Love Changes Everything

Love Changes Everything

By: Elaina Grace Morgan

We're too consumed with judging other people's sin

When we need to remember we were once there with them.

No judgement changed us, sustained us.

It only shortchanged us

But then we go and do that to one another like we forgot what it felt like.

We start showing dislike.

By that they're only a confirmation of their condemnation,

An abomination.

No, what does God's word say?

Because of His love the price was already paid.

So stop delaying what God already said.

Stop weighing all of the fabric of their sin

'Cause they won't realize that they'll win 

If they turn from it accepting Him.

It was His love that changed us,

You know Jesus?

His love turned things around.

Thorns as a crown,

Beaten to the ground

He did it willingly.

On such a ghastly day

We killed Him in such a nasty way.

But just as he promised He rose in three days

In such a glorious way.

Now how are they going to see their life changed

In a way that glorifies His name

If all we do is shoot a lofty glance,

Cast a look off like they don't even deserve a chance.

Well let me tell you,
 None of us do.

Yet He still made all of us brand new.

So why do you treat them like they're any different,

And so blatant?

The problem isn't with them.

It's with us.

Start showing love and stop throwing people under the bus

Because it's love that changed everything,
 If anything

And it's not our job to be disparaging.

'Cause that only breaks the church up

So instead start building one another up,

Lifting one another up in prayer.

And start showing people that you really, truly care.

Time To Get Real Y'all

    It's time to get real. I'm cool if anyone wants to judge me after they read this because I am secure in Christ and I rest my head in what I know God says about me. No one's perfect and I accept that I am far from it, but I know I'd be even further from it without Christ. I am just SO taken by His love and all that He has brought me out of that I have to share with you what He has done in my life. I was talking to someone a few months ago. This person doesn't know Christ, but we had been talking about the Christmas party that we had and they had mentioned that I seemed like I was high there. I was so shocked at this because I hadn't been and I knew the reason why it seemed that way. I was so overcome by stress and depression that I had numbed myself to everything that was going on in my life because that whole year I had been hurt terribly by several people. In that I had lost myself. I was broken. It was like I was in a fog. I went through life not even feeling like I was living and to this very day I barely can remember any of it. That was because I wasn't living in God's plan for my life. I was far from it.

    You see I had been introduced to sexual sin in the fourth grade. I was so young that I didn't know what to do with it. I didn't know the depth of what God was saying when He said to refrain from ALL fornication before marriage. I was embarassed to ask my parents to clarify it and so I continued on that path. Did I mention I'm a pastor's kid? I didn't think that would go over very well. Anyways, I continued on that very path. I had struggled with it for so long that it had become an addiction. I was bound by it and I had once been delivered from it, but I fell back into it when I felt pressure and gave into it once more because of the people I had let speak into my life and because I felt that that was what love was. My view on love was so twisted then. At the time I had been going through other things that had put me in that place of depression. I had lost sight of God, but God did NOT lose sight of me. I remember a time where I felt so gone that I thought I wasn't even worthy enough to pray to the God I believe in.

    I had fell in deeper as time went on. I was stuck in a position with no where to live that ended up leading me to live with my boyfriend at the time. I knew it was wrong, but living with him seemed better than living on the streets. In the way I was focusing on it being better than living on the streets it was, but in the spiritual aspect there was nothing better about it. I felt stuck and I didn't know how to get out of this situation. I ended up deciding to give talking to God a try and I found myself always praying the same, short prayer in the shower when I had a chance to be alone, "God, I don't know how to get out of this. Help." I felt abandoned by all and I had nothing left to give. Now this didn't go away just like that. My boyfriend at the time ended up kicking me out the day after he told me he loved me for the first time so that he could be with another woman. It hurt me A LOT, but I didn't fight it because I knew this was what I was asking for. Deliverance from all the sexual sin I had been in wasn't an easy journey. It took work. It took encouragement which I'd often have to do for myself because I was often condemned for my struggles. No one wanted to listen. They just wanted it to stop, but like I said, it wasn't easy. After 10 years of struggling I was set free. God had delivered me from the place I was in and the process sure did hurt, but the healing and hope that I felt once again was WELL WORTH IT. I decided to share this with you because I want you to be encouraged. He saved someone like me and He can do the same for you. I believe in God because without Him I'd be in the same place that I once was: hopeless, depressed, bound by my lust, bound by pill popping, and suicidal. If you're struggling don't be ashamed to seek help from someone you trust. Remember that anything is possible in God and TO HIM BE THE GLORY.

Take Captive

    Sometimes we get so caught up in our emotions that we let them control us. We let them be the deciding factor for what we say and believe about ourselves. That's pretty dangerous! Our feelings often lie to us and when we aren't conscious to the fact that they do that then we start believing those lies. I'm sure every single one of you have felt at some point that nobody loves you, cares, or is there for you. I sure have felt that way several times in my life, but then we start to dwell on those lies and then they become a reality for us. As Christians we need to identify these false declarations that we let into our hearts and minds and remember what God's word says. 2 Corinthians 10:5 states, "We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ," and that verse not only goes for what you're speaking into your life, but it also goes for what others speak into your life.

    Other people's opinions of you do not define who you are. When someone says something that cuts you deep take it to God and ask Him what He thinks about you. Remind yourself that YOU are a child of the Most High and that He cares for you. He hurts when you're hurting. He grieves when you grieve. He created YOU and He loves YOU. Remind yourself of the truth that has been written in His book. He said for us to take every thought captive. He didn't say only the ones that  hurt a lot or only the ones that people would give you a crazy look if they ever found out what was going through your head. We all go through this and we often beat ourselves up or start believing the enemies lies. Here's a reminder for you: they're called lies for a reason! They aren't the truth! Praise God. Anything that does not line up with His Word is not from Him. If you look up to someone because they're in an authoritative position but they're not speaking life into you then take captive your thoughts and look to the one who DOES give life! Be encouraged.

    It's so very important to cheer ourselves on just as much as we're supposed to cheer each other on. We're brothers and sisters in Christ and we should be lifting one another up instead of tearing one another down. Do not let your lone focus be on someone else to help you with what you're going through because only God can truly change someone from the inside out. People will fail you, but take control and don't fail yourself by not seeking help. Get an accountability partner, but let your main focus be on the Lord. Don't beat yourself up and tell yourself you'll never be free if you're struggling with sin. Hide His word in your heart so that you can recognize when lies come creeping up on you. 1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is FAITHFUL, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it." Start believing in yourself. You can do it and you can be free by the power of the Holy Spirit. You say you believe in God, but I wonder do you trust Him?

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.