Made To Dance

Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands (Psalms 100:1). Many people worship the Lord in different ways, some with songs, and some with dancing. The most important thing is to worship Him with your whole heart and a truthful spirit.

Miriam the prophetess, Aaron's sister, took the timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dancing (Exodus 15:20).

Have a bless and safe weekend, may the Lord shine down His grace, love and mercy on everyone.

Hidden Beauty

As I walked the sun kissed my face in the right spot. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the warm kiss on my cheek. I looked up at the clouds running across the sky.

I walked over a small bridge, as I looked over; I noticed the brown colored shrubs and bushes. Trees budding, marshland, and a pond of water that looked green as the sun glistened across the water. In the midst of all this I saw three beautiful yellow daffodils reaching to the sun for perfection.

 I thought we always just glance in life for what are flawless and stunning. How different are the thoughts of our God. He takes the worst and find beauty in it. Why do we downcast ourselves? The writer of Genesis 1:26 says: And God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fishes of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.

If the true and living God gave us dominion over the earth, why do we demean ourselves in so many ways? We often judge others before we get to know them. We cultivate the thinking that beautiful means better. But what seems like perfection is not always so. The oleander (above) which is a beautiful pink flower known as one of the most poisonous plants, are often used in suicidal cases around Southern India. It affects the nervous, digestive, and cardiovascular systems all at the same time. We should not “judge a book by its cover”.

Ruth was a Moabite (Moabites were a tribe that worshipped Balaam a false god/idol. They oppressed Israel and sacrificed their children to idols). She married the son of an Israelite. He died along with his father and brother. Naomi her mother-in-law told her to depart because now she has no obligation to her. Ruth was faithful and decided to stay and follow her back home to Bethlehem. Ruth met Boaz and they married, they had a son named Obed. Ruth was the great grandmother of King David. Also the ancestor of Joseph (husband of Mary and would be father to Jesus).Who would have thought a Moabite the great grandmother of a king and a relative to our Lord.

God can use anyone or anything for His purpose. We should learn to see the great beauty within ourselves, the strength and fire in our spirits.

It’s not about you. The purpose of your life is far greater than your own personal fulfillment, your peace of mind, or even your happiness. It’s far greater than your family, your career, or even your wildest dreams and ambitions. If you want to know why you were placed on this planet, you must begin with God. You were born by his purpose and for his purpose. Rick Warren: The Purpose Driven Life. Enjoy these videos about loving yourself and keep hoping, and dreaming.The perfecting of oneself lies in Jesus:)

Women of Strength

Proverbs 31:25-26 She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

Where are the strong women in the twentieth century? Lately I have been taking a close look at young women of today’s society. I am a mother of a beautiful teenager and also an aunt of many nieces. I look back at when I was growing up as a young lady. The things I was taught I took with me to this day.

I was taught to respect myself because I was a lady. I was always taught exceptional manners, not saying good morning or afternoon to an elder would end with trouble. My grandmother always said “manners will take you far”. I was taught that God gave me virginity as a gift. Which was a hard lesson learned when I found out that I was pregnant at the age of nineteen.

Mothers we have to teach our young girls about true identity in life. When did it become exceptable for thirteen year olds to have babies? When did it become exceptable for young girls to dress less than lady like? When did it become normal for our young ladies to have dirtier mouths than the local drunk at a bar?

Women of strength we owe it to our daughters, we have a responsibility to our children. Women of strength loving our children are not just about giving them a lavish life of material possessions, with no substance. Make sure your daughters can speak to you about what is happening in their life, build a bond. We need to nurture them. Show them the right avenues to take in life. We cannot always be their best friends but we can be the best  mothers and role models to them.

There were many astonishing women in the bible. Abigail (1Samuel 25) was beautiful yet intelligent. She was also wise, humble, brave, and courageous. She risked her life to plead for the lives of others, and did not think of herself.

Dorcas (Acts 9:36…) was kind, did many good deeds. She spent her time helping the poor, and widows. When she died many widows and women cried for her. She was loved because she gave love to others. When you or I die will we be remembered? I heard someone said if no one on this earth is speaking good things of you, what are you not doing. Will we leave our young ladies with a legacy?

We need to teach our daughters and young women how to be strong, brave, dignified, caring, loving and persistent in life. . We can do all things through Christ Jesus who strengthens us. Women of strength pray for the young women around the world who are broken in their spirits, minds, bodies and their souls. As mothers we have the power to help our young women. Let them know that they are special to God. Children are gifts from God and He will hold you responsible if you did not take care of your children. I am proud of my children and I pray everyday for God to help me to be a better mother.

Psalms 139:13-14 for you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made, your works are wonderful, and I know that full well.

Let Go and Let God

Isaiah 41:13 for I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.

Why do we like holding on so firmly to the possessions in life that will bring us no happiness or true joy. We surrender ourselves to many things like our jobs, money, other people, and objects. But why is it so strenuous for us to give up our will over to God.

I was told once that if there are people or things in my life that does not add to my life then they are taking away from it.

It is time for healing- time to move on- it is time to fix what’s been broken too long- time to make right what has been wrong- it is time to find where I belong- there is a wave that’s crashing over me and all I can do is surrender- whatever you’re doing inside of me it feels like chaos, but somehow there’s peace, and it is hard to surrender to what I can’t see- but I’m giving in to something heavenly….. Show me what it is you want from me- I give everything I surrender…. Time to release all my held back fears- whatever your doing inside of me it feels like chaos but I believe you’re up to something bigger than me- larger than life something heavenly. Song : whatever you’re doing by Sanctus Real.

God wants to do something  amazing for each of us. There is freedom, joy, peace, productivity, love and a lot more in doing so but we have to let go and let God.

John 15:1-7 “ I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…… If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you.

God bless everyone and have a good weekend.

Masquerade

Ephesians 6:10-11 finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.

Do you think the devil is concerned about what happens to you? Do you think he cares about your contentment? Whether you live or die. When you are in the world doing his work or the things that your heart desires life seems easy or easier.

That is the cover that the devil has given unto many. But when Jesus takes the scales off your eyes and you see clearly things seem to change in your world. The devil knows now that you are on God’s side and he opposes God. So he will do whatsoever he can to detour you from righteousness and all your blessings.

The Art of Loving God tells us that God loves us with His heart by wanting a relationship with us. He loves us with His soul by revealing himself to us. He loves us with His mind by knowing who we are and what we need. God loves us with His strength by giving us what is good. Julie Ackerman Link

Many of us have heard the saying “do not take candy from strangers”, because in order for evil to get what it wants, it must always disguise itself as something desirable. My mother always says “it’s not everything that glitter is gold”. For example the father that molest his daughter, will pretend to be the father that has his family’s best interests at heart. He professes to be loving, caring all the while doing evil behind closed doors.

 It is the same scenario that Satan has. Masquerading as the one giving out all the goodies. But the “gifts” of Satan are all counterfeits. They lead to futility, despair, and uselessness. We need to be alert at all times and watch for his tricks.

All he need is an opening. So pray always, live righteously according to God’s commands, and read your bible. He is afraid of the power in God’s words. When Jesus was finish fasting and the tempter came (devil). He told the devil “get thee hence Satan it is written “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.”  Look to God who is the author and finisher of your faith.1 Peter 5:8-9 be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.

I love music; it always soothes my soul when things seem to be mixed up. Words are very powerful things. So I will share a song with you today, enjoy.

True Love

Solomon 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame.

Today I felt so free and so good. Have you ever woke up and a feeling takes you over. You have no idea why you feel like this, but you just feel so good you don’t even question that feeling. I felt the need to listen to love songs. So I put on Sade being the ultimate love song songstress.

As I listened to her songs I felt so many different reflections on love. I heard compassion, sadness, joy, love, and peace, and broken heartedness in her songs. Then I thought what do we really know about true love. When there are so many ways to describe it. What does it mean to truly love? Do we as human have that kind of capacity to truly love and let ourselves be loved?

Can we just let go and fall. Katharine Hepburn said that few people know what they mean when they say “I love you”…. Well, what does the word mean? It means total interest. I think the reason very few people really fall in love with anyone is they’re not willing to pay the price. The price is you have to adjust yourself to them.

The dictionary says that love is: a feeling of intense desire and attraction toward a person. Sometimes we meet someone and your heart races like a horse on the track, your legs feel like they are going to give out beneath you. Is that truly love? The lust of our eyes can be a very tricky thing.

The bible speaks of love in a lot of texts. It tells a husband/wife on how to treat each other, how to love each other. In the beginning God said it was not good for man to be alone, so He created Eve. When Adam saw this beautiful creature that came from him he said: “this is bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh”.Genesis 2:23

If you are in a relationship where there is mistrust and constantly you are questioning the person, I would seriously sit back and think on what is wrong with the relationship. 1 John 4:18 there is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment. He that feared is not made perfect in love.

The Art of Loving God by Julie Ackerman Link tells us that we grow up believing the romanticize definition. That being in love means always feeling passion. By focusing on emotion and neglecting the behavior, we make ourselves vulnerable.

Love is not about control. I have learned that you cannot mold a person to what you want. It will never work in your favor; a human being has to want change to receive change. We have to learn how to except all of that person; the good, bad and ugly. Love is a compromise, there is no keeping score. This was the example that Jesus set for us when He died for you and me.

Katharine Hepburn also said that love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get, only what you are expecting to give. This is everything. What you will receive in return varies. But it really has no connection with what you give. You give because you love and cannot help giving.

So I leave you with two of my favorite love songs by Sade. Enjoy, put them on and dance with someone you love :)