1 Corinthians 3

And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual people but as to carnal, as to babes in Christ..... for where there are envy, strife, and divisions among you, are you not carnal and behaving like mere men? For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollos," are you not carnal? 1 Cor 3:1-4

Where have I been? Do you not hear what this says? I guess I haven't. Since I was saved out of false religion and actually even when I was in the midst of it... I have always wondered why the "Christians" have so many denominations? Oh... I have pondered and came up with many reasons and then today.... yep, today when I read my bible reading and 1 Corinthians starts with this in verse 3.... well... Do you hear it? Even Paul questioned why believers in Christ struggled among themselves. I truly believe if Paul was here now, he would be so down hearted that we still are struggling with the very identity that he directed when he wrote down 1 Corinthians. Even though we worship our Lord at different locations... why do we even make a point to tell people we are anything other than Christ followers... Christians? There should not be Baptist, Lutheran, Methodist, Catholic in among God's people. As Paul made it clear, if we truly are wanting to be spoken to as 'spiritual' people then we must be ready to not classify ourselves as anything other than followers of Christ! Who cares about 'LifeChurch'...which is the body I serve? It is Jesus and only Jesus.

Are we so disillusioned that we would decide a persons walk with God by the mere mention of where they go to church? Try it... When someone says Henderson Hills... do you have an opinion? a thought? How about First Baptist? How about Waterloo Nazarene? Are we NOT all children of God? If you truly want to know a person and their faith... would you not be more accurate to just talk with them about the Lord? Paul gives us 3 identities to know if we are truly ready for spiritual food or if we are still babes in the Lord.... envy-strife-divisions. Could you, at God's will, leave where you worship and go where ever God sent you? Or do you leave when you feel the 'church' is no longer meeting your needs. These are tough thoughts but what do you really want? Do you want to roam endlessly as a babe in Christ or are you ready to be spoken to as a spiritual people?

"Father God, please help us see through your eyes. We want to no longer be babes but to mature into spiritual people serving and worshiping You with our whole hearts, soul, and mind. Show us Lord, anything that is in us that would be called envy-strife or division. Your word is sharper than a two edged sword. We want Your kingdom to come not only on earth but in our hearts and minds. We so love you Lord!... Please move in us... we rejoice at Your will being done within us! In Jesus name we pray...AMEN!"

I can't breath!

"My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Matthew 26:39

Have you ever found yourself in that position? Jesus did. He knew what was getting ready to happen..The Crucifixion. Although, He still knew that God's way was higher than our fleshly ways and he submitted Himself to it. The scripture on my facebook site today is Romans 6:19-20...

19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. Romans 6:19-20

Our body has a tendency to just want to stay in slavery to sin. No matter what we know or even hear from God... we tend to just give way to it. We date ones we don't marry, we eat things that we shouldn't, we spend time everywhere but in the presence of God.... We "are weak in our natural selves." Yet we should strive daily to press in to the presence of God. Many don't even want to truly hear the Word of God...that is why they don't read it. They go as far as to manipulate God's own words to support their ways. One of the biggest verses manipulated I hear... God says the greatest of all things is to "love your neighbor as yourself". They use this one to oppose war, be tolerant of others sins, support a politician that shows to embrace helping the poor yet overlooking the very fact of their support for the murder of countless babies in abortions. They really can't tell you more but just that scripture alone. Like our Lord God..creator.. had to write this huge book for just that one simple verse that we need. I believe that not one single word in the Bible is unimportant. THE WHOLE word of God is for our lives. Although I may not understand the importance of the family trees spoken of over and over... I know that I can trust that it is for my good to know it.

Which all takes me back to the verse I began with. Jesus is crying out... He is stressed, broken, lonely... even more... He knows He is one with God... He can do anything...a n y t h i n g! Yet, here, for our good... He says, "yet not as I will but as you will." Are you there?... Death, sickness, financial destruction, sexual sin, ...your car, your house, your job, your spouse, your children, .. Are you at a point where you can't breath? Stop!! Cry out unto your heavenly father..the same one that Jesus did. Be ready...are you ready?.... be ready to say "yet not as I will but as you will." Then let God be God. Do you really want it any other way? God knows and we don't. He has been there... through it all. More importantly, for all of you who have kids, He experiences everything we go through because we are His children. Just focus on Jesus... He will guide you and get you through. It may not be easy... or even pleasant... but being in His will is the best place to be.

Romans 6:1-3

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don't you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? Romans 6:1-3

I am not much of a history buff. I do know that Paul wrote Romans. In my daily direction from God to post God's words...verse by verse... on facebook, I decided this would be a good start to get me to blog daily. So if nothing else, I will comment on what the verse is for the day. The Lord had me to start on Romans. I am not sure why but that maybe it is easier reading than some, blunt and direct to those who are choosing to follow Christ, and I needed to hear it.

I love how Paul speaks. It sounds like me.. a bit blunt and sarcastic. He just got through talking about how by Jesus' death we have grace to cover our sins. So Paul asks... If we have received Jesus as our Lord and His death redeems us from our sins, so can we 'by grace' be free to sin? His answer.. absolutely NOT. If we truly love the Lord.. if we truly have given our life (spiritually died to our old life) to Jesus.. how could we live any other way but to strive to NOT fall to sins temptations. For when we take the action of salvation by Baptism, we have before all who witness it... committed ourselves to seek first the kingdom of God and to know longer live in sin. We are covered my friends for our mistakes BUT our LOVE of GOD should move us to a goal of living a life free of sin for His glory!! <3

It is much like a pep rally, these verses are. Lets go.. fight.. win!! Can I get an Amen?

GOD IS LOVE...1 John 4:8

This post is in response to what God recently called me to do. Loving facebook and reconnecting with friends in all places...I was becoming quite involved in letting everyone know my thoughts, deeds, ideas, actions... One day I was talking with my heavenly Father and He said for me to stop using facebook for my own story and use it for His. He reminded me just how many people read their home page religiously. (Remember that people use the word religiously when they are speaking of someone who is dedicated, convicted, never missing,..) He with great sadness even stated that we get on facebook way more than we even speak to Him or well alone read His word. How convicted I was. He asked me to use my profile post for HIS word. Daily...changing...quoting the Bible. No commentating...just placing His word for all to see and read. That sounded exciting and I couldn't wait. I was a little sad not to post about my life...but I found a way, through notes, to do so sometimes. Then came the surprise. I was to start in Romans. Ok...I like Romans. I posted Romans 1:1-2. No problem. Then I decided to read ahead so I could see what great things we would be reading over the next few weeks. PLEASE LORD NOOOOOOO!!! The first chapter was filled with Hard, direct statements towards the way a Christian should live his life. I knew that many Christians, well alone unbelievers, would NOT read this well. I just didn't realize how many.

The first comment was posted as a joke. I can laugh...I hope they did and that it was not sarcastic. I was asked if I was standing on facebook street corner yelling at the sinners? Ouch. This was by someone who is very close to me. It was then that I realized how tough this may truly get. I decided I would not follow through. I struggled because I wanted to obey God but I decided maybe I just didn't hear right. SOUND FAMILIAR? It was quickly that God reminded me of Jonah... in the fact that my daughter is doing a ballet dance to it tonight! Then person after person that I admire and am certain they are seeking after God's own heart, (Phil 2:21), began to make statements in my presence about 'going crazy for God' , 'stepping out to serve Him', 'not being luke warm', 'living our lives for God...even if we look crazy', etc. I felt as if God, again, was telling me..."go forward Tammy, do you not live for Me?" So after a few days of not changing my post, I went forward. The FIRST chapter of Romans is direct in stating God's stance on man's sins...especially sexual sins. The most consistent comment made to me... "do not judge for God is love above all things."

Lets think about this. Yes, God is love (1 John 4:8) is stated well in the bible. I am sure that will be posted at some time. I have been confronted by many of Christians NOT standing up for righteousness. Not standing against this world and the way they choose to live because 'it is their choice and we are to NOT judge and LOVE them." This, I see, is why my God is having me post the word. Those who claim to love Him and not reading His word and are beginning to use it just like Satan did to Him while He was in the wilderness pressing in deeper to God. They are using His word without reading it. As soon as Id came to Romans 2 where it talks about not judging lest you be judged (Romans 2:1-2), I received many of praises! How sad. I hear God saying to me... "Matthew 7:23
"And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS." My heart immediately took me to pray for them. How did they forget ALL the things that God is? How did they forget the rest of Romans 2. (They will read it soon!) We are not to judge lest we be judged...there is no meaning that we are NOT to stand for righteousness. In fact, if we should LOVE as God LOVES we will be willing to lay our life down to HELP others. Willing to die for their sins. Jesus did not just LOVE us, he brought hope, truth, healing, deliverance... He told us to "go and sin no more" (Matthew 8:11) Matthew 7:2 says.. ²For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Our Lord is telling us to not be like the pharisees who judged to condemn, not convict... to lord over, not to set free... with hate not with love. Instead, we are to teach, train, encourage, lift up, hold each other accountable, in LOVE. God NEVER sat back and Loved us...He is always in the midst of us..loving, teaching, training, & forgiving!

Isn't it interesting that those who say "you are judging" do not see themselves judging those who they say are? Let me end with this for now. I absolutely care about each and everyone that made their feelings known to me. I was sad that they did not know me well enough to see what God had asked me. Just as Job's friends enticed him to turn his back on God... I saw many fall into that. It brought me to look at myself. Do I do that? God forgive me! Help me to be strong to encourage those around me to seek first the kingdom of God. To lift them up daily in prayer... to love them, not judge them, but to ALWAYS speak the word of God into their lives and to never turn away from the Righteousness of God.. our GOD.

I will post more....

JOY

Joy. What a powerful word. It is short with only 3 letters but yet in those 3 letters is much power. I really had not set out to write about anything today but a friend of mine keeps mentioning this word to me. In my review, I think it is because she & I are in a position to minister to so many people simply by bringing "Joy" in.

Read these scriptures about "Joy"...

• Acts 13:52And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
• John 16:24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.
• Romans 15:13May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
• Galatians 5:22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
• 1 Thessalonians 5:16Be joyful always;
• James 1:2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
• Nehemiah 8:10 ... for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
• Proverbs 17:22A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.

These are just but a pinch of all the scriptures that speak of "Joy". Did you notice the truth God is giving us? Joy is must! We must always have Joy! No matter what the trials, Joy will be our strength. He will fill us up with Joy and we can freely give it to others. It can begin with you just choosing to smile. Smile to everyone you see today. You need no reason to have Joy other than the promises noted above from God. Look for ways to walk in Joy and to share/give Joy to others. A simple smile is where you can begin!

Joy to you!

Turning to God..

My heart has been on fire lately more than ever. I am not an eloquent writer, nor do I claim any education of the world as my strength. At the beginning of the first of this year, I once again fasted to give my focus and the first fruits of my year back to my heavenly Father. Once again I asked for His direction and appointment on my life. Once again, I know He answered.

Each of us have a calling on our life....a plan and a purpose so given by God. (Ephesians 1:11) Do you know what that is? Have you asked Him?

In my daily journaling, I hope to share with you words that He gives me. God has never used me in any other way but a direct punch. Be it in my own studies, words from God through others and even, yes, silly questionaires that claim to "know your calling by answering simple questions"...have all confirmed to me who I am. Let me say....I do not judge. That, thankfully, is left to God alone. What I do share is the Word of God. Simple yet direct.

Back to my title. What does it mean to "turn to God"? Lets begin with Acts 17. You read about Paul and his travels in Athens. He notices how many statues and idols that have been placed around the city. Many Jews are jealous and still not receiving Jesus nor the word of God regarding His life. Several Jews and God-fearing Greeks, however, were listening and welcomed Paul to share. Please take a moment and read up to verse 26....

In verse 26 we read:

• 26 From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. 27 God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us. 28 'For in him we live and move and have our being.'

My heart has been heavy lately in hearing how many followers of Christ are not seeking Him! They choose what they see as their own 'happiness' instead of what Christ has laid out for them. They seek to pay men.....MEN for guidance in their lives, rather than reach out to the Word of God & to Him by prayer. They continue to ignore those around them with whom they know are full of the wisdom of God's word. They want scholars and proven men of the WORLD to guide them. ARE THESE NOT IDOLS? Why do we tend to lean towards these idols and yet be offended at anyone who quotes the Word to us for guidance? Would not our creator KNOW what will make our life full?

Please...I ask you.... if you have turned to paying one with the worlds education to guide you in your walk in life... PLEASE....I ask you to fast. Seek God, ask Him to show you whether this may be an IDOL in your life. Ask Him to guide you and then read the "guide" He has given you...the Bible. For in it is the answer to every thing in your life.

Until tomorrow....blessings to you, my friends and family in Christ.

Fasting for my God

So.. on January 1, 2009, I began a fast with several others from my church and friendship circle. Many called it the Daniel fast...and in some ways it is because we are actually studying Daniel daily as we do this. However, it was not until I actually read Daniel that I realized I am not actually eating the same as Daniel did. Daniel 1:12 states that they ate only "pulse and water"-kjv (vegetables & water-niv). Pulse is described in the dictionary as : the edible seeds of various crops (as peas, beans, or lentils) of the legume family. Upon meditating all of this several things come to mind... 1)So many years have passed since Daniel's generation.. what exactly was pulse considered as then? 2)Do I truly believe every word of the Bible or do I feel there are things we may not understand because of the change of times. My decision for now... is that I truly believe every word of the Bible. Saying that, I believe Daniel and his 3 friends ate only seeds of various crops..mainly beans (legume) or maybe even nuts. It is amazing how this should play any real importance. It is not like I have heard God telling me to fast and what to fast. In this specific fast, I am really doing it out a since of tithing the first of my year to God. I am giving up things that bring me pleasure, although, these things have become so much of my life they are almost a part of me. I first went to a website called the Daniel fast. To my surprise, they to listed things that were not a part of Daniel's true fast either. When I read Daniel, it seems to me that this was his normal food intake. Yet when I do a full read of the Bible, I do not see where God places a command of what we are to eat. In every event that a specific diet is listed, there are issues that are going on with them.

Take the Garden of Eden where they were allowed to eat anything in the Garden except the Tree in the middle of the Garden called the "knowledge of good and evil"-Genesis 2:9, 16 & 17 This the first statement regarding food that man was to eat. No other foods mentioned. So are we to assume that God's perfect food is only that which comes from a tree? No carrots, corn, lettuce, ... Another place in the bible gives great reference to 'land flowing with milk and honey'-Deut 26:9 Would not God be promising this because it was a true blessing...one to be enjoyed? I mentioned all of this purely because of the argument as to what foods are given to us by God? It is another issue to take on later.

Back to my fast. I have heard many different individuals fasting different things. I for one have chosen during this fast to fast the following... All sugars, flours, chemicals, drinks other than water and juice, all animal products..meat,milk,cheese,eggs,etc., Sometimes I think giving up tv would be even more advantageous, although, food definitely has its health & weight (lol) benefits. Well.. for 21 days, well alone 40 which i did a fresh and raw before, should seem to be a piece of cake. It is amazing, however, that as soon as you say you can't have something...it seems to be the very thing that one's body craves the most. Your mind seems to dwell on it. The reason for my fast is for that very reason. I want to take my mind to dwell in Christ during those times and ALL times. We slowly let other things in our lives take weight over Him.

Here it is only the 10th day of this commitment. It is the beginning of the day and I have yet to go to bed. All I can think about is either cleaning or eating. It is my GOD that I want to focus on. It is only HIM that i want to keep my mind on...burn for, desire. I can eat so many other things yet I am fighting to not want those I have chosen not to eat. I guess if it was easy it would not be a just fast. It just amuses me how this simple task can make one struggle.

I have a busy schedule and I am going to drink my juice and go to bed. Hopefully I will continue this journaling and He will shine through in it. I love Jesus.......