The Idolatry Of Ignorance

    God is a God of order. (1 Corinthians 14:33 - "For God is not a God of disorder but of peace..") Therefore, He is also a God of logic. How many of us can say we have a logical rebuttal for the questions we face everyday? I can confidently tell you this from experience; I have found that when my reply is logical I stay at peace. I have found that when I don't know the answer that humility is better than ignorant malarkey. Taking a moment to search out the answer thoroughly is better than assuming and speaking figuratively. So how many of you can say you have studied God's Word? I know I can and I don't say that in a manner of pride and you know why? Because no matter how much you have studied God's Word in your lifetime there will always be more to learn from Him, and often those things will be from the same things you have studied previously.

    I wonder if you're one of the few who do because I am baffled at people's lack of response to this one question that I see many Christians often receive, including me: "If God was a loving God then why does He send people to hell?" I want to clarify the answers for those who would appreciate a better understanding of this by posing some questions myself. Why would a loving God force you to go to heaven when you have chosen the opposite (the one true living God, not falsified images posing as God or idols that take on the form of television, music, books, friends, family, your boyfriend or girlfriend, husband or wife, your phone, work, food, bacon, etc.)? We all are on this earth right now either learning hell's language or heaven's and whatever language we choose to learn and to live will take us to its destination by the path we individually have chosen to walk on. So would God be a God of love if He forced us on that path of faith when we didn't want to be? Simply put, you choose it and you choose the consequence of it. This isn't just for the unbelievers. It's for the believers alike. I am not exempt from this because I often find me writing to myself in my blog posts. Thanks to God, I am no stranger to the things I need to work on.

    Are we truly on the path of faith or are we cruising the freeway doing what we want whenever we want? Can an active follower of Jesus hold anything higher than the Name above all names? No. What we believe is not what we say; it's what we do and what we do and what we live out is a reflection of our thoughts. Whatever consumes most of our time, whatever we think and dream most about is an idol. So I want to encourage you all today to take captive your thoughts for they exceedingly are the root of what's lost. Hide His Word in your heart because everything you do flows from it, everything you think flows from it, and know that you can win by focusing upon the cross. I know some of you may be struggling with unforgiveness, lust, insecurity, fear, self-hatred, hate, bitterness, you name it; we've all been there. Also, we can all overcome by the blood of the Lamb. I encourage you to declare your freedom today by taking captive your thoughts. Use the authority God has given you as a child of the Most High by not letting the devil have control over you anymore and meditate this week on these verses: 2 Corinthians 10:5 - "Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ," and Philippians 4:8 - "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things." It's going to take training your thoughts, but I promise you that in the end it is so very worth it.

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."

 

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.

Enter In

Enter In

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I've walked this life coming so close to calling it quits,

Many times, many reasons, much pain.

What kept me going was knowing

He loves me more than ALL the grains..

Of sand.

Plucked me out of death's grip with His own hand.

What makes this time any different than before?

He never stopped knocking on my door.

So when the days are great..

And when the days are tough

Enter in.

When my life receives hate..

And when works aren't enough

Enter in.

Grace enter in.

Hope enter in.

Peace enter in.

Love enter in.

Jesus enter in.



Unashamed

Unashamed

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

The Lord is my light,

Gives me a peace that fights..

Without hesitation..

In all my persecution.

The Lord is my salvation

Giving me divine revelation.

Whom shall I fear?

Not a worry or care

Because He holds me dear..

Right here..

In my time of need.

It's not a common creed

Or a boring read.

It's a story of power

Of a savior's return coming any hour.

I don't want to cower..

In this life.

I want to do more..

Than what's right

 Because when you're living life..

Unashamed

To die is to..

Really gain.



My Strength

My Strength

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

It's days like this that I want to climb back into..

Bed,

And give way to the..

End.

Because I feel there's no..

End

When depression's kicking..

In.

 But what keeps me going isn't looking at the now, but the..

End

If I keep on going instead of giving..

In.

The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green..

Pastures.

He heals all the brokenness, bruises, and..

Fractures

Of a wounded heart. 

A..

Preacher. 

A..

Teacher,

He leads me, an undeserving..

Creature

Beside still waters.

He restores my..

Soul.

Replaces the broken with something new and..

Whole.

So that I can get up and enjoy a sunny..

Day.

In actuality any..

Day

The Lord has made.

And when pain comes in the night.

All I have to do is fight

To reach the joy that comes in the..

Morning

And to give sincere thanks in the midst of my..

Mourning.

His Gift To Me

    I want to start out by saying that the only time I am blessed with the ability to write poems is when I am in tune with God. I have never been able to start or finish a poem without doing well with Him. I feel this is His gift for me, a gift where I can express my love, hope, and peace in God.

Mercy

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

You delivered me from the flame

which burnt me down to nothing.

You sheltered me from the rain

to make me into something.

You have taken me in,

Forgiven me again .

You wiped away my sorrow.

Gave me a hope for tomorrow.

Love overwhelming.

You picked me up and wiped my tears

when I could not stand it any longer.

You helped me understand a righteous fear and

in my weakness I was only made stronger.

With your Word you have fed me truth.

Changed me from old to new

giving me wisdom in my youth.

You have changed my world view

from something so meaningless

to something so worthy of it.

Love acquiring.

Baby Girl

Baby Girl

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I see the light in your eyes fading away with each and every single passing day.

You look in the mirror.

But you don't like what you see.

You hide away for fear that they might see.

You say, "I don't want them to see the real me."

I see that your breaking at the seams.

You're starving yourself to death.

You're losing your breath.

Who? You.

You're in pursuit.

You're looking for happiness.

So you're dressing for success, but inside you know you're making a mess.

So outside you're looking for what's next.

So you hit the club to see what the hub's about.

Every night is like a roundabout.

But getting slizzered won't make it go away.

You feel that it's your only getaway.
But baby girl, you know there's a battle for your soul and with all that you'll never end up feeling whole.
So give it to the One who already won it all.

He's the only one who can catch you when you fall.

Instead you hide yourself away in your room.

You turn on the dark music and let it consume you.

Out comes the razor and it doesn't even faze you.

Others think you're insane.

But you're cutting with the intent to ease your pain.

They ignore what they saw.

Pretend like they didn't even see it at all.

But baby girl, He'll heal your hurting heart.

He'll make something beautiful from the pieces torn apart.

But you pour out those pills.

You want to forget what you feel.

You just want to escape, make it all go away.

But everything feels the same after you already went that way.

You live to be high, but they're fighting, knowing the ending

of the story you're already in the midst of writing.

The depression is growing darker.

But your past doesn't determine your future because it wasn't written in marker.

So you contemplate your death, every single last breath.

You feel like your life's a living hell.

So you dwell on the darkness.

On all those you found heartless.

You pick up the gun.

But baby girl, the devil's had his fun.

God's not done with you yet.

So give it to the One who will make you alive again,

paid the debt, and gives the ability to survive again.

You've got a plan.

You've got a purpose.

He is the Only one who can make you stronger.

So baby girl hang on just a little bit longer.