worship music for snacks! 

Next there is practice. This is where you take what you've researched and learn how to put exactly what and how you do what you're suppose to do into play. You even research your competition to see how you can beat them. Now if you've never run before or its been a while, the first day of running is the worse! Let's be honest about it. The sound of your feet hitting the pavement (reminding you of how slow your progress is) can be highly irritating. You feel winded and can't catch your breath. You feel like you've been running miles when really you haven't made it two blocks! Its sucks! But you can't give up so you start again the next day, the day after that,  the next after that and so on. Soon you begin to notice how beautiful nature is. You're feeling your music coupled with the sound of your feet and before you know it, you're 3 miles in and feel like you can keep going. 

The same with reading your Bible. When you first start, you seem to get every distraction (see the enemy doesn't want you to know God's word). Someone calls, your favorite show comes on, the kids need something, you spouse needs everything, its long, its "boring" and then you fall asleep. Sound familiar? Its easy to get discouraged in all this, but like running, you press on. Before you know it, you're reading everyday (sometimes twice). You're finding a lot of cool stories and gaining crazy knowledge! You may not even realize how wrapped up you become in the awesomeness of God until you're done reading and go "wow!" But you have to keep at it! And once you see what God has commanded, you to do what He says. See God is your Coach and His word, the Bible, is your playbook. 

Soon after you begin, there comes that time that most of us dread (while there are some that fully embrace it). During your time of training, you may experience some pain. Your muscles hurt. You can barely walk, stand or sit. Sometimes during training the only thing that feels good is lying down doing absolutely nothing. You don't even want to think! Guess what? The same thing happens when you are training to be like Christ. 

When you are trying to live your life for Christ, you seem to get hit from ever direction. Spiritual warfare is a beast that, if you let it, will have you wanting to lie down and do nothing. You will experience pain. Maybe you lose some friends and other loved ones. Maybe you are placed in situations where you feel all alone and are being forced to rely solely on God. You may cry and even think "why me?" But like training, no matter what the pain is, you have to keep going. Continuing on is what works the soreness out of your muscles. Rehabing is what mends what has been injured. No matter what, you have to keep going reminding yourself that the pain means that there is change and that it has a purpose!

Finally its race day! The day when you see how all of your hard work has payed off. The day you beat every obstacle because you have prepared yourself. Same as discipleship. You've read, you've prayed, you may have even fasted. You've gone to church, you've sang songs, but when all that is over and you are left to face the world, how will your training have paid off?

Just like athletic training, this is all hard work. You feed yourself (Spirit), you train (reading God's word and putting it in action), go through the pain (rejection, persecution from those who don't understand) and you don't give up. There's one last thing to ask yourself… When you get to the finish line, where will you stand?

You may think this is a sprint but honey its a marathon! And my friend, this is only just the beginning.

With Love Always,

JC

Lose Yourself

Everyone was born with certain personality traits. Some are creative, some are outspoken, some are quiet, some are strong willed, some are dependable and the list goes on.

One of my traits (especially when I was younger) was being outspoken. If I had an opinion or was feeling some kind of way about something, someone knew it! Sometimes this "freedom of expression" would get way out of hand. Especially when it came to the people that I loved and cared about. I felt like if I couldn't be honest with them, I couldn't be honest with anyone (no matter how brutal that honesty was). And on those rare occasions when I kept my mouth shut, I felt like little pieces of me were dying inside. 

Little did I know that THAT was precisely the point! If we are to do the will of God, we must die. Not physically but die to our flesh and live in the Spirit. 

So what does this all mean? To kill your flesh and feed (or walk in) the Spirit? Why I'm glad you asked my friend!

Galatians 5:19-21 tells us what it looks like when we are walking in our fleshly ways. It says, "The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissension, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."

That is a long list of things! I'm sure many of us can pinpoint a few areas where we struggle. On top of all that, we also often tend to justify our poor thoughts and actions. You know, "well if he hadn't…" "but she said (enter what she said) first." "ooh they work my nerves!" or even "it just feels right/ good." Sound familiar? Just imagine if you were acting in these ways and all of sudden you look up and Jesus was standing right in front of you? Dun dun dunnnn! How would you feel to know that He saw you acting in these ways? Better yet, how do you think it makes Him feel? Well guess what, He's always there and He knows! The great thing about feeling that sting in your heart as you read is that you know which areas you need to fight against. 

Fight? Yes. Fight! Fight against all those negative feelings. Fight against everything that the world says is ok when we know that God has strictly forbidden. Fight against anything that makes us act ugly. Now I'm not saying if someone makes you mad or hurts your feelings, punch them in the face and fight. Ephesians 6:12 says "we do not fight against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." This is a spiritual battle! 

How do we fight this battle? There are many ways… fasting, prayer, worship, just to name a few. But we can start by focusing on the fruits of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-24 shows us what it looks like to walk in the Spirit. It states "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."

These things are all great when you read them. They make you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. However, they can be hard to remember when someone or something is pushing your buttons. But remember, we are only responsible for what we think and do, regardless of what someone else has done or is doing. This is why we must die daily. We have to be intentional about doing what God has called us to to. To love each other, to be patient and slow to anger.  Romans 12 tells us "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Every morning that we wake up is an opportunity to start over. To give thanks and work towards bringing God glory. He created each of us different. Quiet, feisty, etc. God gave me a voice, a boldness, an ability to say what needs to be said. But what good is it if I don't use it in love?

I challenge you to take those characteristics God has so graciously given to you and use them for His divine purpose. 

Galatians 5:16says, "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh."

Lose yourself (your fleshly desires). Walk in His Spirit. Walk in His Love.

With Love Always,

JC

Challenge Your Thoughts, Change Your Perspective

Thoughts become words. Words become actions. Your actions can take you in many different directions. Whether your path is life or destruction is up to you, but it all starts with your thoughts.

Have you ever woken up before you were ready? You know, still sleepy and in disbelief that the alarm is going off already? Or perhaps you just fell asleep and the baby starts crying or the phone rings. We've all been there, not ready, but its time to get up! In that moment you have a choice. You can either thank God that He saw fit to give you a new day. Or you can grumble about the fact the He woke you before you were ready. The fact remains that God gave you breath. He is not finished with you. You have a purpose.

If you choose to start your day with a grateful heart, renew your mind and ask God to order your steps (praying continually throughout the day), chances are you will have a great day. Even with a few bumps in the road, you'll be better prepared to handle whatever comes flying your way.

However, should you choose the opposite - cursing the day because you're tired or you went to sleep mad and woke up angry, you will probably have a rough start, which could more than likely have a trickle effect. See the devil doesn't want you to experience joy, so he will do everything in his power to set up road blocks starting with your first choice of the morning - give praise or curse the day.

Waking up is just one example of how your thoughts can make or break you and/or your day. Unfortunately, we have trained ourselves to see the negatives - someone else's flaws, our flaws, what we can't do, or what looks/feels bad. What we need to do is take the focus off the negative and search for the positives. A few examples…

1. Ladies - When we look in the mirror, instead of focusing on what we don't like (bad hair day, gray hair, wrinkles, or even a few extra pounds), lets meditate on the fact that God created us to be unique and He loves us just the way we are. After all, we are fearfully and wonderfully made ( Psalm 139:14)!!!

2. Running late, stuck in traffic or waiting in line. Instead of getting frustrated with the other drivers or people in front of you, thank the Lord for preparing the day for you. Maybe, in that very moment, God is saving you from a collision (with another car or a person you aren't very fond of). Use this time to have quiet prayer (or a praise party - whichever you prefer). Its a whole lot better for your nerves than screaming at other motorist - and this is coming from someone who hates being stuck in traffic!

3. Annoying co-worker or needy acquaintance? I bet you prayed for patience! Instead of rolling your eyes and saying "Oh Lord" under your breath, ask God to speak to/through you. Instead wondering what annoying thing they will say/do next, ask how you can be of service to them. Or ask God how you can use this as an opportunity for growth. Sometimes the reason you seem to attract these type of "needy" people is because God placed something on the inside of you that He can use to reach them. So embrace it!

There are a million examples of how simply changing the way we think about things can change our entire experience. This is not to say that everyday will be smooth sailing and that nothing will be challenging. After all, if we weren't challenged, we'd never grow. But changing our focus from the negative to the positive can give new insight and make difficult situations more bearable.

God has given us the ability to change lives, starting with our own. We can start by changing the way we think. Here are some verses to meditate on:

Romans 12:2 "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

2 Corinthians 10:5b "And we take captive every though to make it obedient to Christ."

2 Timothy 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."

Isaiah 26:3 "You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you."

Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable- if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things."

Father, in the name of Jesus, we thank You for a new day and a new opportunity to renew our minds. Right now we take our thoughts captive, exchanging every negative thought and replacing them with whatever is good. Help us to learn and believe all that You say affirming us. In our doubt, help us to be overwhelmed by Your presence and love so that all disbelief is erased. We thank You and praise You for Your love, kindness, grace and mercy. In Jesus' name, Amen.

With Love,

JC

Trust God, There's A Plan

Ever wonder "Why Me?" Of course you do! I guess that was a silly question. Everyday we face something different. Most days, things are pretty good and we can deal with them. But then there are those things that we can surely live without. Or can we?

As always, I only speak for myself. Sometimes I get so impatient. I want everything to be perfect and sometimes even wonder what others will think (I know… shame on me). And sometimes, just when I think it couldn't get any worse, something "astronomical" happens! "OMG! This cannot be life!" is what my normal response might be (how dramatic right)! Its as if I never stop to think "why not me," "what is this for," "what can I learn,"  or "what is the grand scheme,?" Sometimes the question that I need to ask s simply "how can I use this as an opportunity to trust God?!"

God always has a plan. Isaiah 55:8-9 says "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. (9) "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

When thinking about the grand scheme and God's plan, I find this particular scripture very comforting. We don't always need to know why or understand, we simply need to trust God. Maybe the reason we are stuck in traffic is because there is chaos at our final destination. Maybe the reason we keep encountering the same issues with others is because we didn't learn the lesson we were suppose to learn the times before. Maybe the reason why you seem to be "stuck in a rut" is because the move God wants to make is so much bigger than the move you think you want. Maybe, just maybe, whatever you are going through is not about you, but someone else. And maybe the reason you always have to be the peace maker, the one to bring up the tough issues or do things that seem hard is because you are the strongest. And sometimes its all just to see if you trust God enough to allow Him to work in your life. I'll give you more perspective…

1. Noah and the ark. God was tired of people being disobedient and was ready to rid the earth of them. Yet, God found favor with Noah and gave him instructions on building an ark, spared his family and every species of animal.  Imagine how crazy Noah must have seemed to being building this ark because God told him. He didn't care what people thought. He obeyed God and God spared him.

2. Abraham was sent to sacrifice Isaac. I have children, so I'm sure it must have been very painful for Abraham to take his son to the mountain top. God already new he was not going to let Abraham kill Isaac, but he needed to know that Abraham was fully committed to Him in order to bless him later.

3. David. Goliath was over 9ft tall so I'm sure this giant considered him a squirt. David was small, young and had no armor but he trusted God. David defeated Goliath (although the giant laughed at him). David went on to be a king.

4. Job - He was highly favored by God. God allowed satan to take everything away from Job - his children, his home, his cattle, everything. But Job was faithful and loved God. He said "The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." And Job was blessed - he had more children, more wealth and lived to 140.

5. Mary and Joseph. Two people promised to be married to one another. Hadn't consummated their marriage, but Mary was pregnant with the Son of God (virgin birth). Normally a woman pregnant but no from her husband would have been killed or exiled. God clearly favored Mary. Joseph (descendent of David) was obedient. They gave birth to Jesus!

6. Jesus. Son of man, Son of God made the ultimate sacrifice. He even said "Father, if You are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." The flesh part of Jesus didn't want to go through that pain, but He knew He had to obey the Father and that there was greater purpose to what He was going through.

There are many examples throughout the Bible of people facing obstacles, who had faith in God and found His favor. There are examples all around you. Everything we go through was a test of faith. And everything has the potential to strengthen your relationship with God.

To Sum it up, when you are faced with a challenge or a situation that may cause you to think "oh gosh no!" try to see God in it. See what He wants to tell you, needs you to learn, or how it may help someone else. Small obstacles (traffic jams, stumped toes on furniture, broken elevators, etc.) could be God keeping you from walking into disaster. While the larger challenges could be God setting you up for something way greater!

1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "…And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." So there you have it! God s faithful and He loves you (favors you) so much, that in every situation, He has already provided a way for you to come through.

Oh! By the way, the things we face from day to day have nothing on what Jesus endured on the cross!

In everything, there is always a lesson. They are all a part of a plan. Sometimes the situations we wish we didn't have to face are exactly what we need to become better people, the people God wants us to be. Instead of asking "why me," thank God that He is faithful, thank Him for His favor, thank Him for guidance, thank Him for peace and ability to get through whatever your going through.

If you need a little boost in faith and trusting God, read Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Rest on that!

With Love Always,

JC

Shame, Shame, Shame!!!

Ever been in the closet? On the down low? Got a secret? And noooo, I'm not talking about sexuality here, I'm talking about spirituality. There are a lot of us Christians that are Closet Christians! It seems like the only time and place its cool to be a Christian is at church or only with our fellow Christian friends. Well I'm here to say, if you're a Christian and you absolutely love Jesus, shout it to the world! Say "World, here I am! I love the Lord! I am a Christian!"

I know that sometimes it seems hard to share your story with others. Its not "popular" to talk to people about God. But after all that God has done for us, who are we not to tell others of His greatness! After all "God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten son, that whoever shall believe in him will have life everlasting (John 3:16)." Now if that isn't worth at least a tiny conversation (AT LEAST) then I don't know what is!

Jesus said in Luke 9:26, "Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels." 

Think about this… have you ever been in a situation/ relationship where the person you cared about completely ignored you or only came around when it was convenient for them? Think about how it made you feel. Now that think about how God must feel everyday. He gave us life, He loves and cares for us, yet we continue to ignore Him. We act as if He isn't there, as if He doesn't know all and see all (unless of course we need something). We are all guilty.

Its funny how we aren't afraid to cuss or sin in public, but we won't share what we believe. We boast about money, cars, clothes, and even things we don't own, but we won't boast and Give God glory for all He has done. Oh, and when we do mention it, we simply top off what we're talking about with a two second "praise God."

We spend so much time trying to impress people who really can't do anything for us (nor care about us) when we should be boasting about the ONE we can't do anything without. Think about it…

My prayer today is that we stop what we are doing, ask for forgiveness and begin a new life everyday living for and boasting in God alone. I pray that not only our words but our actions reach multitudes of people so that they, too, may know who God is and how much HE loves us! 

Though we may fall, I thank God for His grace!

With Love Always,

JC

Trust God

A relationship without trust is dead! This not only applies to earthly relationships but also to your relationship with God! You maybe be thinking "Whoa! That is a radical statement!" But is it really? How would you feel if your children, parents, friends or significant other was always questioning or doubting you? Now how do you think God, the creator of all things, feels when we doubt or question Him - and He's way more important than us! Where is the love?

Let's face it, sometimes life is tough. It seems like there is ALWAYS something going on. One moment you're riding high and all of a sudden you're down low and then back up again. You know that saying,  "if its not one thing, its another." Perhaps you feel like that right now. Maybe you're even thinking "Lord, why me?!" 

Jeremiah 29:11 say, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

Isn't that comforting to know that the Lord has already made a plan for your life and that He has no plan to place you in harm's way. So right now we may be experiencing some growing pains - change in career paths, monetary issues, health issues, relationship changes and whatever else you can think of, but God also promises that He "will never leave or forsake [us] (Hebrews 13:5). 

 The way I see it, there are two types of obstacles, those you can do something about and those that you can't. The ones you can do something about, do something. The ones you have no control over, don't fret,  give it to God and let it go!  He is there are ready for you to go to cast your cares upon Him. You can trust He'll take care of your situation better than any other being!

Life and its problems are like a hurdle race… as soon as you clear one hurdle (problem) you think you have some room to run free and then you have to face another hurdle! Life's hurdles give us an opportunity to learn and grow. They also allow for us to be a witness to someone coming up so maybe they don't make the same mistakes we did or even help them to avoid the situations completely.

Psalm 62:8 says to "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge." Know that God has already equipped you with everything you need to run the race. So the next time you're facing one of life's obstacles, remember to say a prayer, do your part, trust God and instead of saying "Lord, why me?" you can say "Why not me?!" and thank Him for already preparing your way.  Remember, if you're not going through something, you're not going anywhere... Trust Him!

With Love Always, 

JC