You Are Who He Says You Are

    Hello. My name is Elaina as most of you know...but not because my parents named me. You see God knew my name before I was in my mother's womb. God knew what I would look like. God knew what I would be like. God knew the numbers of hair that would be on my head...and on my body. God knew how tall I would be. God knew how much I would weigh....before eating that bacon. God knew my eye color. God knew me from the inside out and that...that wouldn't stop when I was born...He knew me intimately then and He knows me intimately now.

 

    He wants me to get to know Him intimately too. He wants all of us to and we all have that choice to make, but it is so very important to be in prayer and constant communication with Him. I remember when I was in such an emotionally and spiritually abusive relationship that I didn't know how to get out of it. I couldn't at all do it on my own strength...because I had tried. I had tried many times to. It took me over a period of a year to pray the words three or more times, "Let there be light." God wanted to know how much I wanted Him and how much I wanted to get out of that situation that almost killed me. When I finally called He answered.

 

    I always knew prayer was powerful, but after that I understood it on a deeper level. He saved me from my life being potentially destroyed. All I had to do was communicate that I wanted to be free to Him. All I had to do was remember the One who I got to know through prayer and reading the Word, the only One I needed and need forevermore. When you hear people tell you to read your Bible it's for a reason. That's how we get to know Him. How do we know what is right and wrong? How do we know what steps to take? How do we know the direction to go in? How do we know Him deeper? It's the same in getting to know people deeper. We spend time with them, we communicate with them, we find out their likes and dislikes, we get to know their family, and we come to understand why they do what they do and why they say what they say.

 

    If you looked at my Twitter a few months ago you would probably have seen a lot more "don'ts" than you do now. You would have seen me giving more pointers before looking at my life first. I have come to a realization that I need to take care of my life more and that alone would be the truest message. I don't tell people what not to do anymore because I have seen people tell you what not to do and then not show you what to do. Without God we are nothing. Without love we are nothing. If I'm not pointing you to God above all else ESPECIALLY when I'm speaking don't, don't, don't then I have failed.

 

    I can't change you. I can't change your situation and neither can anybody else. Only God can change you and He changes you by grace through faith. As you let the Holy Spirit enter in and as you let Him lead you there will be evidence of change. There will be evidence of the fruits of the Spirit. There will be evidence of a heart of stone softening because of the love that only Jesus can give. There will be evidence of one living by the law of righteousness and not by the works of the law. You will experience a deep encounter with God that you cannot find with anybody else. You will experience a euphoria basking in His indescribable presence. He is called Wonderful Counselor, Everlasting Father, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. His name is Jesus and YOU are who He says you are - a child of the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. You are His.

 

   I said I wasn't going to make any resolutions that I'm not going to follow as we all head into the New Year, but let's all make one together if we're all serious: let us all come to a place where we're completely relying on God instead of anything or anybody else. We must be willing to give our lives for Him so whatever is holding you back from getting to know Him more be willing to lose. Let us all seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with the Lord our God. Let us take time to bask in His presence and to sit down and truly think about all that He has done for us - together and individually.

 

 

 

*Challenge yourself - Come up with ten things individually or as a family of what He has done for you that you are truly thankful for. Read Romans 8.

 

Ephesians 8:2-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

 

Romans 8:4 - "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."

 

Promising Humility

Promising Humility

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Christianity shouldn't be a race towards

Popularity.

Where some of our ministries..

Are looking more like idolatry

And becoming a series of don't s

Where the world just looks at us and says, "I won't,"

Because our don't s..

Are focusing on ourselves to be perfect..

When we're human...imperfect

Which is why Jesus was resurrect..

So He could direct

Our paths that don't lead to foolish pride

And haughty eyes

That will ultimately lead us to fleshy lies

That we can do it on our own.

Did we forget about the One seated on the throne?

We've become plucked from grace 

By sitting in that place of thinking,

Running the race of dreaming

About that popularity

Instead of humility.

So that whole living holy is really based on strategy

Instead of depending 

On the Holy Spirit to do work.

We're pretending to be right in the midst of our dirt.

Pride.

I've said it before.

It's suicide.

We should have one focus:

That's HIM.

And one last thing..

It's interim.

God's True Grace

God's True Grace

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

 

 

God's grace is sufficient..

But there's a point

In which

God hands people over to their wickedness.

 

Allegedly they're handed over to their own frigidness

Because they decided..

To despise..

The warnings of the wise.

 

It's one thing to struggle..

And another thing to juggle

With sin..

And to twist grace to deceive many men.

 

It's one thing to fall..

And another thing to be immersed in it all

With no remorse

Or change of course.

 

Especially when grace is used as an excuse..

To misuse, accuse, and abuse..

And curse...

The innocent in an instant

 

As well as confuse infants

With fake brilliance.

Let's make it our mission..

To be in submission to Jesus Christ.

And recognize flaws and faults..

From the false.



The Reality of Innocence

The Reality of Innocence

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Murder capital.

Sin city.

This was around when I was 

Twenty. 

Ha.

Arrested in Flint for a crime I didn't commit -

At least this time..

 A crime..that I didn't commit.

So much injustice..

In a city of violence

This time..

I was innocent.

Later my case was dismissed.

But I want to tell you about the experience.

Betrayed.

By somebody who was supposed to love me.

But all I could think of was that

Some of these prisoners were more free

Than the people you see..

Walking on the streets.

Some of the police..

Were missing their hearts

While some of these prisoners had missing body parts.

And when I say they were missing their hearts

What I really meant was..

 That their hearts were brutally dark.

Mocked.

By men in uniforms

And I surely..don't mean

Orange..ones.

But by men and women with badges that they supposedly..earned.

Who were still given grace if they could only learn..

To accept it..

And to stop rejecting it.

If they could only learn to see..

That they were no better than anybody.

In cuffs

While I was waiting to see the judge

All I could think of was the man hanging up on the cross -

Jesus.

He was betrayed by the people he walked among..

The very people that he still died for..

To love.

The ONLY innocent man who was hung upon a tree

Gave me peace.

You are my child - protected by the blood.

All things I have worked together for your own good.

You are called according to my purpose and you've got to

Forget those who are still being remorseless.

Forgive and forget the pompous.

Move on because you deserve..

Love.

Move on..

Because I have something greater.

Someone who is faithful.

Not only..

Faithful..

To you, but faithful..

To me.

The Image of Transparency

The Image of Transparency

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

You all up on here carin' about your image like Cain

While I'm just doing damage with the transparency of what I say.

I ain't perfect.

I make mistakes.

But you just on here tryin' to imitate..

The world

With the words you spill 

And the poison you hurl on Saturday nights.

That's what I used to be like

But now on Sunday mornings I learn to be like,

Love like Christ

Instead of loving like those one stand nights.

I'm new.

Let me tell you

It wasn't worth it when the night was through.

Love with no attachments led to other people's misjudgments about me.

Slut, hoe, whore.

Well with that night I thought I won..

The heart of the man who I adored 

In place of the innocent lamb who I ignored..

Swapped..

For a man in a mask,

A man who played around like it was an important task.

Cheater, cheater, pumpkin eater.
Had another and didn't love her.

Spiritual maturity like a nursery rhyme,
Recognized, realized, and brought into the light.
I was confused.
Heard so many "God bless you's."
Which "god" are you talking about!?
For the first time in my life I started to doubt
What I really knew -
The truth.
Yet the one and only God pulled me out.
I was blind, but now I can see
The ugliness of deceit.

Let this be a lesson.
Not of defeat,
But of victory and freedom..
Because He was watching over me.
Protected by the blood..
From
Wolves in sheep masks.
Always declare, "Let there be light" and ask..
For discernment,
What a beautiful, beautiful adornment.

Testimony Tuesday - Anthony Young

Who Am I?

Anthony Young

To begin, my name is Anthony Young, a 20 year old college student who lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. I have a job at a major electronics store, and I also volunteer at my local church as a youth leader. At one point in time I was a Spiritual Coach for Groundwire.net but found doing all of what I was doing was too demanding and taxing on me, so I have been on break from that.
I love people, and believe that there is good in every single person, no matter how evil their actions may be in this world; and have been spending the past few years of my life helping those less fortunate, or being there for those who feel like they have no one to go to -- and I have been doing this all through The Reading Group.

But I wasn't always so eager to help others; I wasn't always so willing to be selfless and help others, even if they didn't want my help. There was once a time to where the only thing I was worried about was myself and my own gain. There was a time in my life where I didn't claim Jesus as my Lord & Savior.
I don't have a story that begins with "I was raised in the church" or "everything was handed to me". No; my story starts on a much different path.
I come from a single parent home, growing up with just my mother doing her best to support me and my now 2 brothers and 2 sisters. My father was kicked out while I was young, and since then my mom hasn't been able to find the one who one would consider would be "chosen by God" for her. So that has always been a struggle for her, and for myself to watch as I grew older and saw a lot of my friends with happily married parents. I hated my dad for a very long time for not being there for my mother, for not being there for me.
While growing up through school, I never really thought that I would truly use school to get anywhere in life. If my dad has left and is not making much of his life as far as what I knew, how would I possibly do any better? So I did not care about school or succeeding with anything in life. And that was just the beginning of the lies that the devil had filled my mind and my hear with; but at the time I didn't truly know better, even though I knew the 'basics' of right and wrong. So because I didn't care about school, or life for that matter, I didn't try. Once I got in highschool, I never tried - never did my homework or truly applied myself in the classroom. For I was too worried about my friends and being the 'class clown' you can say. I wasn't dumb, for I always did decent or well on my test, but not doing my homework led to bad grades. I also ended up getting into a relationship with a girl who I had a few classes with, so she was the only thing on my mind while in any of my classes. And with all of that adding up, it ended with me failing the 9th Grade (Freshman Year of Highschool)

You can say major reality check. The conversation with my mother once she found out I have failed the 9th grade did not go the way you normally thought it would go. I was expecting a lot of rage, and maybe to get beat. But she barely yelled at me - which let me know even more how disappointed she was with me; and that hurt me more than any beating ever could. I also received a phone call from my father who also told me how disappointed he was with me for following in his footsteps - for he failed the 10th grade when he was in school. And that made me hate him even more, for that was the only reason why he had called.

I was put on punishment for an entire year. For a 15 year old kid, that is the end of the world. No internet, no phone, no friends over. The only things I was allowed to do was go to school, then come home and go to my room. But I rebelled against my mother, and found ways to sneak out of the house to see the now new girlfriend who I had. But I wasn't a completely bad child. For after experiencing letting both of my parents down, I took it upon myself to make it up to them and I applied myself to school, getting straight A's

(High Marks) in all of my classes. Luckily, God saw my hard work, and I was presented with an opportunity to get back into my correct grade. I took it and began to get back on the right path. But that wouldn't last very long. For after that I would find myself heading right back on the road to destruction that I was on before.

 

THIS IS THE DEATH OF ME.

[This section contains content some may not find suitable for younger people. Just a warning. Don't worry, there's no cursing]

The following year, I began talking to yet another girl, who I eventually started dating. My life was 'back together' - from my own perspective - for I was no longer on punishment, and I could actually 'have a life". But the relationship would be the most toxic one I've ever had. I've became sexually active at this time, and the relationship became so unhealthy that the only reason why we were together was because of our addiction to lust. We've cheated on each other, because our 'love' was based on a lie. I found myself addicted to pornography. As my relationship started to drag on with this girl, I noticed myself becoming less and less happy with my life. I began to hate everything about myself because I wasn't satisfied with her or myself. Yet I could never bring myself to leave the relationship. We argued and fought, and I began to drink alcohol. My grades in school began to fall once again, and I started to not be very social with my friends.
I became so depressed with my life that I began to take pills in an attempt to numb my emotional pain and fill what was missing in my life.

And when that did not work for me, suicidal thoughts began to pour into my head. I started thinking things like "why am I even here" and "no one would care if I just ran away and died". And I began to honestly believe that to be truthful. So one day, I finally decided I would give up on life. I went to a local bridge in my town, prepared to jump off into the river and forever disappear.
I ended up telling a friend my intentions, and she pleaded for me to not go through with it. But I decided otherwise. But as I sat on the bridge, I couldn't bring myself to jump. For something just would not allow me to do so. So that attempt turned out to not happen. So I ended up going back to pills, trying to purposely over dose and not tell anyone until it was too late. But I could never successfully do that either.

The Genesis | A New Beginning 

I now see why I was always unsuccessful with taking my own life. It is because God had a bigger plan for my life than I had for myself. I didn't notice it at first, but He had placed someone in my life at a very young age who He would utilize to bring me towards Himself. A friend of mine, my very best friend since the 3rd grade, was one of the few people who I would go to with my issues. I knew his parents went to church often, and one day it was just on my heart to ask him to take me to church with him since my family didn't go. He agreed to take me with his family to church every week. It was after then that I found happiness and peace coming slowly back into my life. But still yet I was battling depression and suicidal thoughts. But another friend of mine who also happened to be a Christian invited me and my best friend to his church for a youth outreach event that they were having. And from that very day, I knew I was home.  I began going to that youth ministry on a weekly bases, and I became as involved as much as I possibly could as the Lord began to fill me with peace and the comfort of knowing the Holy Spirit. And I soon gave my life to Christ.

I have always had compassion for others, and I always went out of my way for my friends, always being that person who they could go to just to have someone who would listen to them and allow them to vent, but I was never a person who would tell people about Christ, for at that time I was not an all out Christian.

But that would all play into my role here at The Reading Group.

A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND MILES BEGINS WITH ONE STEP.

The Reading Group started off rather coincidentally. It began with me and a Christian friend of mine, Emma, keeping each other accountable for reading our bibles. I was struggling with doing it on a daily basis, but I knew I really wanted to grow more in God. We began by both doing a reading plan together and checking on eachother on a daily basis to be sure we've read out bibles. We've like that idea so much that we brought some more friends on board to join us. We made a Facebook Group with our friends to try and get more people reading their bibles consistently. As we began to make more people join the group, we've noticed that we had reached around 100 group members. That was when I felt God calling me to make it more than just friends and classmates, but to spread this idea to as many people as I possibly could. And thus The Reading Group was born. Over the course of little under a year, our Facebook page had grown to about 1000 followers, and then Twitter had around 500. Since I was in college I knew I couldn't always be able to be online to post, so I started looking for more people to join, and that's when I started meeting some of our amazing Leaders online via Twitter and Facebook.

Now, 2 years later, The Reading Group is on almost every major social network, from Facebook, to Twitter, Instagram, Google+, LinkedIn, and an inactive Pintrest account :P

With over 2000 followers on Facebook and Instagram, and a team of over 20 leaders from all over the world. I would have never thought that God would have brought me this far, and the journey is only just beginning for this ministry. Our leaders are so amazing, for everything that they do is volunteer, out of the goodness of their hearts, willing to do whatever it takes to change the world. Because that's what this earth needs - World Changers. I would not be able to do any of this without them. [For a list of our leaders, please visit www.myreadinggroup.com/aboutus]

Too often, people live a life similar to what I have lived, living in sin, but they aren't as lucky as I am to have friends or people who they are able to go to church with, or they don't have a Godly individual to guide them to the right path. Too often, Christians just watch these people waste their lives away and say "what a shame" instead of getting up and reaching out to those people like Christ reached out for many of us who didn't just grow up in the church. That is why we are here. To do what many refuse to do and be that friend who tells people "I know someone who loves you so much that they gave their life for you.. would you like to know more about them?", or to bluntly say "the way you are living is going to land you in a pit of fire for you being stupid and wasting your life, you need to change it now." That, and so much more is The Reading Group itself. For we all love people so much that we cannot afford to see those around us perish and go to hell when we can do something about it.

THE BEST IS YET TO COME

I have not only been blessed with an amazing and wonderful team, God has been positioning this ministry to be able to work together with other ministries and organizations to help further spread the Word of God and His unfailing love.

______________________________
Anthony Young
Founder | The Reading Group
anthony@myreadinggroup.com

The Reading Group - To bring together the body of Christ in fellowship through the Word of God.
www.myreadinggroup.com
www.facebook.com/dailybiblereadings
www.twitter.com/reading_group

Member of The NEGU Family Network.
www.NEGU.org

The Warfare of Words

 The Warfare of Words

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

He sent down His Son.
Choose the blood.
Receive His love
And put down your selfish ambitions,
Ugly traditions.

And pick up your cross
So you can lead the lost
And not lead them astray
For your own display of blame.
Choose real change.
Repent from the lies that lead them to shame,

That cause them to lose everything.

And even if you succeed
When they fall to their knees
The trees will hold them up
Because it's in God that they trust,

Not lust.
Not money.
Not words that drip like honey

Which actually sting like a scorpion...
Factually, their words become like a ROAR of a lion.

Their prayers..are now burning with fire.
Their shields protect them from evil desires.
And as the end keeps drawing near
They fight with faith instead of fear.

(Follow me on Twitter and on Instagram @1C3N4Given)

Tap To Retry

                          

    Some of ya'll be like I'm not pretty enough, handsome enough, skinny enough, muscular enough, good enough, cool enough, creative enough, chill enough...the list goes on.  Genesis 1:27 - "So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them." Some of ya'll need to tap to retry until you load not your image, not the world's image, not your friends' image, not your enemies' image BUT GOD'S image. YOU are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made! Now let's be even more real here. Everybody on this earth has struggled with self-image at least once. You are not immune. Your self-image is something that can make you or break you. If you never believe in yourself then you're never going to DO, whatever that may be.

    We know from John 10:10 that the enemy has come to steal, kill, and destroy. You better believe he's going to target your self-esteem! If he can cause your confidence to cave then he can get you to fall into the traps of comparison, condemnation, and competition which are not of God. Whoa. Now don't get discouraged just yet. First we need to realize just how amazing we really are. Let's take it back to the last paragraph: "YOU are FEARFULLY and WONDERFULLY made." 

    We're fearfully made? Well we are also told to fear God, right? (Luke 1:50, Ecclesiastes 12:13, Psalm 33:8, Proverbs 1:7 etc.) Most of us know this kind of fear means being in awe of God by respecting and loving Him. So we can make the connection that us being fearfully made doesn't mean God's afraid of us, but that wow! We are the most beautiful creatures to Him (or handsome for you strapping men of God) and He loves us! I know you guys aren't stupid and can figure out what wonderfully means, but just take a second to soak that all in. Crazy, right? God is in awe of US! 

    It reminds me of my reaction to the leaves changing colors this time of year. The once green leaves are now dipped in gold, covered in a blanket of scarlet, and burning with bright orange fire all because the season has changed. I take thousands of pictures of the trees this time of year and I'm not joking! I absolutely can't get enough pictures even if many of those look the same. It's breathtaking. As humans we're constantly changing as well, and hopefully for those of us who are Christians we're changing to look more and more like Jesus. But when we go through an easy breezy season we forget how to fight and then hard times creep up on us. We forget to make war in the spiritual realm. If you recognize that you're a child of the Most High and you know that in the end He wins then why not fight?

    The cool thing about trees is that the brightness of their leaves' colors are based on the temperature and the delay of the leaves changing color is based upon the amount of rain we get that year. The rain that year might be uncomfortable and the leaves may shrivel up on the tree's branches, but the beauty of change ends up coming sooner.. The warmer temperature might be uncomfortable, but the brighter the leaves end up being because of it! So hang on to that tree, lovely ones. We may be going through a rough time of insecurity in ourselves, in what God is calling us to do or if He even has something for us, and we may be going through many other different types of challenges that just seem so hopeless to us but look how much more beautiful we will be because of it if we can only hang on to that tree.

"Staying the same produces pain and negative consequences while change may produce pain, but the results are good!" - Elaina Grace Morgan

   

    However, it doesn't stop there! WHATEVER challenges you've faced, WHATEVER challenges you are facing know that you can use that experience to help someone who is going through the same thing. The challenges you're facing are not only for you to be more beautiful and able to help others; they're also to make you look more like Jesus! They're to make you STRONGER. So next time a thought comes into your head, next time a person discourages you, next time Satan screams in your ear whether it's about who God made you to be or where God wants to take you start declaring your confidence. Count it ALL joy! If you believe in yourself and above all, believe in God to do the things He wants to do in you and through you then you will see it happen. Remember, knowing your worth isn't thinking that you're more worthy than anybody else and it isn't thinking you're less worthy than anybody else. God made YOU unique. There's NOBODY else like you!

James 1:2-8 - "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask Him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do."

*Challenge yourself - Spend time with your Lord in worship. Listen to Oceans by Hillsong United, Hold Us Together by Matt Maher, Who I Am by Casting Crowns and Redeemer by Nicole C. Mullen. Don't just sing the words, sing them from your heart and believe them.

Help The Harvest

    When a plant sits in the sun a long time and isn't being watered enough it dies. I remember back in elementary school when I chose to do an experiment involving plants for my science project. I had to switch to doing something else because my plant still hadn't grown when it was less than a week before the project was due. I knew I had to expose it to sun and provide it with water but I just kind of, sort of forgot. How many of you just kind of, sort of forget to encourage your friends, children, employees, and maybe even your spouses?

    Well if you can't encourage someone when they do right then who says you have the right to discourage someone when they make a mistake? When we're always telling people what to do it comes off 100% of the time as nagging. Let's be real for a second. The majority of the time many people mistake telling the truth as being bold when in all actuality it's not going to do a thing (See "Judge and Judge Not" for more). Yes, we should tell others the truth and let God talk to the person if it offends them, but think about yourself for a moment.

    Who's really telling the truth in love? Who's really helping the person by telling them what to do without telling them how? It is by the GRACE of God that we have been saved (Ephesians 2:8) and it is by the Holy Spirit doing His work in us (1 Peter 1:2) that we may be obedient. So telling someone to do this and that is ineffective without a humble, gentle, loving explanation of this.

    Without the focus being on God's grace we're focusing on OUR work and when we focus on our work we're the ones who get the glory when we do "good" or when we "fulfill our call". We know that NO ONE should get the glory except Jesus Christ. Without Him we could try our hardest to do what is right but we would still be bound by the law. So build each other UP in your faith. Encourage others in doing what is lovely and pleasing in the sight of the LORD. Love on them! Most importantly encourage yourself to do the same in doing what's right by being the example, love yourself so that you may show others how.

*Challenge yourself* - Go out of your way to build someone up who looks downcast whether you know them or not whether it's buying them coffee or giving them a compliment that shows the love of Christ. #LoveLikeChrist

Hebrews 3:13 - "But exhort one another every day, as long as you call it today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness."

Ephesians 2:8 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God."

1 Peter 1:2 - "...who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."

A Reason for Every Season

    When a baby wants his mother's milk he cries and cries until he gets it. Humankind is impatient. We were all born into a sinful world so until someone taught us the art of being patient or until we ended up learning for ourselves down the road it was our nature. I assume that you're all Christians, but if you're not don't stop reading - this could apply to you too!

    If you are a Christian you were made BRAND NEW. You have made a commitment to die to your flesh daily and let the Holy Spirit take control of your thoughts, desires, words, and actions. You then are choosing to live in GOD' S will for your life. Then comes the question that we're all impatient in waiting for the answer: what is my purpose? Maybe for you that question looks like: what should I go to school for, who should I marry, what job should I take, OR maybe God's revealed something to you and you're trying to make it happen in your own timing. Let me tell you that it won't work.

(Left to right: Erika, dad, Evan, mom, Elyse, and me (Elaina lol))

    I think I was four or five the one Christmas where my mum told me I got less presents than all my other siblings. My lower lip started quivering and I ended up crying these big "crocodile tears". I didn't wait for her to tell me that it was because one of my presents was more expensive than any one of my other siblings' and that's why I had fewer presents than them. So as the other kids opened up the rest of their presents I waited for my last one while I sat on my daddy's lap crying. Then it came the time when I got to open up my last one. I waited in sour anticipation as they were bringing it up from the basement because I was hurt my mum told me earlier that I had to wait. My dad brought it into the eighties decor family room. It was a big present! I opened it with excitement and it ended up being the dollhouse I REALLY wanted. 

    The point of that story was that we already know that God has a great and fulfilling purpose in store for us. There are times where sometimes we have to step out in faith but when we are waiting for His answer we're often not patient (that includes having a good attitude) and then when we do have the answer we try to make it happen instead of learning the lesson He meant for us to learn on this journey: to trust in HIM and HIS timing and HIS way of doing things. We need to realize that some seasons are for planting, some are for growing, and some are for reaping the harvest. Don't try to rush to the season you want; you might miss a very important step.

    So when it seems like all of your friends, family, or even your enemies are ahead of you in life remember trust in God. (Read Ecclesiastes 3)
that we're not in competition with them. We are to walk where God wants us to walk in anticipation of good things, wait patiently where God wants us to wait, and praise Him joyfully no matter where we are. You never know where He's going to take you or what He's doing in you. So your task is easy: sit back, relax, and

Ecclesiastes 3:1 - "For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest...."

Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in ALL you do, and He will show you which path to take."

Ecclesiastes 7:8 - "Finishing is better than starting. Patience is better than pride."

Romans 15:5 - "May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus."

Judge or Judge Not? That is The Question

   
   This is how stupid we look when we judge somebody. This is how hateful we are when we call that stripper a slut because nobody taught her she was worth more than that. This is how stupid we look when we call the homeless man a lowlife when in reality he has a home in heaven and has more faith than you. This is how stupid we look when we call that girl overly emotional yet she's being beaten at home. This is how we look when we judge others in any way, shape, or form. You don't know where they've been, what they've endured, what God could be doing in them, and where God could be bringing them. Put your finger down and if you point it again the only direction you have the right to point it in is straight into the mirror.

Matthew 7:1-6: "Do not say what is wrong in other people's lives. Then other people will not say what is wrong in your life. You will be guilty of the same things you find in others. When you say what is wrong in others, your words will be used to say what is wrong with you. Why do you look at the small piece of wood in your brother's eye, and do not see the big piece of wood in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take that small piece of wood out of your eye,' when there is a big piece of wood in your own eye? You who pretend to be someone you are not, first take the big piece of wood out of your own eye. Then you can see better to take the small piece of wood out of your brother's eye. 

Do not give that which belongs to God to dogs. Do not throw your pearls in front of pigs. They will break them under their feet. Then they will turn and tear you to pieces."

    Now let's talk about the GOOD kind of judging. Yes, I did say good. Here's a posing question: why spend your life, time, energy, or anything else you have to offer on someone who doesn't appreciate what you can bring to the table? For example, this teaching is something I'm sharing with you. But why would I if you're going to take it and find a way to stomp all over me, what I say, or even twist it? Yes, God teaches us to give. He teaches us to believe the best in people. He teaches us to give with the right heart. AND God also teaches us wisdom. So here are some more questions for you to answer: have you ever spent time with someone where the both of you were being lifted up? Have you ever given someone something, and then they ended up doing something amazing with it that you wouldn't have done? Have you ever given someone godly advice, and then they put it into practice and later became a man or woman full of wisdom? OR perhaps once you've spent time looking at a "leader's", ex's, or a gossiper's Facebook or Twitter page. Perhaps once you've spent time hanging out with somebody who dragged you down. Maybe you gave somebody something and they were ungrateful. Or maybe you gave someone advice and then they started talking about you because they didn't like what you said, or even the fact that they were being confronted in the first place. Or maybe they started twisting the Bible or taking a Bible verse out of context to fit it to what THEY wanted it to say. Guys, your time is precious. Your gifts are treasures. Let's choose to be wise and let the Lord lead us to who He says to give to in those moments. Remember, God rested on the seventh day after creating the very universe you live in so don't burn yourself out and especially don't burn yourself out on people who frankly don't care about you. Judge wisely and with compassion. This will keep us walking in humility and it will also keep reminding us WHO really gets the glory.

This Is My Battle Cry

This Is My Battle Cry

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I pray against any assignment of the enemy.

Devil, you have NO authority.

This is my battle cry and I will not back down.

You have one choice: to turn around.

Because I'M team JESUS.

Your attacks are NO match.

I murdered my flesh,

A common trend for those who are prepared,

not to walk in the snare..of your deceit

And I know now that whatever I'm facing doesn't end in defeat.

I choose to walk with Jesus

On a daily basis

And let Him guide my feet to the cross..

Condemnation lost and redemption WON.

That's how I know MY redeemer LIVES.

Now I'M making war.

Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."

Take A Stand

    "Hey, I have a question," stated the man who works in the same office building as I do. "What's that," I asked happily after sorting through his accent for what he was saying. He preceded to ask me why I parked my car all the way on the other side of the parking lot. I've never seen this man before so I was really surprised that he even noticed that the car was mine. Honestly, this was not the first time I was asked this. I was walking into the office a few weeks prior when these two men were standing by the door having their morning cigarette. I see one of these men almost every morning so he and I normally exchange a casual "good morning" as I rush into work, but that day he asked me that same question the man with the accent later had asked. 

    It's a very anti-climatic answer, but the doctor had told me to get more exercise because I don't have good circulation. I sit at a desk all day which makes it very hard to do any cardio so I decided to park all the way across the parking lot. I noticed as I did this not only did those men notice, but three other cars started parking all the way across the parking lot by my car and it's always the same three cars. This really got me thinking because I'm one of those people who look at simple situations like this one and somehow apply something of spiritual significance to try to turn it into an interesting story when I write on my blog...ha ha.

    I'm definitely no Einstein or C.S. Lewis, but if something so small can affect other people then think about how something so great like standing for a holy God can affect the world. Think about how something like shining your "little" light into the world can affect darkness. It takes one person to take a stand to have people notice. If it is one person who notices and changes because of you then think about the others who will notice and change because of them. It's a domino effect! Okay, so now you know how it affects others. How does this affect you?

    When the mild season of fall turns into the famous Michigan brisk winter we have I wonder how many people are going to continue to park their cars across the parking lot. I even wonder if I'll end up parking closer. But as Christians do we ponder and ask ourselves what our attitudes will be like when we start to go through persecution? Are we going to think only about ourselves and forget how our attitude can affect those around us? So when you reach a rough season in your life will you still be taking a stand for God or will you just be getting by? Will you choose to say, "I confidently trust in JESUS to get me through this" or will you just wait to grow until the storm passes by? Will YOU be that one to take a stand?

Psalm 31:15 - "My times are in Your hand; Deliver me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me."

Psalm 20:7 - "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, But we will boast in the name of the LORD, our God."

Psalm 25:1-2 - "To You, O LORD, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, Do not let me be ashamed; Do not let my enemies exult over me."

Psalm 40:4 - "How blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, And has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood."

Peace Through Persecution

Peace Through Persecution

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Thank You, God that even in my dreams

You can renew my mind to find..

Forgiveness and peace 

Through persecution..

That attribution..

Goes to You.

Honestly, my flesh wants prosecution.

Then I was reminded..Your love was restitution of my worth..

Now here's a word..

For those who are hurting..

Or even those who are burdening:

God's Word and opinion is the only valid one concerning.

It might not bother you in the beginning,

But don't let the constant jabbing..

Move you,

Instead move forward towards the One who is true.

You see yesterday I might have let it get to me.

I'm human, but I won't listen to my enemies.

Because I realize your enemy..

Will never listen completely.

Don't Turn Back Now

Don't Turn Back Now

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

You think that bump in the road means you should turn back,

That being too tired to fix your flat tire..means you should turn back,

That a wrong turn..because you weren't assertive means you should turn back,

That running out of gas..means you should turn back.

Well that bump was to get your attention

 That you have my affirmation though the road would not be easy.

You see you were starting to get a little lazy

To do the things you were supposed to do

Because you were too busy worrying about how I'd do it through..you.

And maybe that wrong turn was to remind you to yearn for me

To do those things

Instead of you trying to do it yourself,

To refuel you, look to me instead of depending upon yourself.

It's fear that tells you to turn back,

To get you on the beaten path,

A road where most will get lost in the what ifs of their thoughts.

If you don't decide to turn back know that I'll be your guide.

All you have to do is give me control and let go of your pride.

Either way I will love you and you're always welcome to come back.

Just remember all you'd have to do is turn back.

Doormat Turned Tapestry

    In the past I've had several instances where my family, friends, and some now ex-boyfriends treated me less than the way they would have wanted to be treated. So how could this happen to me? Treat others the way you want to be treated; that's the golden rule, right? Well then we get caught up in the mindset that we should treat them how we want to be treated and that means continually allowing them back into our lives again and again and again and again until we're so broken that we can't even function. We become stuck in a rut, but that's what forgiving someone means, right? Nope.

    God doesn't want you to be a doormat. He doesn't want you to be someone who won't stand up for themselves or someone who doesn't speak truth regarding whatever the situation is at hand. Hypothetically if someone kicked you in the leg over and over and over then eventually you're not going to be able to walk and if you can't walk how are you going to be able to reach the place you were meant to reach?  It's hard to believe someone is truly sorry when they go back to doing the same thing they were doing before. I came across a really great quote today from Booker T. Washington - "You can't hold a man down without staying down with him." Maybe you aren't the person holding someone down, but maybe you're letting someone hold you down and it's keeping you from everything God has for you.

    You may have thought that you were putting them first. At least that was what I was thinking in the situations I've been in, but in reality you're destroying both you and the person who may be (intentionally or unintentionally) keeping you from the gift God wants to give you. Putting others first does not mean letting people walk all over you. You're God's creation. You were made for a greater purpose than being a doormat. You were made as a tapestry. You are an exquisite, rich design that is meant to be cherished, loved, and admired so that you point to the magnificent, omnipotent Creator.

    God doesn't want His daughter or son to be lead down a path that ends in destruction for you and the person who is treating you unfairly. I'm not telling you to not forgive the people in your life who hurt you and I'm not telling you to leave everyone who hurts you behind, but discretion is advised. Keep in mind that your exit from their life could be their entrance into God's kingdom. You are then guarding your heart and letting God deal with that person in a healthy way and in some cases an even more healthy way if they've been relying on you to be the one that heals them. We should, however, always love one another and be gracious even if it means at a distance. I'll leave you with these words: Evaluate closely the relationships you're hanging onto. Forgive, forget, love, and know when to let go of control.

Until Then

Until Then

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I can't wait for the day

Oh my soul You'll take..

 Away from this cold, dark place.

I am Yours and You are mine

And I can't wait to see the fullness of love divine,

But sometimes the things I ask you to remove..

Are the very things You've meant for me to walk through

So I can be refined in the fire 

Of the Holy Spirit

So that I not only have the desire..

I can live it..

To bring others to You

By sharing what I've gone through.

So Father, help me to be wise,

Not in my own eyes.

But save me from the pride..

Of strife.

Even when others are wrong it is YOU who's right.

I don't have to defend myself because You are my defender..

My rights I surrender.

I render it all to You

Because I know You..

Will indicate I am worth it

And vindicate me as You see fit.

Death To Religion

Death To Religion

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Guys starin'

Life's barren.

Looking for strong arms to do my carryin'.

My world's a dirty turn key.

Come in and out as you please.

Please!

Are you kidding me?

I'll play your games not because I'm lookin' for love.

I'm lookin' for fun.

I know better.

I'm just caught up with what's underneath that sweater.

Truth is I got so sick and tired of poppin' pills.

Wanted to forget how I feel.

I was always real,

An open book for those who even cared to take a look.

I was hooked.

Yeah, daddy's a pastor,

But I ain't got green pastures.

Mama told me I was mental.

Church folks were judgmental.

All I needed was somebody to be gentle.

Well I was not born this way.

Other people tryin' to make me think I had gone crazy.

Sick of hearin' so I'd be blarin' Jay-Z.

To numb myself from right and wrong.

Destroyed and broken with no home.

All I wanted was a place to call my home.

Fast forward..

Moving towards

The one day that year where I spoke the only prayer I prayed.

"God help me."

Well He answered in a different way.

If you know me now

I've come a long way from then.

I believe in Jesus and it wasn't because of them.

I've gone onto eternal life 

'Cause I died to my flesh

Instead of living for my flesh

To reach eternal death.

The Rock

The Rock

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

He is mighty to save this slave to sin.

Out of the love displayed hope started running deep from within.

Oh how I long to be a servant of Him.

Let me tell you it was a dreadful day.

I sought shelter against the wall in a helpless way..

With nowhere to run.

Then a bold, gentle voice decided to speak up.

"Those without sin cast the first stone,"

He spoke.

I was curled on the floor of the earth..

Covered in dirt

When I heard the rocks drop.

One by one.

THUD. THUD. THUD.

I glanced up

And saw His hand stretched out.

"Go and sin no more,"

He exclaimed in a non-judgmental way.

He gave me grace.

 Now how could I let the rocks cry out..in my place!?

The only one..who had a right to throw those stones

Gave me grace!

Conniving Condemnation

Conniving Condemnation

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Come to me,

Lay at my feet.

I have overcome what he had meant to defeat.

I was broken so you would be made whole,

Emptied so that you may be full.

My voice whispers of love.

The devil's voice screams of condemnation,

Overbearing expectation,

Arrogant anticipation of..

Perfection

While I gave correction it wasn't meant as rules,

But direction..
To do an inspection of your heart.

Let me warn you of that heart.

"OBJECTION! Order in the court,"

It cries,

"It doesn't feel good so I must be listening to somebody's lies"

But my child, that's a lie to try to satisfy your flesh, gratify
While we work past your stress..

But it's a test for things to come

Because soon, my child, you'll be coming home.

So hang to this grace I gave to you.

You thought I was finished, but I'm not done with you.

An Honest Heart

An Honest Heart

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I feel like I'm surrounded with darkness.

I feel too drained to deal with this.

I feel too weak to fight, so sick of wrong to do what's right.

I'm so annoyed with self pity

I have no sympathy.

You said I'm spoken for.

But I feel I'm bleeding, too broken for

You to work

In the midst of my hurt.

But I guess you spilled Your blood for the spilling of my tears,

To sprout faith from the dirt of my fears,

To soften my heart so I can care..

Again,

To gravitate gratitude back so I can win.

Your will be done so

Let my life speak loud

To point a..crowd

Back to you,

Jesus.

Save us.