Jonathan McReynolds - Comin' Out (UNPLUGGED)

I've been singing this song in my head since late last night so I thought I would share it with you guys!  Sometimes we have to remind ourselves, that whatever we are going through is only temporary and we really are coming out! It was Paul who said, I reckon these present sufferings are nothing compared to the glory that has yet to be revealed. Have a great Wednesday!

Spiritually Blind

John 9 is a very familiar passage to me and probably anyone who has studied the life and miracles of Jesus. I have read it many times before, but let’s just say this morning I read it with fresh eyes. Just to give you an idea, this is the time when Jesus heals the blind man by making mud and sending him to wash in the pool. But that’s not really what I want to talk about. 

Let’s take a look at John 9:1-3---

1As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. 2“Rabbi,” his disciples asked him, “why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents’ sins?”3“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

Now of course, I have read these verses before and marveled at what was being said. I was so amazed that this man came into the world with an issue that was simply to get himself and other people to understand that great gift of love (grace) which was given to us by God. I began to sit and think, how many things in my life have happened, just so I could testify to the goodness and the grace of God. I can look back over my life and thank God for what He’s done for me, but I receive even more joy when I can share those things with someone else, and they are later able to tell me how it helped them, or even how it relates to their situation. I can even think of times when sharing has helped me to heal in ways, I didn’t even know were broken. 

It’s so important to remember as believers that we what we go through is not always for us! Some of the things that we go through are for others. Because we survived, others learn that they can too. Because he did it for us, others realize that He can do it for them too! 

Now let’s fast forward, that isn’t what got me tripping, but remember we talked about it. Now after people realize that this is the same dude who was sitting and begging them everyday, everybody literally trips out and is like hold up, what a minute!!! You can see??? You been fooling us everyday??? Some people even thought it was just a look alike. The man proudly tells them, no it’s me but a man named Jesus healed me! So here we go, the religious in the crowd get mad because Jesus healed him on the Sabbath. You know that the Sabbath is supposed to be a day of rest for the Jews. This isn’t the first nor last time, that Jesus was persecuted for doing a miracle on the Sabbath. Before he ever even did anything, he prefaced it with the following statement: 

4We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. 5But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world.”

Once in the synagouge, the Pharisees began to question the man. I can just see this dude getting frustrated and deep sighing. He keeps telling them, “I don’t know anything about this man. All I know is that he made mud, put it on my eyes, told me to wash it off, now I can see.” In his mind he was probably saying, “Quit asking me the same dumb questions that you’ve been asking me all day!!!!” 

The Pharisees went so far as to question the man’s parents. They didn’t want much to do with the situation for fear of retaliation if the said Jesus was the Messiah, which we can isogetically assume they believed according to verses 22-23. 

Let’s jump back in at verse 24. Now Jesus opens up this miraculous scene with the following declaration, 

3“It was not because of his sins or his parents’ sins,” Jesus answered. “This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

Jesus never took the credit for what was being done. He lived a life that was purely to glorify God! It tripped me out because in verse 24, the Pharisees said, 

24So for the second time they called in the man who had been blind and told him, “God should get the glory for this, because we know this man Jesus is a sinner.”

This was crazy to me! I had never seen this in the text before! It’s amazing how God will use even those who are trying to find fault to STILL give Him the glory!!! Here the Pharisees are, just itching to find something wrong and they wind up still fulfilling the plan of God. In an earlier verse, they admitted that they thought he was a sinner because he didn’t keep Sabbath (vs. 16) even that idea was divided though. But just think about it...couldn’t we argue that they are breaking Sabbath by convening on the Sabbath and running all over the place gathering witnesses and evidence. 

Verse 25 is what blessed me: 

25“I don’t know whether he is a sinner,” the man replied. “But I know this: I was blind, and now I can see!”

In my heart, I believe this man was a brother. Growing tired of all of this, the man says, “Look, I don’t know what your issue is or what you are trying to accomplish. Quit asking me all these doggone questions. All I know is I was born blind, I begged your stingy behinds for money to help make my way since I couldn’t work. This man came along, whoever he is and now I can see! That’s all that’s important to me, now leave me alone!” The Pharisees were still not satisfied with this answer and continued to question him. The man told him apparently you don’t listen, or you just want to become his disciples. 

Verses 28-29 are where I want to wrap up. They apparently realize, that they aren’t getting much further with this man. They say the following, 

28Then they cursed him and said, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses! 29We know God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where this man comes from.”

First of all, why would you be a disciple of a dead person? Joshua 1:1a says, “My servant Moses is dead.” Moses was a mortal just like you. Pastor has been teaching on Moses and he raised a point that made even more sense to me now than it did when he first said it, the problem with the Jews were that they knew Moses, but didn’t know God. This further proves that they were stuck in the past. They said that they knew God spoke to Moses, but they didn’t know where Jesus came from...Which is interesting because they have been cited before as saying, is this not Jesus the Carpenter’s son, are his mother and sisters not here among us? 

This story for me was a fresh look. I saw this story completely different from I have many times before. It’s interesting how you can read things over and over and one day you see something you never knew was there.

Not Your Average Girl

If you follow me on Facebook or Twitter (@mslesley22) you know that I have had an interesting day…So driving home, it made me think and I’ve wanted to write this for so long, but I guess I just really didn’t have the drive. I guess this was enough to really push me.

It is so important that we know who we aren’t and understand at the same time who we are. God has said so much about us. He loves us more than we could ever believe. I am so adamant about young women knowing their identity in Christ. If you never know what He says about you, you will never understand what the world should know about you. In this version, I didn’t do much exact quoting or include verses. If you want to know feel free to ask.

But ladies please understand, you don’t have to settle for less!!! You are a child of the MOST HIGH GOD! He has called you by name. He promises to give the choice nations as a ransom for you. He loves you!!! He made you, He formed you!!! Know your worth and walk in it!!! You were created to be above and not beneath!!! You are God’s greatest treasure and His choice gift! Ladies you were bought with a price, don’t make yourself cheap and easily available. We were the last in creation but the greatest. Men were made to give, we were made to be able to receive life and give life. Know your identity, don’t allow anyone to fool you!!! You are AWESOME!!! You are BEAUTIFUL!!! You are PRICELESS!!!

I’m not your average girl. I am so much more than what you see. I am more than two legs and a pretty face, you see. I am royalty. My Father is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He took the time to make me and form me of his own accord. He tells me I am His righteousness.

He told me that He would give the greatest and the best as a ransom for me. He told me that He loves me beyond my wildest imagination. He rejoices over me in song. He is mighty to save me! He loves me so much, He knows every hair on my head, it says He has counted them and written them in His book. It may not seem like much to you, but considering I know that He keeps track of my hairs, that’s pretty amazing to me. In case you didn’t know, I loose about 100 a day, He even knows those too.

You know it’s awesome to know He loves me so. Did you know that you and I can call Him at the same time and He can answer us both, without getting us confused? So forgive me if I seem a little strange or even lofty in my thinking, but He has made me peculiar and made me a treasure unto Himself. You see, you may not understand because I am a woman after His own heart. Don’t be dismayed, you’ve heard of me. He wrote 66 books as a love song just for me…My favorite one tells me that my price is far above rubies and that I am difficult to find. You see this all suits me just fine.

I’m happy to know that I was chosen to stand out. He picked me above all other to hold me close to Him. It’s great to know just how much I mean to Him. You see I may not be much to you, but to Him I am worth the life of His only son…So yes I am offended when you call me less than I am. It wouldn’t be a problem if I was blind to my identity, but you see who I am is a song that’s sang to me ever so sweetly late in the midnight hour to make sure I know the verse…

You may not know me, but I know me and that’s what matters…You see He told me that He has a purpose and a plan for me. He promised me that the work He began will be carried on to completion. He told me if I delight myself in Him that He would give me my every desire. So yes, you may be important, but you are not worth my promise! I am not a foolish one who gives up the promises for an empty guarantee…

You see, I am a Daddy’s girl! I am an eternal princess, you understand, my Daddy is the King. His kingdom will never end, so I’m sorry if you don’t understand, but I chose to be true to my identity, I can’t deny who I am if you don’t understand, I can’t even say I apologize…But me you see, I’m happy being not your ordinary girl. I like the mystery that surrounds me. I embrace the fact that you don’t know me and you don’t understand. Your questions and misunderstanding makes me laugh…don’t be offended, just look below the surface…

You can’t get to know me simply by looking, you see I have layers…I am fearfully and wonderfully made and my soul knows just that. You can’t convince me that I am less than I am…You see I'm not an average or ordinary girl…I am above and not beneath. I am the head and not the tail. My Father owns the cattle on a thousand hills so I have no lack and have no need to want. You see I am greatness, I am destiny! I am a child of the King. If you don’t understand don’t worry, you just weren’t meant to know that I’m not just your average girl…

 

Technorati Tags: Woman,Women,God,Girl,Female,Christian,Identity,Love,Relationships,Creation

Have You Ever?

Have You Ever?
by Brandy

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad you cant sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words but they dont come out right
Have you ever
Have you ever
(Have you ever)

Have you ever been in love, been in love so bad
You'd do anything to make them understand
Have you ever had someone steal your heart away
You'd give anything to make them feel the same
Have you ever searched for words to get you in their heart
But you dont know what to say and you dont know where to start

Have you ever loved somebody so much it makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad you cant sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words but they dont come out right
Have you ever (Have you ever)
Have you ever

Ooooh
Have you ever found the one you've dreamed of all your life
You'd do just about anything to look into their eyes
Have you finally found the one you've given your heart to
Only to find that one won't give their heart to you
Have you ever closed your eyes and dreamed that they were there
And all you can do is wait for the day when they will care

Have you ever loved somebody so much (so much) it makes you cry
(Makes you wanna break down and cry)
Have you ever needed something so bad(so, so bad) you cant sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words but they dont come out right
(Have you ever)
Have you ever
Have you ever
(Have you ever ever ever)

What do I gotta do to get you in my arms baby
What do I gotta say to get to your heart
To make you understand how I need you next to me
Gotta get you in my world cuz baby I can't sleep

Have you ever loved somebody so much (so much) it makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad you cant sleep at night
Have you ever tried to find the words but they dont come out right
Have you ever
Have you ever...

Loved somebody so much it makes you cry
Have you ever needed something so bad you cant sleep at night
(Just cant sleep at night)
Have you ever tried to find the words but they dont come out right
Have you ever
Have you ever
(Have you ever ever ever)
Ooooo
Have you ever

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Most of you should remember this song...well I was listening to this song and I had a powerful thought...Do you realize, this is how God feels about you? If God was human and had emotions that we could describe, this would be it!

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. ~Jeremiah 31:3

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. ~Ephesians 3:16-19

His word tells us that He loves us so much that He knows the very number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7). Now anyone who has studied science knows that we loose close to 100+ hairs daily. God cares enough to know the number that we loose in addition to the new one that grows. This really comforts my heart. No one else maybe as excited as I am about this. But the next time you are feeling alone, remember you have a God that is a strong tower who loves you so much that NOTHING can separate you from His love(Romans 8:35-39)!

The awesome thing is not only does He love you with an everlasting love, but He gives you the opportunity to return the favor!

"This is what the LORD says, he who made the earth, the LORD who formed it and established it—the LORD is his name: 3 'Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.' ~Jeremiah 33:2,3

The closer we draw to Him the closer He will draw to us (James 4:8). We all experience pain in life but the truth of the matter is, that you needed it! He tells you that the one thing in this life you will have is trouble (John 16:33). The awesome thing is that He has already overcome every pain!

Isn't it great to know how much He really loves you? So tonight I can answer the question...yes I have! God I thank you for your blessings and for the gift of your love and for loving me despite all of my unworthiness. I thank you for embracing me even when I didn't want to be embraced! God I thank you that you have a purpose and a plan for me! God I ask for a refreshing and refilling of your spirit! In the name of Jesus! Amen

Just Clearing My Mind…

I haven’t really had much time to write lately, but Happy New Year everybody. It seems like life is really on a fast track around here. Things have been changing so fast that I can just barely keep up. But I am so happy for it.

Life has never been better. I have come to realize that sometimes we lose people or things out of our lives. We often feel that it is a great loss, but God has a way of showing us that he is all that we really need. My life has done some rearranging but God is still in control and has my best interest in mind and at heart.

I love the Lord and He does everything in his own time. I am happy for this journey to finding out who I am and what I am. I am still learning, but I have learned so much! I am thankful for my sister chicks!!! Ya’ll know who you are! Ya’ll keep me grounded and keep me sound! I wouldn’t replace you guys for all of the tea in China!!!

I am thankful for my new bestie!!! He probably won’t even read this (LOL, if you do!!!). But you help to keep me grounded, I love you and I appreciate you!!! You’re awesome!!!

Church and ministry are amazing! God is moving and doing some awesome things! I am so happy to be apart of this period in time! God is really moving!!!

There will be more to come later, but this was just a brief snippet! Love you guys, talk to you later!!!

Kingdom Blessings!

Lesley

The Time of Reckoning

⁷ Thus He showed me: Behold, the Lord stood on a wall made with a plumb line, with a plumb line in His hand. ⁸ And the LORD said to me, “Amos, what do you see?”

   And I said, “A plumb line.”
Then the Lord said:
      “ Behold, I am setting a plumb line
      In the midst of My people Israel;
      I will not pass by them anymore.
⁹ The high places of Isaac shall be desolate,
      And the sanctuaries of Israel shall be laid waste.
      I will rise with the sword against the house of Jeroboam.”

~~Amos 7:7-9

As we stand on the brink of a New Year, I am amazed by the things I have seen and learned this year. I must first say thank God for all that he has done. The Lord is so awesome, he keeps you even when you don’t think about being kept!

I’ve heard so many people say that this is a time of correction and all of that good stuff. A few nights ago, I looked up the biblical meaning of the number 10. Ya’ll this is going to blow your minds. I mean it made me go and look at the meaning for the number 9 as well!

Let’s start with the number 9. The number 9 is the last of the single digits. and it marks the end and also the conclusion of the matter. The number nine symbolically is the number of finality or judgment. This number further marks the completeness, the end and issue of all this as to man—the judgment of man and all his works. There are several issues in the bible that falls in nine. There are 9 different words that are used to represent judgment. Also there are nine of each of the following: Parts to the Fruit of the Spirit, Gifts of the Spirit, Persons Stoned in the Bible, Nine Widows specially mentioned, People afflicted with blindness and nine afflicted with leprosy.

To me the meaning of the number nine was huge. If you think about it so many of us have suffered so many things this year. When I learned that, I got happy to realize that 2009 represents finality in the things that have happened. When the bell tolls on 2010, I leave behind all of the bad things that have happened this year. It’s a choice that you make. You decide that things that are not healthy will not go into your future with you. Let’s look at the number 10. (This is actually one of my favorite numbers!!!)

The number ten is a perfect number. Symbolically it represents the perfection of Divine order. It also starts a new series of numbers the double digits. It also represents the completeness of order marking the entire round of anything. It implies that nothing is wanting and that the whole cycle is complete. Famous tens in the bible include: Noah is the tenth generation from God, Ten Commandments, The Lords Prayer (ten clauses, each of which also mach the significance of their respective numbers), The Tithe, Redemption Money (Ex. 30:12-16), Ten Plagues, Antichrist’s World Power, Ten Nations, Abraham’s Acts of Faith, Ten “I Am” Statements and others.

To realize that 2010 is the completion to so many things in my life. That made me happy to move on. The entire round. 2010 will complete the judgments of 2009. I don’t know about you, but I am ready to be rid of the hell I suffered in 2009. I am ready to walk in my purpose and my promise!

I chose this scripture because of its references to judgment. Then it goes on to say that God will not continue to spare his people. We as people of God must do what he is telling us to do, how he is telling us to do it. Judgment begins in the house of God. We complain and complain about what’s wrong, we have to start changing. We have to be what God has called us to be. He has called us to be both salt and light. There are things that cannot be done without either.

Choose who you will serve and give it your all. There is no longer time to be lukewarm or straddling fences. This is the time, that if you are for God, you must be totally for and with him. I challenge you to take this time these last few hours and decide what you will change for the new year and what you will do to bring correction to your house (physical and spiritual).

Kingdom Love and Blessings,

Lesley

Counted Out, But Not Cast Out!!!

II Corinthians 4:8-10, 15-18

8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;

10 Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.

…

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

______________________________________________________________

In our text we see that although we face momentary tribulations they are not permanent. It reminds us that in every situation, there is some test or trial that we should learn from. It gives us a list of terms that we are all very familiar with and at no doubt experienced. Those terms are: Hard-pressed, Surrounded, Perplexed, Persecuted, Struck down. According to our text these terms are all the emotions that we often feel describe and designate our status in life. Undoubtedly we can all understand why the Apostle Paul must have felt that way. Think of all the hardships that Paul had to endure. He was beaten, imprisoned and daily tortured for this same cause.

Let’s take a blast from the past. What about David. Let’s think about all the things that happened in his life. His family all counted him out when it came down to the most important task of his life. Although they counted him out God did not cast him out. Let’s take another scene from his life. What about when they felt that he was not fit to go into war against the Philistine named Goliath, or what about when Saul pursued him with the intent of taking his deadly life. Again many counted him out but God had not cast him out.

How about another person we all know. What about Moses. He was born to slave and become an heir to the throne of Egypt. What about when the Hebrews fellowship mocked him for not being “enslaved”. Oh or how he was undoubtedly teased by the Egyptians for looking different and not being like them.

 

Still not good enough for you? What about when Jesus, Savior of the World was born in a manger? What about his training as a carpenter’s son. How about when he was roaming around with the lowest of the low? Again he was definitely counted out but God had no cast him out. Surely he was condemned by the present officials but God had not convicted him. Well let’s look at this what about when he was beat and bruised for all humanity. What about when he climbed Golgotha’s hill. What about when he took the nails in his hand and his feet, what about when he was pierced in the side. What about when he cried out, “It is finished!” The moment he rescued all salvation and the dying world. The most important moment in history, the defining moment of a life time. Jesus, just think about it, Jesus was counted out but God had not cast him out.

Still not enough? Just think about this one. Satan is counted out and cast out. But do you not know if only he would bow his head in submission he would be redeemed and saved from his eternal fate. Do you not know that God desires to see not one lost? Don’t you know that God is a God of love and compassion? He desires to care for us and to save us. God desires to bless us no matter what the present situation may be.

In Psalm 91:1 God makes the following promise: He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty, God promises that if we will only seek him for strength that we will find it. But let me tell you what this really talks about. This refers to David. This refers to the time when he needed to feel the presence of God but was not holy enough to behold the ark.

See what people don’t realize is though David was a man of God and he was ordained for a purpose, he was a Man of War. Often times people seem to think that he couldn’t be in the presence of God because of this. It was not that. He fought God ordained and God driven wars. David couldn’t enter into his presence because of the man he killed on purpose. At this time David had, had Bathsheba’s husband killed so that he could satisfy his lustful flesh. It was because of this that David could not enter into the true presence of God. So what David would do was wait until the light entering the tabernacle was above the Ark so that it cast a shadow. He would then crouch in that shadow. From doing this, he would feel renewed with God’s presence. He would feel a close communion with the one who never cast him out even in all his unworthiness.

As you can see, it is in our times of loneliness that the presence of God can do his greatest work in us. It is when we lose all ability to correctly function and the ability to rationalize for ourselves that he can do all that he desires to do. It is in our weakness that he is made strong and that his power is picture perfect and proof positive. For when we ignore out own will and focus in on his, it is then that he can truly speak to us.

It is now that the second part of this passage becomes important. It is when we can look at all the things we feel that we are and we can suddenly realize all the things we are not: Not crushed, not in despair, not abandoned, and not destroyed. It is then that we realize that our present sufferings are only temporary. It is then that we can see that yes by all means the world has counted us out but God has not cast us out.

We face many struggles on a daily basis. Whether these struggles be finances, sickness or even disability. What we have to realize is, these struggles are not and will not ever be finite. Meaning that these are things that will at some point come to pass, if you ever paid attention to the KJV bible there are more instances of the words “And it came to pass…” Just like all situations, and it shall come to pass. We know that in Romans 8:28, it reads as follows; And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. We must simply take the steps to take God at his word and know that no matter our present sufferings, he is still in control and he still sits on the throne.

We have to remember that in 2 Corinthians 12:9 God promises the following: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." It is not said just to look cute not is it meant just to sound cute. It is meant to reassure us that his power can overcome our greatest weaknesses because God said so. We have every assurance in the world that this true because in Isaiah 55:11, God says this: so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. God promises that nothing he says will ever, not achieve his purpose and I’ve got news for you.

God spoke you!!! God spoke you!!! That’s something to shout about. God spoke you!!! Just think about it. He made you with his hands and he spoke you. The day he created the universe, he spoke you. The Earth was created to be a habitation for you, a place where you could commune with God and where you could worship him. Just think about it in Jeremiah 29:11 God promises; For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. God promises to prosper us. God promises that he has a plan for our lives so that means that we can’t fail. We can’t be destroyed. God has spoken us into his kingdom. He has literally promised to bless us. In Psalms he promises that if we delight ourselves in him that he would give us the desires of our hearts and then in Matthew he promises that if we first seek the kingdom of Heaven that all other things would be added to us.

So that means if we would simply take our minds off of all the carnal things, meaning the temporal things including emotions. Yes emotions are temporal they cannot and will not last forever, if you forget about the temporal and begin to seek God. I don’t mean pretend to seek him. But really begin to seek him not through prayer but through intercession. If you begin to forget about your own selfish “needs” and begin to seek the needs and betterment of others so many doors will begin to be opened. Also in Jeremiah 29, God promises that if we seek him he will indeed be found by us. What a blessed assurance, what an awesome promise to know that if we earnestly seek God that we shall find him no matter how bad the situation may look. It’s awesome to know that even when life’s situations, other people and even we ourselves have counted us out, God has not cast us out!!!

Yes, often times we do cast ourselves out. Think we don’t huh? Look at Isaiah, Jonah, Jeremiah and Paul. They all felt like there was something that did not qualify them for their call to duty. But oh what a mighty God will even work with us despite our doubt in him. Yes what a God we serve that would even look past all our hurt and everything we think that makes us unfit. That even when we are easily willing to ignore all he has said and count ourselves out, he is not willing to cast us out. Isn’t it awesome to know that God will always preserve his plan for us even when we don’t see it even when we are counted out by man’s standards, God still doesn’t cast us out!

Originally written April 5, 2007

God Bless and Keep you!

Lesley D.