This weekend I got the lovely opportunity to volunteer as a Saturday greeter at the Jesus Culture Conference in Atlanta, Georgia at the Georgia World Congress Center. Normally, merchandise is my area of choice when giving time to such events, but circumstances voided that as being possible and I now know why ... I needed to be given a new dose of perspective.

By no means was I what I refer to as one of the "lucky ones" in my own youth.  The kids and teenagers that grab a hold of the truth of salvation, and just DON'T LET GO. They embrace Jesus and the truth of the Bible with all of their heart(s), and from a very young age seek to do His will, and in the process end up sparing themselves a lot of pain and regret (that we bring upon ourselves for the sake of/fight for "independence"). I believed in Jesus, trusted Him as savior,  was baptized, did Bible-drill, choir, and various other church participation things, but did not really experience Him (as I know now He can be experienced via the Holy Spirit) until I was out of high school. Not to mention that time in my life was a bit out-of-the-box as far as environmental factors go, but I digress.

To say that I have an optimistic view of the world be far from the truth. I would most likely be considered realist (some circles may even say pessimistic). I believe what the Bible says about the later days, and stand in agreement with many others that we are in them. I don't believe social security will be around by the time I hit retirement age (if the world even stands that long), I think that we are distracted by many unnecessary things, and are (as believers and followers of Jesus) more focused on making people happy with what we speak, rather than speaking the truth (salvation comes through Jesus Christ alone, would be a prime example). However, make no mistake, while I denote realist instead of optimist, I do have HOPE .. HOPE and FAITH that all things work out for those who call upon God as Father. HOPE and FAITH that one day this world will end, and those who have accepted Jesus as Savior will bask FOREVER in His greatness with no more sorrow and no more pain. If you have had a chance read 31 Rays of Hope then you know I also view the word FAITH as KNOW.  

Saturday, I saw that hope manifest itself in a room of children, teenagers, and (a handful) of adults alike. All worshiping the Father in one accord, giving thanks to the Son, and giving reign to the Holy Spirit. You see as a greeter my job was to stand in the ballroom, and help assist people with finding a place to rest their laurels, and the perk being I got to see the worship bands and the speakers. I got to commune alongside of a variety of faces, in which admittedly I was curious if many of them even gave a hoot about God and the great commission, or where just there for some awesome music. Of course the church I attend rarely has youth (homeless ministry in Little 5 Points, Atlanta, Georgia), so color me floored when Lou Engle announced partner prayer time, and two delightful teenagers asked if they could come pray with me.

We grabbed a hold of each other's hands and took turns praying for our loved ones, our hometowns, the future of this nation, and on about the third go around, I remembered what it was like to be a teen. The words that escaped my lips were utterances for the youth that feel abandoned, that feel like they have no value ... the ones that seek to end their lives, the ones that cut themselves, the ones that feel unloved, and are victims of abuse (all forms). As the words in Jesus name amen passed my lips, the pressure tightened on my left hand, as the young woman who was standing on that side started to cry. As the tears rolled down her face, she spoke to God, and asked Him for protection, and strength to get through all that she had to encounter in her life which touched on sexual purity, drug resistance, (being a victim of) bullying, and a variety of other things. My heart broke as I heard her honest confession. You see I know what age we are living in, but I failed to think about the emotions of the generation who are being brought up it. A generation that is without-a-doubt hurting, but who still demonstrate a desire for God, because they know it is Him who provides their strength!

 

Their light has to shine brighter, their focus as to be spot on, their convictions grounded in Truth , and their faith has to be unwavering as to not be persuaded by one of the mixed "religions" that are being peddled. They must be brave, and willing to stand up and proclaim I AM COUNTER CULTURE and I AM OK WITH THAT because I SEEK TO PLEASE GOD rather than man.

What can I do? What can you do? Well most importantly PRAYER. Pray that the almost-growns, semi-littles, and uber-littles of this world be "lucky ones". That they develop an unquenchable thirst very early in their lives for Jesus, and for spreading the Truth of the Word. Next, and just as important, would be to simply show love to whomever you meet (*LoveIs* John 15:12 after-all), as you never know what small act you could do for someone could spark their path towards salvation, or point them in a direction towards their destiny.

I am delighted to call this woman a sister in Christ, uplifter and friend, and additionally that she allowed me to share this here. You can find this lovely lady on Facebook, if you would like to reach out to her directly. SIC!

My love story

I was born and raised in Durban, South Africa into a very strict Islamic household. My mother was and still is the religious leader in our community. She converts people to Islam and runs a Madrasah (Islamic school) out of her home.

One of my earliest memories is being at Islamic school, covered from head to toe, reading the Quran. I remember distinctly sitting on my mother’s lap reciting the Quran and every time, I got to a particular phrase that I could not remember, and I was beat continuously. That’s when the fear began. I had to be perfect. Because I wanted to please my parents, I became one of her best students. My mother was so proud of me and there was constant chatter that I would continue this family legacy when she passed away.

In 1995 I came to the United States to attend University. In 1998 I had my first supernatural experience with God that completely transformed my life. That is the day that I realized that Jesus maybe more than just a Prophet. (In Islam Jesus is revered as of the Major Prophets.) I remained in a state of confusion and turmoil for 8 years. Could my entire life be a lie? I kept asking myself how this could be. I didn’t know who I was anymore! I had to find out! But, I was afraid to denounce Islam because of my family. Fear and loyalty had been imputed into me. As I child I would always say, “I was born a Muslim and I’ll die a Muslim.” I struggled to wrap my head around the fact that Jesus was God. It was against everything I was ever taught! Deep down inside, I knew that Jesus was way more special than what I was taught. He just felt right! But fear had a stronger hold. This was the beginning of my spiritual journey.

In June of 2006, I had another experience with God and He revealed to me in a vision: Proverbs, 3:5-6 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. [a]. There was no more doubt! I believed with all my heart! I wanted the world to know On June 13th, 2006 I was baptized.

My life has changed drastically since I have been born again! Has it been a smooth transition? Absolutely not! Was my family accepting of my conversion? No, they were not. During the early years, did I ever consider going back to Islam? NO! Never entertained that thought! You see, God became a very close companion. He was so real to me! He delighted in me! I did not know much back then, but I was certain of one thing: He loved me! I had never experienced a love like this! He was always near! We were in constant fellowship. I fell madly and deeply in love!

I began to meditate on the WORD of God and my mindset began to change. I learnt my rights in Christ! I became Christ conscious! I knew my identity! My mind was renewed! The fear that had bound me my entire life; left me! I knew who I was and the more I studied the Word, the stronger I became. The Word had taken root in my Spirit. I began to eat the Word veraciously! My thirst for the Word became unquenchable! I simply CAN NOT get enough!

One of my favorite scriptures is Hebrews 4:12, “that the Word of God is alive and active, sharper than any two edged sword, it penetrates even dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”. This scripture really touches me deeply. You see no matter what walk of life you come from or what your past looks like, you are now a new creation in Christ. This Word of God, builds, breaks, removes, cleans, fixes, empowers, transforms and molds you into who God says you are. When this Word gets into your spirit, remnants of your past will not be visible. Your life becomes a wonder! No longer will you be bound by the opinion of man. The Word of God establishes you! I am unashamedly in love! A woman after Gods own heart, just like David. I would change nothing, irrespective of all the relationships I’ve lost. I’ve gained so much more!

Admittedly, I do not know the specific inspiration for the bonus song *I Am A Stone* on True Defiance by Demon Hunter. However, what I do know is that it is a wonderful track, which sparks several relevancies within myself. With its seemingly simplistic vocabulary lined up aside one another, laced on-top of magnificent instrumentals – it paints a pure and potent picture, which announces “You [it] will not be given power over me!” It is (by comparison) not a typical D.H. song, but I think the almost classical-rock-opera mash up delivery makes the message even more powerful. Ryan C almost beckons you to “dare” question him, as he calmly speaks softly the truth of the matter, all the while staring through your eye sockets into the very depths of your being!

Often we may just mind-numbingly recite the words to a given song without thinking about a deeper meaning, and one thing I do appreciate about Demon Hunter's lyrics are that they are so much more than "just words". You can read a review of the entire album thanks to JesusFreakHideout here. 

To bring the post back to a devotional level (not just listener praises - ha) I would like to extend to you not one, but two blocks of verses, that you can read upon your own leisure, which to me, relates back to the message of this song (definitely adds to it). The noted verses are Philippians 4:10-13 and Romans 8:1-39. 

Dear Father,
We humbly come before you and THANK YOU for all that you have done. Though we might not always say it, thank you for simply loving us. Thank you for taking care of us, even when we think you aren't there. May our flame grow for You Lord, may we grow in our willingness to speak out You - to share and show Your message of hope and love to all we meet. May we cling to You, as YOU are the rock that lives within us, You are the true unshakeable One. May we each seek to do Your will, in the precious name of Jesus Christ we pray, ><>.

Recently I listened to a conversation from a woman who does not believe in God. She told a story of how she has (on at least one occasion) had to take issue with the school system for teaching creationism in science class. “Religion is belief and science is fact, they should not be taught one in the same”. Her story continued on with how both of her daughters were good, they knew right from wrong, and both excel in their own right academically and generally speaking they do not cause any trouble. Recently, she said, her youngest daughter (a sophomore in high school), approached her with some concern/question of her own, on the whole matter.

It seems there is a group at school called the “Christian Athletes” (something or other) and she noticed, that all of these people, who stood out to be different, where actually the ones who were getting smashed on Friday night foot ball games. With that being spoke the topic changed to more lighthearted things such as black Friday shopping, thrift store adventures and food, however almost a week later this has remained in my mind.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17 it says “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come”! To this young woman, I imagine she looks upon this group as why? Why do I need this savior you speak of, if in fact you are doing things worse than I when I know nothing of Him? Of course, as believers we know the deep rooted answer to this, but yet onlookers merely see what we have to offer by our actions and our tongue.

Though none of us are perfect, I believe we forget sometimes that we, in fact, have the world watching. Those who do not believe will in a way, judge our savior and our creator through us. This is why we are urged more than a handful of times to be set apart, to lead by and be an example. In these times, this is of the upmost importance, I am sure as you look around at the world around you, we will all agree. Let your light shine, be bold – be quick to listen to the correction of the Holy Spirit, and continuously let the One who knows all guide your way.

Dear Heavenly Father, We thank You for Your word. Thank You so much for leaving Your letter of love to us, so that we might know how to live! We thank You for Your calling of us into Your court. Help us to continuously be an example of Your love and truth to all those that we meet, to all those that we see. May Your children cling ever more closely to You, for while the world around us is rioting away, You alone are the everlasting hope! In the name of Your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen. 

SiC ♥

This guest post is brought by a dear friend of mine, Gina B aka my dollface. She is a treasured sister in Christ to me (as well as too many others) and a wonderful daughter to the King. You can check out more of her writing on her Wordpress blog, Where Can I Run from Your Love - Psalm 139.

❤ † ❤

Throughout the seasons in our lives, we tend to allow ourselves to be consumed by things. These things that consume us are of a wide variety. Our mind can be the root cause of wildfires that lead to devastation  One destructive thought, if not quarantined, will engulf the entire mind. The thoughts that should be controlled are not fruits of the Spirit. Dangerous thought patterns can consist of bitterness, anger, unforgiveness & jealousy. If not surrendered to God, these will eventually manifest into speech and seep into our speech & behavior.

“And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” (James 3:6)

Our speech can set the tone for entire walk through this life, so we must be sure that we are not leaving fires burning on the sides of the road. Not only can it lead to burnt bridges, but it can block and hinder the work of God in our lives.  He cannot enter in when there is a wall of fire.

Instead, He guides in His word as to what kind of fire we should be kindling:

“For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.” (2 Timothy 1:6)

The question we should be asking ourselves daily is what are we being consumed by? What is our driving force?

Allow God to be the Fire that consumes you…extuingish any fires other than Him. Welcome & invite Him to consume you and let Him fan into flame His perfect will into your fire.

“Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thu  let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,  for our God is a consuming fire.” – (Hebrews 12:28)

“…for love is strong as death, jealousy is fierce as the grave. Its flashes are flashes of fire, the very flame of the Lord. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” – (Song of Solomon 8:6)

“Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light; And where there is sadness, joy.”

The above mentioned prayer is one of six located on a prayer dice given to me by a long time friend before they moved away onto a new adventure. It is one of my favorite prayers on the dice, because it is a call not to benefit oneself, but to benefit mankind. Admittedly, my view on the world is less than optimistic. I think mainstream radio is too sexual, that the fashion of today beckons us all to be running around fully naked in the next decade and that the world we now live in far surpasses what went on in the former cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Does this mean I am hopeless? No, it means I am a realist. The Bible forecasted the destruction of mankind even before the son of God was born, but we are now witnessing the pages come alive in the foretold script (ever more so rapidly). This generation has grasped upon the slogan of “don’t hate” in terms of one judging another and has become ever more clickish in the hope of general acceptance, but yet all the while searching for a deeper meaning and purpose. Why? Because people just don’t know God (in true form). Am I claiming that once someone comes to knowledge of truth that everything becomes sunshine and roses? Well in a matter of speaking, yes (though of course as we are told in the Bible the path of a believer isn't EASY, but WORTH IT - so I am not trying to sell you on anything).

A life with purpose is a life worth living, a life with purpose (although it has its ups and downs, its smiles and tears), still outweighs a vacant life drifting about with no real design. Sure, we live in a world where some may dispute this and say “it feels good, so I do it” and want to negate my writing, but trust in what I say, because I have lived it. I have gone through periods of the “it feels good, do it” lifestyle all while knowing in the back of my mind what is at stake. In fact, let’s be honest, we as Christians all struggle with it (sin is appealing), but when things get extra tough and my head won’t seem to shut down, I am reminded of the following verse->

No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Matthew 6:24

So basically, as the Demon Hunter track This Is The Line (awesome song aka my “battle theme song”) ends, “What side are you on?”

Dear Heavenly Father, We come to You today with open hearts and minds, thanking You for calling us Your children, seeing us worthy through Your son Jesus Christ, to redeem us back to You through the shedding of His innocent blood. May we not get downcast by the world we live in, but ever remembering YOU ARE IN CONTROL and that you put this all into motion before the ground we now walk upon was even formed. May we realize that we do not have the promise of tomorrow and that we are called to be a shining light, a leading example today … each and every day … to those that are unaware of the truth and to those who live in the light, but just need encouragement. Show us our purpose in You God and strengthen all of Your creation so we might bring about a worldy revival, where as countless of numbers are added into Your court. Thank You, likewise, for many – many years ago sending Your Spirit upon the Earth, so that we might never be alone. In the name of the Perfect one, Jesus Christ, ><>

SiC <3