Operation: Address the Mess

   I arrived home from work and walked into my apartment building only to be greeted by a bird flying almost square into my face last night. I guess that's what happens when you live in the ghetto burbs ha-ha. After that I was finally able to relax, but admittedly not for long. I have my gorgeous, softhearted friend who I haven't seen since last year coming into town this weekend. My apartment wasn't ready for company and my schedule is pretty much booked for the rest of the week. There was a small trail of clothes starting at the front door that led to my bathroom. There were magazines, mail, and newspapers forming a club on my coffee table. The way my shoes trickled out of my closet, and the way the sleeves on my shirts seemed to be reaching out for my attention would have had you believe that there were surely monsters in there. I was exhausted. Surprisingly, my kitchen sink was empty.

    I couldn't help but look at next month's schedule after that: my brother coming into town, a bridal shower, a bacherolette party, a mixer, two weddings, another wedding the next month, you name it. I dared not complain though because there once was a time where I probably complained about being bored. In fact, I'm actually looking forward to all of these fun filled events and cannot wait to reach each weekend, and hopefully with grace. Here's where I started to get things a little twisted: I was dwelling too much on what I have to do to get ready for these events and not enough on slowing down so that I will be able to enjoy them. As I look back, I am reminded of the Bible story about Mary and Martha. 

    Martha was so consumed in making everything perfect for Jesus while Mary sat at His feet and enjoyed His presence. My problem wasn't that I was not spending enough time with God. My problem was I wasn't spending quality time with God by basking in and enjoying His company throughout the day. Because of this I was worrying and full of anxiety instead of resting and putting my trust in Jesus. I know that the only way I can deal with the problems that I face and the busyness of life is by spending my time in His presence so that He can heal my pain and give me rest so I can recharge. While I spend time in His presence He reveals to me my true state and truthfully, it's not where I want to be. I yearn for so much more. I want to get to know Him deeper. I want to have a divine revelation of His love. I want to understand His power more and more. I want to be a dedicated slave to Jesus. I want to obey. I want to be content in my circumstances, but not in my relationship with Him. I want more.

So today I will relay the word that the Lord gave me this morning for you all:

Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, again I say rejoice! No matter what you're struggling with, no matter what temptations grab for your attention, no matter the busyness of your schedule or the lack thereof, no matter your circumstances - good or bad, no matter your home life, no matter your work situation, no matter your social "status" REJOICE. There is a shift that takes place in the atmosphere and in our thoughts when we give Him thanks instead of complaints. You can do this today. I believe in you and most importantly Jesus believes in you.

    You see, beloved, as we put our trust in Him to do the work in us it starts to happen. We come to a place where we learn to fully rely on God and not on our own efforts. We have to address the mess and realize that the only one who can truly free us is Jesus. This is where we arrive at a place where we can successfully advance to what He has for us next because we are willing to deal with the now. For example, you can't arrive at your destination safely without taking your car to a mechanic to get your oil changed, to have someone come and change your flat tire, or to have a mechanic check under the hood for any underlying problems. We don't just stop the car and quit. We don't just trust that the car won't break down or that the problems won't grow bigger when there are already red flags. Therefore, we stop being stagnant and come to the realization that God already has the solution to every single situation. We give it to Him and realize that we CAN face each and every day with exuberance. We see that we can be sassy in the Spirit and that with authority we can tell Satan to stick that in his juice-box and suck it. We see things for what they are, the importance of the state of our hearts above all else and the ability of God to reform, restore, and transform us into strong soldiers in God's army. So again I say, "REJOICE!"

2 Timothy 2:3 - "Endure suffering along with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus."

1 Corinthians 1:29 - "......so that no man may boast before God."

Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!"

Too Many Fish in the Sea

    This is for all the single people who are always told, "There's plenty of fish in the sea." Truthfully, I'm one of the people who never really cared about romantic relationships in the realm that they weren't something I needed in my life. That's my problem; even though I have been in more relationships than I care to admit, I didn't care to understand them and I guess it took getting hit on this week by a 40 something year old "Christian", a girl, and a co-worker who is a little confused on what he believes for me to actually start caring and realizing that I should seek more of an understanding about relationships. I would have rather done without these awkward moments and somehow my backhanded nos don't seem sufficient enough for those situations. I really try to avoid them like a plague because they're so uncomfortable to me. I should not feel bad though for the beliefs that I hold onto: my belief in God, my belief in Jesus, and my belief in the Bible.

    However, I don't want to talk about everything that's biblically wrong with those three instances. Instead, I want to talk about when you know the one is "the one". I'm going to be honest in saying that I personally don't know if there is "the one" and would love to find out if there is, but I do know that when it's the right one you will be at peace but it's so much more than that. You can find the picture perfect man or woman who has everything, and I don't mean just in the physical realm; I mean they can take care of your emotional, mental, and maybe even spiritual needs, but if their God given purpose is not somehow parallel with yours then one of you two will end up sacrificing what God called you to do. There is also the big factor of being unequally yoked.

    2 Corinthians 6:14 says, "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?" My thoughts on this verse are that it goes further than being unequally yoked with an unbeliever. I believe you can be unequally yoked with a believer these days as well. We cannot pick and choose from the Bible what we want to believe; and unfortunately we have a lot of lukewarm believers who believe they can do that, but that's the exact thing that they are - simply believers and not doers. They have no substance and are weak in their faith. Revelation 3:16 says, "So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth." That is a bold statement, beloveds. We either obey Him or we perish, simple as that.

    So boldly put, not everyone is on the same path as you and they will end up pulling you away, intentionally or unintentionally from your relationship with God and your individual purpose. They are not on the same page and frankly, are not God's will for your life as a mature Christian. It will be the wreck of you if you try to make it so. Know that there wouldn't be a heaven if there were no hell, honey. Matthew 7:14 says that the road is narrow and there are very few people who find it. I'm sure that this also dwindles down any option of who you might think is "the one". Thank God. I have one last thought that I want to pose: Most of the time we pray asking God about things, but we forget that a lot of times His answer, instruction, and direction was already given. It's called the Bible, and how many of us who say that we're Christians actually read it and use it? So does what your potentials say and live match the Word of God? If the answer is no then honey, know that God's got better for you and that it will definitely be worth the wait.

When to Speak, and When to Be Silent

    Sometimes silence can be violent or diamonds and sadly, in a culture so consumed with social media, the line is becoming more and more blurred. I came across a tweet the other day from @SwedishCanary that said, "Never has a generation so diligently recorded themselves doing nothing." That hit home. It boggles my mind that so many can sit behind a screen and yell and scream and preach, but their lives are selling the opposite from sitting and staying stagnant. Over the past couple of months God has been stretching me more and more out of my comfort zone. That's a story and topic for another time. But my point is: are we really saying what we should be? So in this post I'm going to be speaking about when it's okay to speak and when it's okay to be silent.

    God gave us two ears and one mouth for a reason, but I wonder how much we would contradict ourselves if He gave us two mouths. In a way, He did. Our second mouth is called our actions. They speak the loudest and they are what determines reactions. This day and age many have the habit of speaking without thinking and it often gets them into trouble. We have filters, but only on Instagram, pic apps, and Twitter. We rarely ever use them for our mouth. Speaking our opinions have become more like partitions than help. Knowing what to say can be more important than when to say it.

So what kind of things are okay to say? 

• Things that express encouragement. (Ephesians 4:29)
• Things that give thanks. (Ephesians 5:4)
• Things that answer gently. (Proverbs 15:4)
• Things that reply graciously. (Colossians 4:6)
• Things that declare truth. (Ephesians 4:24)
• Things that show courtesy. (Titus 3:2)
• Things that mouth righteousness. (Proverbs 12:6)

    There is a time and a place for everything, including your words. Seeking the Lord for discernment in when to say something is also important. Have you ever tried to resolve something with somebody who just wouldn't have it? It's a killer! When people are all riled up at least one, if not all of these three things happen:

1. They're not in the right state of mind. (We've all been here. We're so focused on being right that our state of mind becomes wrong. Our words can be right along with our intentions being wrong.)
2. Their filter is on defense mode. (We feel attacked so we're more concerned about sticking up for ourselves than openly hearing others out.)
3. They won't listen. (We heard what we thought we heard so we just want to speak instead of hearing them honestly.)

    Have you ever gone back to those types of conversations that didn't go well at first after your feelings dissipated? Conversations tend to go much better when you're not on fire. (James 1:19 - "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;") Learning to be silent than what to speak is a tougher feat. It draws me to people so much more when I can tell that they're pondering what was said instead of them piling up what to say. (This is something I definitely can work on.) It is a sign of wisdom to me; and it clearly was in the Bible as well. It even says the foolish man who is silent appears intelligent (Proverbs 17:28). There are so many other good things said in the Bible about those who are silent whose mind remains steadfast on the Lord. I definitely want to develop those characteristics.

These kind of people are:

• Understanding. (Problems 11:12)
• Wise. (Proverbs 29:11)
• Beautiful. (1 Peter 3:3-4)
• Peaceful. (Isaiah 26:3)
• Prudent. (Amos 5:13, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 12:23)

    Like I mentioned and demonstrated above, silence is a beautiful thing unless we're being silent about the truth. We are to speak what is true 100% of the time. In that case, let's NOT be silent and NOT back down. Let's NOT be intimidated into silence any longer. What do we have to lose in speaking the truth? I'm not going to say nothing. We will lose our fleshly desires, we will lose our comfort, we will lose our self-dependency, BUT we will NOT lose our souls. So today I encourage you to stand up and speak out now to whoever God lays on your heart!

7 Things God Taught Me About Relationships

    I'm not normally the type of person who would write these type of blog posts and I'm not a fan of mushiness. For example, the only way I'll ever watch a chick flick is if it's comedic. Don't get me wrong. I would love to be married and have a family of my own one day, but right now that isn't my top priority. My top priority would be focusing on my relationship with God. I've been asking Him to bring things to the surface, and He definitely did that by making me more self-aware of what I need healing in and what habits I've learned that I need to unlearn. So when I was thinking about how He loves me by doing that, I connected it with how a man should love a woman and vice versa. 

    Seven things on how God loves the church that should translate to how husbands/boyfriends should love their wives/girlfriends:

1.) God relentlessly pursues me.

• He doesn't give up on you even when you give up on Him. He runs to meet the prodigal son/daughter with arms wide open.
• How does this apply? Sometimes this means that the man reflects on where he is at and what he needs to work on (physically, spiritually, emotionally, and even socially) before he starts the chase,  and for a woman this can mean that she reflects on where she is at and what she needs to work on before she is caught. (You're not God. Get over it.) If you're not ready then it is not wise to get into a relationship. After God gives you the go ahead as a man then ask her out. Though I am not married, I know that this shouldn't stop after you are.

2.) God completely knows me.

• He already knows everything, but we're constantly changing and He keeps up with it. He knows every hair on our head, and knows when we lost one because of stress. He knows our past, present, and future. He knows why we do what we do and knows our intentions.
• How does this apply? From the standpoint of a woman, there is nothing more attractive than a man who expresses interest in everything there is to know about you (and if you're a man then you would know if this applies to how you feel). To take your time to become a student of all of her (his) likes and dislikes, to search out why she (he) does the little things that bug the crap out of you, to express interest in how her (his) day went, what means a lot to her (him), etc. speaks volumes. Our personalities are constantly changing so until the day you die you will be getting to know your partner more. If that doesn't sound appealing to you, stay single.

3.) God actively loves me.

• He doesn't just tell you that He loves you; He impact-fully and unconditionally shows you. When we pursue Him with the same passion in which He pursues us, we start to reflect holiness. He doesn't stop and wants to see you receive it.
• How does this apply? A lot of us know 1 Corinthians 13. We cannot do this without God in the center of any relationship. We must be willing to lay down our lives for the other person and make sacrifices. We are to be persevering, patient, kind, not jealous, boastful, or proud. We are to not behave rudely, seek our own, think evil, be provoked, and we are to rejoice in the truth. It sounds like a chore, doesn't it? Well when you truly know God, you truly know how to love and whether you know how will be a reflection in your actions.

4.) God gently leads me.

• He isn't a dictator. He is a a leader. He isn't a controller. He is an encourager, informing us that we have two options - the path of destruction or the path of life. He drops loving reminders (conviction) instead of pointing fingers (condemnation).
• How does this apply? This applies mostly to the men. This does not mean that you are superior to women. Men and women are to honor each other alike. A leader does not push a rope; he pulls it, leading by example. This is not based on my biases or other's. This is the dynamic God meant from the beginning of time. Ladies, there is a big difference between masculinity and manipulation. Masculinity is protective, not abusive. If he demands you should submit to him, especially before you're married then he does not know God's Word. He should gently and directly point you to the Word of God and then ladies, you should submit. Men, this means you are to lead spiritually. How can you do that at all if you aren't praying and reading God's Word faithfully? Take a stand and be a man. It is so very important for you to know each other's character, especially before you get married. It feels like a chore to love someone wholeheartedly who can't lead you in a marriage and to love someone who questions your every decision.  (Ephesians 5:22-33)

5.) God effectively helps me.

• He is our provider. When we are struggling He helps us by what He has given us in His living Word. When we are in need, He comes to our rescue. (Sometimes it's not in the physical realm, but rest assured that if it isn't then it is provision for you spiritually.)
• How does this apply? I don't want to come off as sexist, but in Ephesians 5 men are told to nourish and cherish their bride. This means spiritually (though as women we are to trust in God for this above man), emotionally, physically (when married), and financially is included in this. Timothy 5:8 is a scary verse for those who think that it's not. I have heard so many men deny this just so that they can have some excuse for being lazy, and in all fairness to the men; women, this does not give you permission to be a gold digger. When you marry a man, if he loses his job, are you willing to persevere for rich or for poor? Both genders are to try their hardest at everything no matter the "cost".

6.) God adamantly encourages me.

• He constantly will bring to remembrance how He sees you if you will take the time to listen. He says that you are fearfully and wonderfully made. You're His beloved. You are the apple of His eye (and no one can take your place to Him) He made you unique and loves you in your own special way, as if you were the only one who ever existed to Him. He doesn't stop until you believe it.
• How does this apply? Ultimately our identity as men and women is to be found in Christ, but regarding relationships we are to encourage in the same manner. When your woman/man is feeling down be quick to build up their self-esteem. We find security in each other and don't go looking anywhere else for it when we feel confident in what our partner thinks. You can never give too much encouragement - ever. It has been said that when someone hurts you with their words, you need to be told the opposite of it ten times for you to actually believe it. P.S. Don't you dare go looking for it anywhere else if you're reading this feeling like you don't get enough encouragement. YOU make decisions based on no one else but YOU.

7.) God thoroughly listens to me.

• He doesn't just hear you. He listens to you. He wants to hear what you have to say and how you're feeling about the day. He is fully focused on you and you alone. If you have a request of Him, He will listen, though He won't always grant it. When He doesn't grant it just to please you, He is protecting you because He sees and knows the bigger picture.
• How does this apply? This is another big one. There is nothing sexier than someone listening to you intently by holding onto every word you say and relaying those words back to you. We all have been where we will hear a person, but not listen. Soak whatever it is they say in. Pray about problems. Receive restoration. Seek to understand and set goals together.

    I love and appreciate your feedback and thoughts, and just want to take the time to say thank you. So those are my two cents, or seven. Ha ha. Comment yours below:

Destructive Vs. Constructive Criticism

    Have you ever had somebody point out your flaws constantly whether it be your parent, sibling, friend, boyfriend/girlfriend, or husband/wife? That relationship got burdensome and you no longer enjoyed hanging around them; did you? You might be on the receiving end, or maybe you're on the giving end; but I bet that if you think you're the one on the receiving end then you've been on the giving end at least once. Have you ever had someone give you advice that you were so glad that you listened to it? Their words were refreshing to your ears and made you want to be around them more because you knew they cared about you and your well-being as a Christian. You see, there are two types of critics: destructive and constructive. I see so much confusion about this, especially in the Christian "world" in which we should be seeing less of it. Therefore, I would like to shed light on what it looks like to give both.

    Destructive criticism comes off as controlling. The receiving end will feel condemned and as if they can't do anything right. I'm not going to point out anyone in particular here except for myself. My first "serious" relationship in my teenage years I would constantly point out things he was or wasn't doing (whether they were sinful or just because I didn't like whatever it was that he did). I would start arguments unintentionally because I was frustrated and didn't know how to express how I was feeling. This was a result of unrighteously judging what he was doing and what other girls around him were doing, even if I was doing the same thing. It was as if spending so many years internalizing things made it all explode at once causing an even bigger mess than it would have if I had dealt with it right away, in the correct manner, no matter how painful it was. (Matthew 7:1-5 - "Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgement you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. And why do you look at the speck in your brother's eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye? Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.")

    Constructive criticism comes off as caring. The receiving end will feel convicted and encouraged to do what's right. This past Christmas I was in a situation where I just wanted to help a certain person. I had asked my daddy if I could invite them over for dinner, but then he asked me some questions about the circumstances and the person. After gaining an understanding, he told me gently that I can't trust everybody and though I just want to help people, some will try to take advantage of that. I knew that he cared for me and that he genuinely didn't want to see me get hurt so I listened. A month later I found out that his words rang true. I had made extremely careless decisions back then and I was grateful for that accountability. (Matthew 18:15-17 - "Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained a brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that 'by mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be like to you a heathen and a tax collector.")

    Though I didn't sin against my daddy, he still gave me constructive criticism based on my background. He is somebody who knows my heart, know my personality, and somebody who knows me. It's like our relationship with our Heavenly Father. He already knows us from the inside out, and we know as Christians, that God protects us and is for us. We know we truly have a relationship with God and trust Him when is commands look more like love than like rules to us. When we address Him by bringing our problems and flaws to Him we can always count on righteous judgement and on the right advice. It can be another story when it comes to people. We should always discern the intentions behind conversations and questions. Authentication? Bombination? Condemnation? Conviction? Pretension? Reconciliation? We need to keep in mind that the important thing is not that we are more willing to defend "men and women of God", including ourselves, because we're not perfect. The important thing is that we defend God (Jesus) at all costs, even though He doesn't need defending, but who we stick of for first is ultimately a reflection of who we're really trusting in to change us - ourselves, others, or the One true living God?

We Live

We Live

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

We live in a land where consequences for your actions 

Is "persecution",

Telling the truth is 

"Accusation",

And who you are is 

"Speculation" from people who merely read what you write.

We live in a land where "love" is infatuation,

Where a woman's "not" pregnant at conception

Despite its definition,

Where saying sorry is meaningless defiant

"Reparation".

We live in a land where if something's not perfect,

It results in abolition,

Where big boobs, a big butt, and a tiny waist

Is viewed as "perfection",

And where caring about somebody's heart

Is nothing but a preconceived notion.

We live in a land where the world wide web

Is a huge, ugly, steel door for pornographic imaginations,

Where "love" is only a quick and fleeting sensation,

And where relationships have no healthy expectations.

We live in a land where we don't even follow our own constitution,

Where our freedom of speech is conditioned,

Especially if you're a Christian.

We live in a land where the church has become the epitome

Of selfish devotion,

Where helping the needy has really become "stagnation",

And where the church doesn't even know the meaning of Jesus's resurrection. 

We live in a land where very few things see consummation,

Where there's few that actually know the meaning of consecration,

And where so many people quit this walk 

Because of condemnation.

We live in a land where condemnation is confused with conviction,

Where we don't have to work out our salvation,

And where people don't have the encouragement to change

Because of excommunication.

We live in a land where -

Well you get the point.

What is the point of this life..

That we live if not for a greater purpose..

To rise above the status quo..

And put a stop to this.

What is the point if not to reject what we've learned

And accept more of what our Creator knows?

His promise.

There's A Price To Pay

There's A Price To Pay

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

We all do what we've got to do to survive.

Truthfully it doesn't matter if we live or if we die..

Because if we don't die today

We might die tomorrow

And if we don't pray.. 

Then a bullet could be the price of our persona..

Or selling bad weed

At least it would be in the streets

While the price of a broke father of five is his worrying and anxiety

Being the possibility..

Of an OD.

While the price of an actress not getting naked in front of 

And off of the screen..

Is that all of her bank accounts..freeze.

Well I'm here today to tell you that the wages you make

Can never pay the price of sin.

Murderers, drug dealers, meth addicts

Jesus paid the price for all them.

The jealous, the impatient,

The zealous that don't match the heart of heaven

The haters, the players, the racists..

The complacent He died for all of them.

But the consequences for our sin

Will never add up to what He did.

And if He shed His blood and

Popped veins

So that we would be allowed to remain in the

Very things that caused Him pain

Then wouldn't you say...His death was all in vain?

Sleeping With Sin

    Lust is a big problem in society today and I don't have to tell anybody that. It is obvious that you pass the objects of its affections on billboards, on everything from internet to television to magazine ads, you see it in the mall on store front windows and you see it walking the halls at school or at work.  It is a struggle that I have personally gone through and a battle that I face every day, as most of my faithful readers know. I have talked about this subject a lot in the past, but today I am going to touch on something different (feel free to look back at my previous posts for more). It's not something you should hide and it's not something you should be embarassed about because let's be real - 99.9% of people go through it. That statistic is made up, of course because there is no real way of knowing unless I am God. The point I'm trying to make is that your church may not be talking about it or they may be judging you by it, your parents might be acting as if they have no idea that you're going through it, and at some point in your life as a Christian you probably were or are getting mad at God that sex before marriage is sin.

    I am familiar with that "logic". I am familiar with wanting it. I am familiar with not caring anymore. I'm familiar with thinking my relationships will work despite it being in the mix.  I'm familiar with it, period. I'm also familiar with the mind of Christ, thinking upon things that are holy, admirable, lovely, and pure. I am familiar with the struggle of going back and forth. I'm familiar with wanting the things that God wants for me. I'm familiar with the pain it brings when those relationships don't work out. You hear a lot of people tell you to not focus on the negative, but when it comes to sin looking at the negative can become an advantage because the negative effects always outweighs the seemingly positive effects of it. Most of us have developed this addiction based on not feeling loved or even because of insecurity or greed. Well guess what? God doesn't want to see you mask these problems with more of them. He wants to heal you, completely heal you and He doesn't want to strip away your fun either. 1 Corinthians 6:9 says - "Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who practice homosexuality..."

    Those are not my words especially because most of my life I would not have been inheriting the kingdom of God for walking in habitual sin concerning this. Not inheriting the kingdom of God is the bigger picture, but there is also a smaller picture. Why does He tell us this if not to protect us? He tells us this for so many other reasons. Take masturbating, my biggest struggle. If we're so used to pleasing ourselves then when we do have a husband/wife it will be harder for them to fulfill our sexual desires. A friend gave me a great quote a couple of weeks ago or so: "If you keep masturbating and stimulating yourself, when your husband (or wife) comes, you will be fighting in the bedroom because you are so used to pleasing yourself" - Dr. Lorneka Rahming Joseph. It is the same with having sex before marriage or looking at pornography. If you really love the person that you have married then you are going to have such a hard time when these images pop into your head. You will constantly have to be rebuking these. Even in something as basic as having an ex who you've never slept with can be dangerous if you do not rebuke the temptation to compare everyone with them and the temptation to dwell on them.

    God doesn't want you to date or entertain just anybody, for your own sake. Think about it. It can be hard even to be in a healthy relationship if you've had an ex, or even if you've had somebody that you've entertained hurt you. You have to go through a long, painful process of God healing you of trust issues, insecurities, wounds from any kind of abuse and more. It is so much easier when your first relationship is your last relationship, but for those (including myself) who have already been in an unhealthy relationship, or even in many unhealthy relationships, there is still hope. I know because I see healing in my own life. It sure does kill, but I know that sand doesn't become a pearl without the clam going through a painful process. I believe that one day, I will see complete healing from those wounds and that I'll see that healing also happen in many of you. So I will end this post with saying that listening to God never fails no matter what He's speaking to you about. Trusting God to heal you never does either. We're all striving towards the finish line. We're all facing some sort of battle. Why not be here to uplift and help each other along?

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 Dangers of Dabbling With Demons

    So for a while I have been contemplating about whether or not I should post what I am about to post because I knew I was going to get a lot of backfire and accusations in return for it as well as people telling me I haven't forgiven and so on and so forth, but after spending some time with my sweet Savior I feel led to move past what people think. HE has something to say through all of this, and I would have to say that the thing I struggled with most was lust. As most of my consistent readers know I was introduced to masturbation at nine years old. It became an addiction that if I didn't partake in it, then I wouldn't be able to go to sleep until maybe about 2 and sometimes 3 in the morning. I experienced the Holy Spirit for the first time in 2010. It became all too real for me for the first time in my life. It wasn't my parents' faith, it wasn't my friends' faith; it was my faith. It was personal now, me and Jesus.

    I was FREE from an addiction I had for ten years just like that. You see it's still something I struggle with at times though the power of prayer, the power of COMMUNICATING with the Son of God makes it easy to say no to. I fell several times since then particularly one relationship a year ago that I went into. I was free from this addiction for months when I woke up masturbating one night. I felt absolutely, utterly DISGUSTED. I look back at it with a new perspective on spiritual warfare and now I see that it was a demonic spirit that I had let into my life through this relationship. If that wasn't a good enough example for you later in that relationship I opened the door to Satan through sin which is the abode of demonic activity. (I'm SO glad I am free from these spirits now! :-))

    You see sex is more than just a physical exchange. It is a spiritual exchange. Mark 10:8 - "...and the two will become one flesh. So they are no longer two, but one flesh." What fellowship does the dark have with the light!? NONE. It is easier for someone to pull you down than it is for you to pull them up especially when lust is involved. In God's Word adultery is spoken about A LOT. I believe it is Satan's main choice of weapon especially in this day and age. Like I said when you sleep with somebody it is a spiritual exchange. Whatever they are dealing with in the spiritual realm you will start to experience and yes, sleeping with demons is possible. (Genesis 6) Towards the end of that relationship I started dealing with spirits that I had never dealt with before. Right now I am trying to be wise about the depth of what I share about this so I pray that from what I am sharing you all will see the importance of this warning.

The Dangers of Dabbling With Demons and Sitting With Satan:

1. Death. (We know the wages of sin is death. When you dabble with demons you will have more close calls to it as you have stepped out from under the hand of God's protection for your own desires. I experienced many close calls when I was sitting in this kind of sin of disobedience by not running from it where death tried to grab me. Of course God has more power than Satan and demons combined could ever have. Satan is not God's equal. Every knee WILL bow and every tongue WILL confess HE is Lord.)
2. Feelings of being stuck. (The reality is you are stuck if you're trying to get out from under this influence in your own strength. Cry out to God and ask Him for help. Ask earnestly!)
3. Things that don't make sense. (I had an incidence where I was sitting in my car on the way home at a stoplight playing my Jesus music one day and the lady who was next to me at the stoplight rolled down her window and started screaming at me pounding the side of her SUV. I also had an experience when I was in jail because of this relationship where two girls who I also sensed demons in were making fun of this man next to me having a seizure and then they stopped and looked at me and started whispering. It was one of those things where you could just sense it. My Bible had disappeared a couple months into that relationship. I looked for it all over. After I ended that relationship I found my Bible right in one of the places I had looked.)
4. Change of behavior. (When you are living in the will of God your fruits will match up, but when you step out of it your fruit becomes rotten. I became someone who wasn't the person I had been before when I was living in the presence of Jesus.)
5. Division. (God recently had restored the relationship I had with my family back then and when this spirit was let in it sowed seeds of division and we started to divide and collapse. Satan is the head over dividing and conquering.)
6. Deceit. (Things won't line up constantly. Keep in mind that I say constantly.)
7. Disconnecting grace and the law of righteousness. (I heard many times, "God's grace is sufficient"  being abused and used as a means to manipulate and keep me stuck in the sin I was partaking in. I was called religious for wanting to live righteous. Do not let anybody tell you that...ever. Walking with Jesus is walking in righteousness.)

    Above all be on watch. STAY PRAYED UP. Demons are REAL. Ask God for discernment. Hide your heart in His Word so that you may be able to do so. TEST THE SPIRITS. Always, always take God's Word over man's. Please. This is so very, very important and vital to the body of Christ. If you need any clarification or you have any questions or comments please leave them below or e-mail me at: confessionsofachurchkid@gmail.com

I would love to talk to you and pray for you.

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.

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.

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.

Beautiful Desperation

Beautiful Desperation

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

 

I want to keep His face in mind,

The One who died on the cross to save..my life,

I surrender everything..that I have.

I surrender everything..

That I am.

 

I lay down my life

To glorify

 The One who saved me,

The One who bled for me

To be free.

I can't do this on my own,

For it is Him to all I owe.

 

Though I'm weary and burdened,

Tired and worn.

I know the pain doesn't end when you're re-born.

So I dream of heaven where no one mourns.

But I choose to praise Him..in this storm.

 

He is worthy..to be adored

And I find beauty in my desperation

The veil..has been torn,

No more seperation.

So I hope in heaven.

 

A wondrous desitination,

Free from pain.

Though the growth from this rain,

 Is beautiful

So in this life I'll choose to be..joyful.

 

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."

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.

Silky Smooth

Silky Smooth

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

I used to think having a job close to full time,

a car that I paid in full, listening to those hard rhymes,

& living without my parents at eighteen

made me all that I was supposed to be.

Little miss independent wasn't who she was supposed to be.

Then I started relying on God and in Him I had found my purpose.

He was the right compass, direction,

The protection provided to keep me from hurt,

From all that dirt that made me feel like I was worthless.

The story is I was fed all these lies from all these guys

telling me I was a loser, emotional abusers.

But hey, they were cute

and their smooth words absurd as they were

didn't bring me any closer to kicking them to the curb.

I knew those words were slurred with deception,

But I had a fear of their rejection and

I yearned for their affection.

The only way I learned to keep them was by seduction.

They were my security, a part of me.

My vision for success

was clad in a silky smooth immodest dress.

It was a plan that I ran and controlled.

It only ended up being a deadly hold on me.

This was not who I wanted to be.

That may have been success from a worldly view.

Then #God said, "I'm the only one who can make you new."

Reminded me I wouldn't be content in that and

I hadn't been in matter of fact.

I lacked the only thing I need.

No good deed would suffice until I turned my life around and gave it to Jesus Christ.

In Him I was made right and found all that I was looking for.

That very day was like I was walking through a brand new, unopened door.

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.