The People Pleaser Reader

    Have you ever went out and fed the homeless and had someone tell you that you're focusing on works to be saved? Have you ever preached about grace and had someone tell you that you're using it as an excuse? Have you ever preached against sin and had someone call you legalistic? Have you ever preached about God's will and had someone say you believe in the law of attraction? Have you ever preached about reaping what you sow and had someone say you're this or that because it's karma? Have you ever preached about humility and had someone say you're prideful because you're preaching about humility? Have you ever preached the law of righteousness and had someone tell you it's not love? Have you ever felt confident and had someone call you conceited only to make you go back to feeling insecure? Have you ever preached about purity and had someone tell you that because of your past you can't? Have you ever used wisdom and had someone demand that you can trust them? Have you ever tried to reconcile God's way only to have someone reject you? Have you ever told the truth to a friend only to have them say you're judgmental? 

    Have you ever? I know I have many times. First off, I want to encourage you to examine your motives. 2 Corinthians 11:28 - "Examine your motives, test your heart, come to this meal in holy awe."  Please take into account that what people say might be true and that we're all going to be put to the test. From experience of impure motives I had to take a look at my actions before I could see others reactions in the right light. Proverbs 16:2 - "All a person's ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD." Secondly, if you put your words to the test of God's and find that you're in right-standing with Him then please don't let people's misinterpretations and assumptions discourage you from your walk. So many times I've let people steal my peace just because I let in what they were pushing on me. No. More. 1 Corinthians 2:11 - "No one can know a person's thoughts except that person's own spirit, and no one can know God's thoughts except God's own spirit." If we are all doing what we're supposed to be doing by testing our hearts and testing spirits then our lives are pleasing to God.

    Life gets dangerous when we take our eyes off of Jesus. Many words, lies, assumptions, and hurts come our way and if we aren't living in the Spirit then those spirits can severely damage us. If we aren't living in the Spirit we are living in the flesh and if we're living in the flesh, we're focused on flesh. I used to let other people's words and actions affect me tremendously. I began to look at those people for my identity, my approval, and my affirmation. Believe me when I say that I'm still not perfect when it comes to that now, but I think we all do that at times and it hurts us even more so when those people were once close. We then start to live to try to please them, but we can't take things personally because people hurt us purposefully. When we accept what they say we reject what God's Word says about us. (Click Link For More) Ephesians 6:12 - "For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness of the unseen world." When we focus what's really at stake in the Spirit we see it for what it is - Satan using people to work against us. We start to see that their spirit is not in line with the Spirit. Luke 6:45 says, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart, for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." After first examining ourselves we are able to execute righteous judgments about spirits when we test them. When we focus on Jesus we're able to see who we really are. We become a God pleaser like we should be because let's just be real; nobody has the time or the energy to please everybody! So honey, do yourself a favor and live to please your Father.

It's Okay To Cry

It's Okay To Cry

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

God knows every tear you've already cried,

The reason why,

The pain you've tried so hard to hide.

He knows.

It's okay to cry.

He knows the feelings you've tried to subside,

The trauma that you've internalized,

Every single escape from Him that you've tried.

Honey, He knows.

It's okay to cry.

He knows every feeling of worthlessness stemming from your insecurities,

Every heartbeat stolen by your anxiety,

Every yearn and plead for some security.

He knows.

It's okay to cry.

He knows your feelings of inferiority,

The places of your vulnerability,

The deepest cries of your heart that want to experience purity.

Honey, He knows.

It's okay to cry.

So fall to your knees desperately,

Cry out earnestly,

Sing a song expressing your calamity,

And raise your hands in honesty

Then praise the God Almighty

And brace yourself!

Because you're about to feel..FREE!

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)

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.

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.

One Way

One Way

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

 

 

Sometimes we need to fast..

The good things..

 To get back..

 On track..

So that..

Those things can become great..

To remember our first love and not those things that..

We "hate."

 

We don't fight against flesh and blood..

But principalities, rulers of darkness..

A flood..

 Of crud..

Not a tree full of harmless..

 Buds..

Waiting to bloom into something..

 Gorgeous.

 

Where there is no vision..

The people..

 Perish.

When eyes aren't focused on the mission..

We forget His means to..

 Cherish.

 

When things are more than off..

 Kilter..

They start to look more like..

Hitler.

Ugly, disobedient, misdirected..

 Anger..

 In need of a perfect working..

Filter.

 

To change the course of all..

Things..

To lay down one's life completely for our..

King.

To exchange weakening and..

Worrying..

For strengthening..

 Being..

Worthy of..

Rings.

 

 

 

 



Wonderful Counselor

Wonderful Counselor

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Touches my eyes so I can see.
Takes my hands and shows me what I need.
Touches my heart so I can be freed from my past impurities
And any presence in my life that may be dirty.
He gives me strength to continue to endure
When those evil spirits continue to try to lure.
Those temptations, ha salutations.
He says I'm worth something more.
He tells me I've got something worth living for.
So let me show you to the door.
I don't need you anymore.

Wonderful Counselor,
He directs my steps.
He gives me peace when I start to worry what's next.
When I am weary He gives me rest.
Shows me how to live.
You can read it in the text.
He encourages me to do my best.
"Don't you worry.  I'll take care of the rest."
A little love is all that I need,  but He
Created - Excuse me.
He IS love, the one and only perfect love, the one and only Savior, God.

Hypocrisy

Hypocrisy

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

If you be preachin'

And you be teachin'

And you ain't livin'

You best be leavin'

'Cause they don't need hypocrisy.

This is not a democracy

'Cause right and wrong are declared by the word of my God.

His discipline is more severe than the rod.

Yeah.

He knows your heart,

But continuing in your sin is gonna tear you apart.

Repent

And He'll give you a new start,

But if you keep on seducin'

You'll keep on producin'

Rotten fruit.

Shoot.

Send you further than Beirut.

Truth.

Turn from your trash.

'Cause the day you die your idols ain't gonna last.

Fact.

Your life is screamin' Gucci, Louis, Fendi, Prada..

Whateva.

But your mouth is singin' I got nada.

And then what your speakin' is the truth,

But your life ain't livin' proof.

You know Satan's plan is to deceive ya and lead ya to the gates of hell.

So watch out for these hypocrites for real..

'Cause there's no cutting deals 

When it's all said and done.

And whatcha gonna say?

I was just livin' for fun.

Temptation, What?

    Most of you who read my blog are following me on twitter and joining the movement that is taking place to spread the truth about the enemy's lies and plans to weasel his way into your lives one slimy little finger at a time. I have found that insecurity and greed are often the root problems causing people to fall into sexual sin. You first think your problems are small. A few negative words spoken over your life won't cause too much harm or will it? I've heard several people's stories and even taking my own into account I found that insecurity was the source of their issues. It all starts around; let's say the sixth grade and for some it starts earlier. There are kids making fun of you or your parents are saying you will never mount up to anything and so you make your first mistake. You let those words cut you deep.

    You take them to heart and start looking for acceptance in all the wrong places. We'll use my biggest struggle as an example. In fourth grade I overheard these girls talking about how much fun they had at this birthday party. These were the same girls I invited a month earlier to mine and I felt hurt that I hadn't been invited. I listened into what they were talking about and it was then where I was introduced to masturbation. At nine years old I didn't know what it was, but I then went home to later "experiment" so that I would feel accepted, but as I experimented I learned a new feeling - the feeling of greed. It made ME feel good. I felt remorse after, but I never heard it talked about in the church. As time went on it had become an addiction, an addiction that had a death grip on my life for many, many years. I couldn't sleep without it and as I got older it wasn't satisfying enough for me. I wanted to be loved, loved in all of the wrong places that is.

    All of my relationships started out as a few months of getting to know each other and then that went out the door and the relationships found a new foundation to be built upon - sex. With the first guy I would never let myself go all the way. I still felt remorse. I didn't want that in the relationship, but I couldn't stop it because I was pulled in two different directions. One direction told me this is wrong, the other lied to me saying this is love and that I want to feel "good." As I broke free from that relationship after too many fights and broken hearted nights I eventually found myself in another. It started out innocent like the first, but again a couple months later I was in the same situation as the first and a couple months after that I was in deeper. I felt pressured to give myself away, but as I engaged more and more in sex I began to numb myself to life around me so that I didn't have to feel. As a couple months passed several areas in my life crumbled at my feet. I began to become even more severely depressed than I already was and I was so stressed I developed many sicknesses and I had lost several pounds that I needed.

    I had become hysterical when that boyfriend had broken up with me right before my birthday. I had already lost all of my family and friends and here I felt as if I had no one left. I had always hung onto a quote I had made up back when I was going through hard times previously: "If you feel as if you have nothing left, remember that you still have hope." Here I was still bounded by lust and for the first time in my life I didn't even feel like I had hope left. After getting into another toxic relationship and that one also burning to the ground I had given up. Slowly but surely I got back onto the right course - the straight and narrow. I was pulled by a friend I was living with and then as life went along I felt a little more like myself, but it was painful. I had numbed myself from so much and hadn't dealt with anything that all of it came flooding back to me at once. I was still dealing with sexual addictions, but I had gained hope. I was then pushed by another friend and I found myself in the word and praying to God once again. It wasn't easy. I didn't want to do it, but He broke the chains after I learned of His strength and the authority that he had given me.

    I had hope and I began to recognize the game of the enemy. Listen up, precious ones, the enemy is a liar and his game is trickery. Don't be a product of his foolery. If it doesn't line up with God's word DON'T listen to it. Temptation only has as much power as you give it. If you feed temptation it grows, but if you starve it it dies. You have to uproot the greed and insecurity of your life because if you leave the roots the plant is always going to grow back. Kill all of it and listen to God's will. Use God's word as your shield. Spit scriptures and don't let the enemy intimidate you into silence. Do NOT give up.

Romans 5:3-4 - "Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

Daughters of Christ

Daughters of Christ

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Ladies, if you wouldn't want your future daughters

Wearing low shirts, short skirts, skin tight, the works

Then don't wear them presently.

Better yet let's be dressing modestly

Because you're supposed to be.

Encouraging purity.

Daughters of Jesus,

 Being cautious

 Of what we wear,

Taking God's promise

Looking in His mirror.

 He looks at our hearts

Helps us dodge all of those flaming darts

Of insecurity,

All the dirty.

He'll quench all you thirsty.

For eternity.

You don't have to look like Barbie.

Or go to parties

Speaking malarkey to be liked.

Quit using your own psyche.

Clothe yourself with the mind of Christ, See

To it, you agree with it?

 Holy Spirit and you should be tightly knit.

Admit your sins

Fall on your knees in repentance.

You're the one choosing your own sentence.

Crucify My Flesh

Crucify My Flesh

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

MmMm, I don't play games.

I live for Christ unashamed.

He blessed me with discernment.

There's no foolin 'round with this chick.

All or nothing?

My all is the call.

So why would I trade Him in for the world,

trade a pearl in for a meal?

And what's the deal with all these people

Going around calling themselves Christians

Only 'cause they hide under a steeple?

That will just make them weaker,

Living in pride.

That's why I stick with learning to be meeker,

Suicide.

Crucify my flesh.

Going hard for Christ and no less.

Modest in my dress and representing purity.

After all wasn't that who Christ was supposed to be?

Well I'll tell you He always was, will, and will be.

But the lukewarm who call themselves Christians make it look like hypocrisy.

In fact they're not Christians at all.

They playing a game, baseball.

Their relationships are creepin from first base all the way to home plate.

When the Word says home plate is to be sanctified.

Saved for marriage,

But we've got girls calling themselves Christians.

They spillin over their cleavage

Instead of spilling out the Holy Spirit.

But that's why I'm in it

Now,

I've never been gratified from the lies of the enemy.

That's why I keep choosing to look to Christ for who I'm supposed to be.

I don't do the stuff I did before, look at pornography.

'Cause I'm no longer bonded in my sin.

I've been set free.

And my passion is to help these young ones along,

To teach them what God's word says is right and what's wrong.

I'm not in it for the glory

And if you've heard the story,

My God is greater than your idols.
They just inventory.

Made To Be Courageous!

Made To Be Courageous

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I chose to lose selfish and do selfless

Because that's the only way I'm livin like #Jesus.

I've been strivin to be righteous though I know I fall short.

Being courageous is contagious and He's my escort.

'Cause without Him I'd be a victim of my own sin.

Yet He changed me and now I speak of what He did.

I told them without Him I'd be living dead.

They crinkled their noses and just shook their heads.

But listen up as I explain my sustainer,

He heals our pain and bleaches the stain of us sinners.

He's had my back, the only one who can cover black with red

All because He rose from the dead to make us white and pure.

He told me to fight the good fight, taught me to endure.

He said if I persevere I would produce character.

Preached against unforgiveness that had only made me bitter.

He taught me how to love right,

 To shine His light so bright.

He gave me hope when I thought all hope was lost

And all because He, blameless, paid the cost.

I tell you it should have been me on that cross.

But what a failure I would have been.

Yet He still came to a sinful earth in the form of a man

To save all humanity.

You may be thinking what I'm preaching is insanity.

But I tell you right now what would you do if you were in my shoes,

Changed and made completely new?

Well let me tell you to me it doesn't matter.

Because it's not men whom I've come to flatter.

I've come to you tell the truth,

Show you that I am living proof

Of a life that has been completely changed,

Rearranged to glorify Him.

I've come to breathe a warning

That sin leads to death, no breath.

Crowds in an uproar to crucify,

Little did they know it was for them that He would die.

It was in Him that they'd be free.

And little did they know that Pilate's decree

Would end up bringing Him glory.

So why should I stay silent when you're all mocking me and saying God is a tyrant,

When you don't even know Him?

You think your "dim" is right because that's all you've ever known.

You think staying right where you are is alright because you've never grown.

Let me tell you I've been on both ends

And there is no way I'm ever living without Him again.

So mock me if you must

That's alright because I'm living free from disgust

of my former lustful life.

Living pure and holy and solely for my savior, Christ.

Covered By The Blood

Covered By The Blood

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

Pitter patter of the rain on my window

Reminding me of the weight lifted off of my shoulders,

He is the holder of my heart.

How Great Thou Art.

The sound of the rain

Reminding me of the heart He made whole,

That very hole in this heart once void,

That very heart that was once destroyed,

toyed, and messed with.

He was the one who did best with it.

As I sit here under this window pane

Reminding me of the pain I felt and

dealt with I'm overjoyed with knowing

I've been covered by the Blood of the Lamb.

No longer damned to the outside world

or that very corner I had once sat,

 Curled up.

He forgave my mess ups.
I will worship that

I've been covered by the Blood of the Lamb.

Amen.

Proverbs 16:18

Proverbs 16:18

By: Elaina Morgan

Enemies will never quit it, get it.

They let themselves be blinded by those lies, 

Ruined by their pride.

But they have nothing good to offer.

Just let your answer grow a little bit softer.

Their only focus is on how to make you "better."

Try to cover who you are like a heavy sweater.

They know of no such thing as a true love letter.

They say they only want the best for you.

But they only want what they think's due.

Those aren't the models you want to be looking up to.

They puff it up.

Puff you up.

Take you down.

Like a city rundown.

Kind of like Motown, they represent the D.

But they're only representin the bad seeds, 

No, not me.

They're lackin good deeds.

Goal's to try to make you bitter 

Coating every ugly thing in glitter.

They stalkin every single move you're making on your Twitter.

I'll give them one thing.

They ain't quitters.

They think they able

Layin everythin on the table.

They think they tough,

Arrested in cuffs, 

They quick to lie, homicide.

Won't get caught. 

Or so they thought.

Think listening to us will make them weak.

They goin 'round week by week.

It's the same ol thing. 

They wanna drink.

They wanna shed blood.

Tell em about the one who shed His blood.

Pause.

Wasn't for a lost cause.

Wasn't ours.

Yet He gave it so willingly.

I hope I'm makin sense lyrically.

Stop the stupidity

Start goin prodigiously.

Always sayin go big or go home.

Well where's your home?

I hope you know.

Against the Crowd

Against the Crowd

By: Elaina Morgan

People, you all make me laugh.
Always swimming with the current when the current won't last.
They're always going to change direction,
going to change what they think is perfection.
Nope, not me.
I'm never going to live to make other people happy.
I don't want to lose control.
I don't want to lose grip over my soul,
'Cause what's the meaning of gaining the world
and losing your soul
If you only end up feeling broken instead of feeling whole,
If you only end up feeling empty instead of feeling full.
Go against the crowd,
Even when it seems like they're yelling too loud,
Cover your ears until you make it there.
Don't let them pull you down when you're climbing,
don't let them interrupt your timing.
Instead be that one to reach even higher.
Perseverance's dire.
Always say what you mean and mean what you say.
Make your ways different than you would any other day.
Be someone caring, loving, considerate, and kind.
Don't play mind games or waste any time.
Prove yourself.
Don't lose yourself in yourself.
Be selfless, not selfish. That's my wish.

God Sent

God Sent

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I lost myself last year

because I really didn't care.

Tried to find myself,

But is it really there?

If I find her I'm not sure if I'll define her.

She was so loving, and caring, and pure.

She was so precious and giving,

 I'm sure.

She may have been beautiful,

But it's all become a little new to her.

She got lost by the incogonito.

Turned out to be all deceit though.

 Love is true.

It doesn't manipulate.

Guess it's not you

If you didn't know how to participate.

Knowing how to truly love

Only comes from knowing what's above.

It doesn't always mean finding love

here on earth

Because here it might have been birthed,

But without Him it is absent.

Love only comes from a God sent.