The Special Encounters

The last couple of months I have allowed the worries of the world to interfere with my spiritual growth.  About a week ago I got a tweet from a new follower named Stephanie and it read: “Hey lady! How is God treating you today?”  I literally stopped what I was doing because it caught me off guard. I was just tweeting random craziness and out of nowhere here was someone asking how God was treating me.  I instantly felt condemned about my recent actions, words and thoughts.  I responded “Hi, he’s been great to me, what about you?” I replied but you know, sometimes we go through the motions and say what we feel people expect us to say or we answer with truth not really pondering the significance of the words we speak.  Later that week Stephanie tweeted Everyone has something they feel strongly about.  But the question becomes are you going to do anything about it.

Yesterday I went to the track to walk and I had the pleasure of accompanying a beautiful young lady around my age that I knew while growing up.  It was my first time really talking to her and her spirit was AH-MAY-ZING! She spoke with such grace and conviction about her love for God and all he’s done and is doing in her life.  I saw in her what I need to see in myself.  She truly inspired me and spoke to my heart and made me do inventory of my spiritual characteristics.  After leaving the track, I felt like God put us on the track at the same time for a reason.  I thought back to the tweet Everyone has something they feel strongly about.  But the question becomes are you going to do anything about it. And it meant something totally different at that moment.  I ‘claim’ to have such a Fear Of and Love For God, yet I do nothing about it.  It’s not in my everyday talk or my walk and definitely not in my tweets LOL. I’m not saying that it should be all that I talk about, but it should be evident when coming into contact with me.

So Today my Voices are Praying: praying for forgiveness of my transgressions, strength in my never ending journey of being a better person, awareness of my actions both good and bad, control to guard my tongue from the things that are unlike him and I pray most of all for a more profound voice to speak of his greatness!

In the words of Stephanie How is God treating you today? And what are you going to do about it?

…Until Next Time

...Asking all them questions

In life, we as human beings question things often.  Why, when, how and who are just a few of the questions we ask. As we grow older these questions never really change, the circumstance and seriousness of the matter may, but we still question life. Eventually after having millions of questions and no answers we usually take those questions to God.  But, as our relationship with God matures, there are certain questions that we expect not to have to ask anymore.  Have you ever found yourself wondering why your still enduring some hardships now that you are trying to develop yourself in Christ? Have you ever found yourself asking God why, how, when or who? When heartache comes we often wonder why God would allow us to feel the way we do.

As I was reading I came across something that read  “God is more concerned about your character development than your comfort level.” When I read those words, it was as if the wind was instantly taken from within me.  What I’ve noticed through this journey is, revelations and confirmations come in the strangest forms.  God will get his message to you through many venues.  After reading, I had to thank God for answering my prayers and giving me the information needed to continue my walk with him.  There are times that I have questioned God,  but reading that made me understand that I have no right to question him in some things, because I’m the one that’s missing the point.   

Let me take a different approach.  If we are a child of God, that makes him our father, right?  What do we give our parents? What is it that most parents want? What gives them the most joy? First and foremost we MUST give our parents respect. Meaning we don’t question why they did something or when they’re going to do something (unless we are ready for the consequences). We should give God (our father) the same respect.  Some questions we should NOT ask, we should trust that whatever is happening is happening for a reason and we should know that his ultimate goal is our well being. And we should be aware that by questioning him we are not having faith in him and we will reap what we sow. Parents also want to feel proud of their children.  They love nothing more than having the assurance of knowing that when they are not around you show people respect, courtesy and compassion as you were taught. The same with God! Futhermore, parents love when you are successful and accomplish things.  It allows them to stick their chest out and feel proud and accomplished through you because you are theirs.  It’s the same with God!  When you react in the spirit its like showing him that you are capable of carrying yourself in a way that is pleasing to him.  And what do parents do when they’re proud of you? Yep. They reward you.. Same with God, hence a blessing!

There are times as a child of God we feel it should be easy sailing... but, Jesus is King of Kings and Lord of Lords, yet he was crucified! So remember you will never be above disappointment, hurt or pain. But you can rise above allowing any situation to overcome you. 

Today my Voices are encouraging you to give God something to be proud of! Show him growth, respect, and knowledge! When you fear someone you dont usually question them and we as Christians should possess the Fear of God, so STOP ASKING ALL THEM QUESTIONS!

Until Next Time…

Because of Who You Are

My sister came down for a couple of weeks recently so we got to spend some time together. As we were sitting talking a song came on, it was 'Because of Who You Are' by Juanita Bynum and I began to frown and I told my sister  “I don’t like that song” she looked at me strange and asked why and I couldn’t answer her.  All I knew was, every time the song comes on I find myself frowning and depicting the song word for word.  So I told her “I just don't understand  why she said she praise him because of who he is” My sister is rather opinionated but this time she didn’t say anything... to my surprise. 

A couple of days after that conversation I said my prayers and laid down to go asleep and in my mind I began singing… “Because of who you are I give you glory, because of who you are I give you praise” and I started frowning and then it came to me clear as day why I react the way that I do to that song.  I realized that I frown when I hear that song because that’s not why I give him praise. I give him praise because of the person he has helped me become and the person he makes me want to be.  I couldn’t wait to talk to my sister again to give her the reason why I don’t like that song and she said “Gal, I’m glad you came up with something because I was like why she don’t like that song?” Then she went on to say “That may not be your truth but it is the truth to some people; that's the only person we should praise because of who they are” and I just sat there and listened. After I talked to her I realized she was right and I was being judgmental about why someone else gives God praise and that is wrong!  Just as everyone’s struggle is specific to them so are their reasons for doing things. 

So I decided to start typing, and as I’m typing I had another revelation… I have always known God, BUT  that was never enough for me to truly give him my all and try to become a better person. So basically I didn’t understand the song because it was the fear of God that I didn’t possess. (If this were a cartoon my jaw would now be on the floor from shame)   So notice my shock right now to realize that this blog is actually to reveal a truth about myself that I never realized before.  The Fear of God is something everyone should have and understand and since I didn't have it I did not understand it. How sad is that?

So Today My Voices are checking me saying “Your reaction to some things may be about an internal truth that has not yet been revealed so don’t be so quick to judge people… YOU may be the one that needs evaluation!”

Until Next Time...

The Value of Wisdom: Proverbs 2

One thing I’ve learned over the years is that many people interpret the same situation multiple ways…and this doesn’t necessarily mean that some people are right and others are wrong.  It just means that it’s their PERSONAL perception so it may not be the same view as the masses.  The same thing can be said for a sermon or a bible scripture.   

As I continue to feed my spiritual self, I think my physical being will benefit as well…whether it be from condemnation or awareness .  Below is the reading for December 2, 2011.

Proverbs 2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Proverbs 2

The Value of Wisdom

 ¹ My son, if you receive my words
   and treasure up my commandments with you,
²making your ear attentive to wisdom
   and inclining your heart to understanding;
³yes, if you call out for insight
   and raise your voice for understanding,
⁴if you seek it like silver
   and search for it as for hidden treasures,
⁵then you will understand the fear of the LORD
   and find the knowledge of God.
⁶For the LORD gives wisdom;
   from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
⁷he stores up sound wisdom for the upright;
   he is a shield to those who walk in integrity,
⁸guarding the paths of justice
   and watching over the way of his saints.
⁹ Then you will understand righteousness and justice
   and equity, every good path;
¹⁰for wisdom will come into your heart,
   and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul;
¹¹ discretion will watch over you,
   understanding will guard you,
¹²delivering you from the way of evil,
   from men of perverted speech,
¹³who forsake the paths of uprightness
   to walk in the ways of darkness,
¹⁴who rejoice in doing evil
   and delight in the perverseness of evil,
¹⁵men whose paths are crooked,
    and who are devious in their ways. ¹⁶So you will be delivered from the forbidden^[a] woman,
   from the adulteress^[b] with her smooth words,
¹⁷who forsakes the companion of her youth
   and forgets the covenant of her God;
¹⁸ for her house sinks down to death,
   and her paths to the departed;^[c]
19none who go to her come back,
   nor do they regain the paths of life.
 ²⁰So you will walk in the way of the good
   and keep to the paths of the righteous.
²¹For the upright will inhabit the land,
   and those with integrity will remain in it,
²²but the wicked will be cut off from the land,
   and the treacherous will be rooted out of it.