Inspiration/Encouragement sitting on my laptop

I’m here not because I’m supposed to be here or because I’m trapped here, but because I’d rather be with you than anywhere else in the world. ~ Robert Bach

When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now. ~ C.S. Lewis

A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers. ~Ruth Bell Graham

"I thank my God every time I remember you." Philippians 1:3 (NIV)

The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service. ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

I choose kindness… I will be kind to the poor, for they are alone. Kind to the rich, for they are afraid. And kind to the unkind, for such is how God has treated me. ~ Max Lucado



Let us touch the dying, the poor, the lonely and the unwanted according to the graces we have received and let us not be ashamed or slow to do the humble work. ~ Mother Teresa

When you come to a place where you are at the end of yourself and your strength and are at your lowest point, you are in the greatest position to see the power of God at work in your life. Because our God is strong, when we are weak (2 Corinthians 12:10).

Remember this too shall pass- Nothing will last forever and sometimes in the midst of a really hard season in life it’s easy to believe things will never improve. But change in life is inevitable. You will smile and laugh again and someday what you are going through right now will just be a memory.

When you feel like things can’t get any worse, He will carry you through with a strength you can’t imagine and that will speak volumes to a watching world. If you let it, your biggest mess could be your very greatest MESSage to the world about the love and redemption of Christ. You never know what God will do and how He will make beauty rise from the ashes of your life.

Steps To Victory

Taking a look at Nehemiah 2:1-20 lets look at the steps we need to take to have victory over our enemies and gain the self-control in our lives that we desire.

1. Enlist a few accountability partners. (vs 12)
2. Perform an honest self-examination. In what areas do you lack self-control? (vs 13)
3. Admit that you have experienced internal or external disgrace in your areas of self-indulgence. (vs 17)
4. Don’t put it off any longer. Begin immediately to cooperate with God’s diligent work with you in your areas of captivity. (vs 18)
5. Give it to God, then keep giving it to God over and over until you have overcome. (vs. 20)
(Note: These steps came from Beth Moore’s book, Living Beyond Yourself)

Remember, you are not alone in your struggles, you are not alone in your failures……God is in the trenches with you……fighting with you!

1 Peter 3:1

smile be good advertisement for the lord no one wants to see a sour puss Christian

Done is better than perfect.
A smile is the most beautiful curve on a woman's body.
Procrastination is like a credit card: it's a lot fun until you get the bill. Christopher Parker

Apologizing:
does not always mean that you value you are wrong and the other person is right
It just means that you value your relationship more than your ego.

Here I am, send me. Isaiah 6:8
Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.
The creative adult is the child who survived. - U. LeGuin
Sometimes we need to forget some people from our past because of one simple reason, they just don't belong in our future.

10 ways to love:

    Listen without interrupting.
    Speak without accusing.
    Give without sparing.
    Pray without ceasing.
    Answer without arguing.
    Share without pretending.
    Enjoy without complaint.
    Trust without wavering.
    Forgive without punishing.
    Promise without forgetting.

What if we woke up today with only the things we thanked God for yesterday? Be thankful.
Sometimes I pretend to be normal. but it gets boring. so i go back to being me.
Exercise daily. Walk with the Lord.
You can't upload love, you can't download time, you can't Google all the answers in live. So just live your life and TRUST in God.



1 John 3:18

The transformation of kids over time

“In the 1950s kids lost their innocence.
They were liberated from their parents by well-paying jobs, cars, and lyrics in music that gave rise to a new term —-the generation gap.

In the 1960s, kids lost their authority.
It was a decade of protest—-church, state, and parents were all called into question and found wanting. Their authority was rejected, yet nothing ever replaced it.

In the 1970s, kids lost their love. It was the decade of me-ism dominated by hyphenated words beginning with self.
Self-image, Self-esteem, Self-assertion….It made for a lonely world. Kids learned everything there was to know about sex and forgot everything there was to know about love, and no one had the nerve to tell them there was a difference.

In the 1980s, kids lost their hope.
Stripped of innocence, authority and love and plagued by the horror of a nuclear nightmare, large and growing numbers of this generation stopped believing in the future.

In the 1990s kids lost their power to reason. Less and less were they taught the very basics of language, truth, and logic and they grew up with the irrationality of a postmodern world.

In the new millennium, kids woke up and found out that somewhere in the midst of all this change, they had lost their imagination. Violence and perversion entertained them till none could talk of killing innocents since none was innocent anymore.”
― Ravi Zacharias, Recapture the Wonder

Tatted up! (& Body piercings)

I see that people can do things based on deeper motives. Is it possible for people to just want a tattoo just for the sake of wanting one, in your opinion?

Brady Goodwin answers: I am not anti tattoos. I am pro understanding the motives behind what we do since we are not strictly instinctual beings. Each of us have motives, desires, appetites, itches that we are trying to scratch and if you don’t properly identify the itch, a tattoo will not scratch what you’re after. If we can trace our motive back to wanting affirmation, attention, recognition, significance, identity, meaning or a sense of stability or authority . . . I would suggest that this itch can be better scratched by investing in a deeper relationship with God the Father, who gives us all those things with no regrets.

 --taken from www.urbanremixproject.com

Bullet and a Target

"What you've done here is put yourself between a bullet a target/

And it won't be long before you're pulling yourself away..."

It makes me thing that sometimes the things we do kind of set us up for our own demise. America is doing so many things. We build our wealth and ignore the poor in fear of falling off the top. But what this does is set us up for our impending demise.

Habbakuk 2:9 "Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain, to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!"

Baptism of Boldness

Dr. Walter Martin is one of my favorite apologetics of all-time. He would appear on secular television defending the faith. I admire his boldness with Christ.

Below is a video of his last T.V. appearance on TBN. He and the host were not invited back after this taping and the episode did not go into the Monday syndication like it usually does nor was it made available on videocassette.

He now rests with the Lord and I would hope that the priesthood would inherit the same boldness for the defense of the faith that he possessed.

Faith

FAITH

(shield of faith: bouclier)

Habakkuk 2

1 I will stand at my watch

and station myself on the ramparts;

I will look to see what he will say to me,

and what answer I am to give to this complaint.[a]

The LORD’s Answer

2 Then the LORD replied:

"Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald[b] may run with it.

3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

it speaks of the end

and will not prove false.

Though it linger, wait for it;

it[c] will certainly come

and will not delay.

4 "See, the enemy is puffed up;

his desires are not upright—

but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness[d]—

　

　

Abakouk 2

1¶ Mwen moute sou fò a pou m' veye. Mwen kanpe sou tèt miray ranpa a, m'ap tann pou m' wè sa Seyè a pral di m', ki repons li pral ban mwen apre tout plenyen mwen plenyen ba li a.

2Men repons Seyè a ban mwen. Li di m' konsa: -Ekri sa mwen pral fè ou wè a. Grave l' byen grave sou wòch plat pou moun ka li l' fasil.

3Ekri l' paske se poko lè pou sa m' pral fè ou wè a rive. Men, li p'ap pran lontan ankò pou l' rive. Li gen pou l' rive vre. Si li pran reta pou l' rive, ou mèt tann. Paske, wè pa wè, li gen pou l' rive lè pou l' rive a.

4Men mesaj la: Moun ki pa mache dwat devan Bondye p'ap chape. Men moun ki mache dwat yo va viv paske yo te kenbe konfyans fèm yo nan Bondye.

　

What God does for us:

gives grace sufficient for us

2 Corinthians 12:9

King James Version (KJV)

9And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Korint 12:9

Haitian Creole Version (HCV)

9Chak fwa, li reponn mwen: Se favè m' ase ou bezwen. Paske lè ou fèb, se lè sa a moun wè pouvwa mwen nan ou. Se poutèt sa, nan fon kè m', mwen pito pale sou feblès mwen pou pouvwa Kris la ka mete m' anba zèl li.

gives according to our faith

　

What we do for Him:

not shrink back, be bold!

Hebrews 10:35-39

New International Version (NIV)

35 So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded.

36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised. 37 For,

"In just a little while,

he who is coming will come

and will not delay."[a]

38 And,

"But my righteous[b] one will live by faith.

And I take no pleasure

in the one who shrinks back."[c]

39 But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved.

　

Ebre 10:35-39 (Haitian Creole Version)

Haitian Creole Version (HCV)

35Pa pèdi lasirans nou te genyen an. Paske, gen yon gwo rekonpans ladan li.

36Men, nou bezwen pasyans pou nou ka fè sa Bondye vle, pou nou ka resevwa sa l' te pwomèt la.

37Paske, men sa ki ekri nan Liv la: Nan yon ti tan ankò, pa gen pou lontan menm, Moun ki gen pou vini an ap vini. Li p'ap pran reta ankò.

38Moun mwen fè gras la ap viv, paske li gen konfyans nan mwen. Men, si l' vire do l' tounen fè bak, li p'ap fè kè m' kontan.

39Nou menm, nou p'ap fè tankou moun sa yo k'ap twenn dèyè, k'ap pèdi tèt yo. N'ap fè tankou moun ki gen fèm konfyans nan Bondye, moun k'ap delivre nanm yo.





Isaiah 28:6

New International Version (NIV)

6 He will be a spirit of justice

to the one who sits in judgment,

a source of strength

to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Ezayi 28:6

Haitian Creole Version (HCV)

6L'a fè moun ki chita nan tribinal yo gen bon konprann pou yo pa fè lenjistis. L'ap bay sòlda yo fòs pou yo ka kilbite lènmi yo lòt bò pòtay lavil la.

　

obey/hear

Romans 10:17

17So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.

　

Ròm 10:17

Haitian Creole Version (HCV)

17Konsa, se lè ou tande mesaj la ou vin gen konfyans. Mesaj la, se pawòl Kris la y'ap anonse.

Let Go

There's a fear that sets in. The moment our belief system challenges our position, we get afraid...and in this fear, we begin to get in what I call scavenger mode and survival mode, where we want to hold on to everything that we have so much that we want to keep it; not realizing that the power is in the RELEASE. There is nothing worth compromising your relationship with God over. - DeVon Franklin

Letter to an Absent Father | Men of Integrity

Letter to an Absent Father | Men of Integrity

Corporate Prayer

Corporate Prayer I. Foundation Scripture: Matthew 18:19 - 20, "Again I Tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, together make a symphony) about - anything and everything - whatever they shall ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (Amplified Bible) Matthew 18:19 - 20, "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." (KJV) Matthew 18:19 - 20, "When two of you get together on anything at all on earth and make a prayer of it, my Father in heaven goes into action. And when two or three of you are together because of me, you can be sure that I'll be there." (Message) Matthew 18:19 - 20, "Again I say to you, that if two of you shall agree on the earth concerning any matter, whatsoever it may be that they shall ask, it shall come to them from my Father who is in the heavens. For where two or three are gathered together unto my name, there am I in the midst of them." (1889 Darby Bible) A. Corporate prayer is probably one of the most neglected and misunderstood forms of prayer we find described in the Bible. Usually when Christians get together to pray, a whole array of prayers are offered by each individual instead of the group simply bringing a few focused prayers in complete unison before the Lord. Despite some of the misconceptions that exist, proper corporate prayer is extremely powerful when we truly appreciate its value and perform it correctly. In Acts 2:1 - 2 we read a very famous account of corporate prayer and its powerful result, "And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting." The term "one accord" carries the meaning of having the same mind, or being in agreement mentally about the same thing. It also means to be of "one passion". (Acts 4:24 - 32 gives another powerful account of how effective corporate prayer is) B. The word "agree" in Matthew 18:19 not only carries the meaning of being in one accord, but goes further; Strong's #G4856 sumphõneõ - soom-fo-neh'-o from Strong's #G4859; to be harmonious, agree (together, with) The word sumphõneõ is the root of our modern English word, symphony. Symphony carries the meaning of "harmony of sound" such as one would experience when a Symphony Orchestra plays a symphony of music or symphonic musical composition. On their own, each individual musical instrument may make a wonderful sound, however, when all the instruments play or symphonize together, they form one beautiful harmonious sound carrying with it much deeper emotion and meaning. The same happens when we agree or symphonize together in corporate prayer. When we all pray together at the same time for the same thing, the power of the Holy Spirit is released in a much greater way, bringing swift breakthroughs and answers to prayer. Psalm 133:1 - 3, "A Song of degrees of David - Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments; As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore." C. Towards the end of Matthew 18:19 we read, "... whatever they shall ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven." The word "done" is defined by the Strong’s Concordance as follows: Strong's #G1096 ginomai - ghin'-om-ahee - means to generate, to become or come into being, to come into existence, begin to be, receive being, be assembled, come to pass, be finished, be fulfilled, be made, ordained to be, be performed, be wrought. The meaning conveyed here strongly suggests something which had not yet taken place will take place. I think it even goes further in that it implies something which had not existed before will come into being or into existence. I believe this not only denotes that a recreative miracle may take place such as when a person has lost a limb, but also in areas where God’s people may need breakthroughs, where a breakthrough situation did not exist before, God will bring a breakthrough into being. Areas in our lives where provision is required will also fall into this category. Recalling when I was still an employee in the secular world, I remember my desire to work for a specific company. Initially when applying for a position with this company, they informed me that the specific position I required did not exist, but that I needed to contact them again in future. The problem was that I needed to work soon as I needed the income, so I continued to pray and trust the Lord in corporate agreement with other Believers. Not long afterwards when I contacted the company again, they informed me that they now had the exact position I wanted. I believe God intervened in answer to corporate prayer and "created" the position for me. D. To conclude my exegesis of Matthew 18:19 - 20, I summarize as follows: Corporate Prayer takes place when at least two or three Believers are present in one place, their unity of faith and prayer being of such a degree that when they harmonize or symphonize together in agreement with God’s Will and His Word, God intervenes and brings to pass the specific request. Matthew 18:19 - 20 states Believers may ask for anything and He will command His blessing! Verse 20 affirms when we gather together in this manner, Jesus is in our midst, and I believe He is in our midst not only to fellowship with us, and we with Him, but He is in our midst to personally bring into being and manifestation the answer and result of our prayer request. The following points illustrate how we should pray corporately and what we should pray for; II. According to God's Will 1 John 5:14-15 (also Proverbs 10:24; Psalm 37:4-5) "And this is the confidence - the assurance, the [privilege of] boldness - which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan) He listens to and hears us, And if (since) we [positively] know that He listens to us in whatever we ask, we also know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that we have [granted us as our present possessions] the requests made of Him." (Amplified) "And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him." (KJV) "And this is the confidence which we have before Him, that if we are asking anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have requested from Him." (Analytical-Literal Translation) "And we have an assured confidence that whenever we ask anything in accordance with His will, He listens to us. And since we know that He listens to us, then whatever we ask, we know that we have the things which we have asked from Him." (1912 Weymouth New Testament) III. Pray with all kinds or types of prayer Ephesians 6:18 (also read Luke 1:1-8) "Pray at all times - on every occasion, in every season - in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty ..." (Amplified) "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit ..." (KJV) "Pray in the Spirit at all times with every kind of prayer and request there is ..." (International Standard Version) "Pray in the Spirit in every situation. Use every kind of prayer and request there is ..." (God’s Word Translation) IV. Pray with our spirit and with our understanding; 1 Corinthians 14:12-15 "... Then what am I to do? I will pray with my spirit - by the Holy Spirit that is within me; but I will also pray intelligently - with my mind and understanding; I will sing with my spirit - by the Holy Spirit that is within me; but I will sing (intelligently) with my mind and understanding also." (Amplified) "... What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also." (KJV) "... Then what should I do? There are times when I should pray with my spirit, and times when I should pray with my mind." (Contemporary English Version) V. Pray for all men 1 Timothy 2:1-5 (also see Psalm 33:12) "First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men ..." (Amplified) "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men ..." (KJV) "The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know ..." (Message) "Therefore, I urge first of all [for] petition to be continually made, prayers, intercessions, [and] thanksgivings, on behalf of all people ..." (Analytical-Literal Translation) VI. In Conclusion As Christian Believers we must seek the Lord corporately and apply the principles of corporate prayer diligently and accurately. Corporate prayer for all people will bring the Presence of God into manifestation on the earth and bring change and revival where religious and demonic strongholds have held cities, nations and continents captive for thousands of years. Jesus paid the price in full, so let us come into agreement with Him: Colossians 2:15, "And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it ..." In His Love and Anointing Jan van Rooyen

Pefume Scents

I've been looking for my signature perfume scent but wasn't sure which to use.

Here's a list recommended by a Youtube video guru I subscribed to:
Creed Millesime Imperial ($270)
Silver Mountain Water
Alfred Sung Shi
Romance by Ralph Lauren
White Diamonds
Bvlgari

I will go to the store and make my selection eventually!

Why I will vote Pro-Life this year

This is the first year I am old enough to vote. I actually did not know how I stood on some issues. For example, with the abortion issue, I always told myself that I would never actually have an abortion, but I would also never impede someone else's decision to.

And then I saw this film and I never made the mistake of being apathetic about the issue again.

This video also sealed the deal.

When I learned about the Holocaust in class, I wondered "Where was the world when all of this was happening?" Was there anyone who said "enough is enough"? I'm realizing the same thing is going on with the abortion. There's a great possibility that kids are going to read about us in the future and say "Where was the world when all of this was happening?"

It's time for believers to stand strong on the issues and their faith. It is TIME. The world is going mad.

(This photo was shot by a man named Michael Clancy during a utero surgery to correct spina bifida. The uterus is taken out and surgery is performed.The baby came out from underneath anesthesia and reached his hand up out of the womb. Life magazine would not publish the photograph. The image negates the argument that life starts once you're out of the womb. )
_______
Photo: http://michaelclancy.com/

MOVIE REVIEW: New Jack City

This is a movie that explains how crack cocaine flooded the streets of Detroit and the climate of the area during the Reagan administration. 

Cult classic within the Black film community. 20 minutes into the movie, it is evident that the story is rich.

I understand the attempt of this movie. It explores the growth and effects of drugs in the urban black community and it does so quite well. However, I feel like this movie also helped to glorify the dealing of drugs unintentionally. Call me crazy but this film released in the early 90's could be one of the causes for the shift of hip hop from gritty urban art form into womanizing, drug-dealing pimping because it seemed to appealing in this film. I'm supposed to hate Nino Brown, but he gets the women, money and the glory? Hmm.... 

Also, Chris Rock played a believable crackhead in this film. His acting was superb and his character was the one I felt the worst for in the film because he represented the many victims of the epidemic.

The film begins with a scripture plastered on a brick wall: 1 Cor. 6:8-9 "Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers and sisters. Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be decieved: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers..."

Quotable quotes:

"1/3 of the cops is on Nino's payroll, the other 2/3 don't care unless it affects their community."

"Let's kick the balistics. Ain't no Uzi's made in Harlem. Not one of us in here owns a poppy field. This thing is bigger than Nino Brown. This is big business."

"Idolater! You're soul is required in hell!" 

In director's commentary: A candle that burns twice as bright burns twice as fast.

He who has the gold makes the rules.

Movie ends with: "Although this is a fictional story, there are Nino browns in every major city in America. If we don't confront the problem realistically--without empty slogans and promises--then drugs will continue to destroy our country."

BOOK CLUB: Sense & Sensuality by Ravi Zacharias

 So I read this awesome book over the summer, "Sense and Sensuality" by Ravi Zacharias and it was amazing. It explores a fictional conversation between novelist Oscar Wilde and Jesus Christ. The main theme of the short book is pain versus pleasure and answers the question "If it feels good, why not?" Anyone who is confused about the purpose of pleasure for mankind will enjoy the book. Below are some quotes as well as some accompanying pictures from all over the internet. Enjoy!

One's own spirit and body, one's kinsmen and friends and enemies, wealth and poverty, disgrace, prosperity, good reputation, health and so on- anything, in short, that endures for a shorter than the soul does is incapable of satisfying the soul...{p.70}

In seeking pleasure, you pursued the body and lost the person. You sought the sensation and sacrificed the individual. {p.71}

Pleasure took you astray, and pain brought you back. {p.77}

Wanting someone without a commitment to that someone is always one step away from hate; you exhaust the sensual and then want your potential accuser to just be gone from your life. My laws were designed out of love for each and every person so that none would be abused. {p.55}

The truth is that whenever a fence is removed, it's wise to ask why it was put there in the first place. {p.56}

Ultimately, children will be sacrificed at the altar of a wicked and perverse will. {p.57}

I just loved this image

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