Stubborn!

The definition of stubborn, according to dictionary.com is: "unreasonably obstinate; obstinately unmoving…" The definition for obstinate is: firmly or stubbornly adhering to one's purpose, opinion, etc.; not yielding to argument, persuasion, or entreaty."

There are many stories of stubborn people and the consequences that followed in the Bible. One such stubborn person was Jonah. Jonah was a prophet who was sent to Nineveh by God because He wanted to give them a chance to repent from their evil ways. Jonah didn't agree with God's mercy on the evil people of Nineveh (as if he had a say in who God can be merciful with). His stubborn-self took a trip to Spain, by ship, the complete opposite side of where Nineveh was on the map! There was an awful storm on the way. Jonah asked the men to throw him over because he knew that the storm was God trying to get his attention. He asked the people to throw him over into the water so that they wouldn't suffer his consequences and possibly drown to death. The storm calmed and Jonah was swallowed up by a great big fish. This fish took him towards the direction he was supposed to go in the first place! When it arrived at the shore, three days later, it "puked" and out came Jonah. He set off for Nineveh and spread the message God had for them. Wouldn't you know, they repented! His stubborn heart was angry with God for forgiving those people. He was stubborn in accepting God's leading to go to Nineveh and he was stubborn in accepting God's mercy on those people. When his work was done he continued to travel. The sun was scorching and there was no shade to be found. The Lord grew a plant for Jonah to have some shade. The next day he allowed a worm to have a go at it and it killed the plant. Now Jonah was angry about this too. The very last two verses of the book of Jonah it says, "Then the Lord said, "You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn't I feel sorry for such a great city?" Jonah 4:10-11 (NLT)

God is merciful, patient and reasonable. We need to reflect those attributes out to the world. When we're being "unreasonably obstinate" are we reflecting God's attributes? "…make every effort to respond to God's promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone. The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 1:5b-8 (NLT) 

Gold-mine!

Just recently a new family moved in to the house that’s across the street from us. This family owns two dogs and we couldn’t wait to meet one of them, the Great-Dain. A few Sunday’s ago I was hanging out in the front of the house with the family and our dog, a Mini-Schnauzer named Chip. That day, our new neighbor brought both of his female dogs over so that we can meet them!

Okay, before I continue I need to let you in on a debate our family has been having for a while now. We cannot decide whether to neuter our dog or not. So, he’s still, without, you know, experience in the area of female doggies. (I hope you get my drift). Anyway, the dogs were doing their thing of getting to know each other, you know, sniffing each other all up in their privates and don’t you know! Athena (the Great-Dain) was, well, let me just be blunt, in heat! Chip’s ears turned up and he was ready to go! He stood up on both his hind legs and started to inch towards her back side when I pulled on his leash and told him to stop (which if you have a male dog you know is totally useless!). It was so funny watching this dog actually try to attempt the impossible! Even though he was standing on his hind legs it was useless! She’s such a tall dog that his head could barely reach her belly. He was nowhere near her “gold-mine!”

I have to give him credit for at least trying. That’s the type of attitude we need to have as believers in the One True God. Sometimes when we are faced with difficult challenges in our Spiritual walk we cave. There are times we give up without even trying. If we were like Chip we’d try anyway! Yes, my dear friends, I was reminded of a very important truth by the leading of the Holy Spirit. This truth is this, when we believe that triumph over the challenges of life’s circumstances are completely out of reach, we need to try anyway!

We need to stop giving up and feeling defeated afterwards! We need to stand up firm and stand our ground! “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then…” Ephesians 6:13-14a (NIV) Yes, we need to go for the “gold” no matter how difficult we may think or feel the situation is. Nothing is impossible when God is involved. If He led you…if it is in His will…if the Spirit is prompting you then go for it! “Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-22 (NIV)

****************************************************************************
My dear friends, thank you for reading! I'd love to read your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. Praying for you! 

Good Friday

r.T.m.
Reflecting Truth Ministries 

When others see you what do they see?

"As water reflects the face, so one's life reflects the heart."

Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)

"One of a Kind!"

Why is it that we love to complain about what we don’t have instead of celebrating what we do have? How about when it comes to our looks, our bodies, our hair…even how our toes look? I have heard so-o-o-o many complaints from both men and women about their looks that it’s exasperating! Come on now! It’s time to stop! It’s time to take a deep breath and exhale slowly. It’s time to really look at ourselves, not from our point of view or from any other human’s point of view. It is time we look at ourselves through God’s point of view. 

Years ago I was confronted by God on this very issue. The lack of appreciation for how He made me was something that I was unaware of. I was so caught up in the “why is it?” that I was too distracted to realize God’s tugging at my heart, mind and spirit. It wasn’t until I was confronted with His Word that I was able to see, truly see just how special He made me. 

You see, my dear friends, I was blinded by what the world was saying was beautiful or even acceptable, that I couldn’t see the reality! The reality was and still is that I am one of a kind and so are you! “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” Psalm 139:14 (NKJV) When I was confronted with His Word conviction soon followed. Did my “soul” really “know very well” that God created me exactly the way He wanted just like an artist creates a beautiful piece of art on a canvas that was once blank?

It is when we finally accept that every part of us is what He intended for us that we can finally see just how precious we truly are! It is then that we can take our eyes off of what we think we lack and put our eyes on what we do actually have! Everything, including how we look, is part of His one of a kind, tailor made, plan for us. He’s given us all we need, inside and out, to accomplish our purpose, our calling here on earth! “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” Ephesians 2:10 (NLT) 

My dear friends, you are a masterpiece! You are one of a kind! There is no one that has ever existed or will ever exist that is just like you! That in and of itself is mind blowing! Stop falling for the lies of Satan! You are unique! Beautiful! Not just good enough but a MASTERPIECE! You are one of a kind!!!

****************************************************************************
Thank you for reading! I consider it such a blessing to share my writing with you! I'd love to read your thoughts on this topic in the comments below. Praying for you my dear friends!

Feeling Better!

Hello my dear friends! I'm feeling so-o-o much better! Praise God for His healing! Thank you Lord for your answered prayers. My sciatica is no longer causing havoc! Woo-Hoo!

I hope you are all doing well. It's been a little more than a month that I wasn't feeling well but now I'm back! Looking forward to all God has in store this year! Thank you for your prayers! God bless you all!

Class on Romans

Praying you all have a wonderful weekend! 

If you are not already committed to something else on Sunday's @ 10:25am I teach a class on the book of Romans. You are more than welcome to join us! Faith Assembly of God, 9307 Curry Ford Road, Orlando, FL, 32825, Room E-202. There is a service at 9am and another at 11:15am and there's something for everyone of any age there, from babies through 100+. 

If you were already planning on going to your church/a church that makes my heart smile. In fact I'd love for you to share where you guys go on Sunday mornings! I'd love to pray for your church (I pray for all of our church's in the US and across the globe. So what I mean is specifically for your church or your church's prayer requests).

May God continue to bless you and yours! Love you guys!