Women and Respect

                While talking to a group of high school boys last night, some of them began to mention women and saying how it was so difficult to respect them. In some of their eyes, girls that could receive respect and treat you nicely back are the ones that deserve it. Here was my point: none of us deserve anything, not even respect; but to pick and choose is only furthering the stereotype of these specific girls.

                When talking to a friend just last month, she asked me if it was right for a male friend of hers to call her a slut. She said, "well I do slutty things but that doesn't mean that he should call me one, right? I mean, it only happens when I'm drunk so it's not really even me." Now, my first point to tell her was that no real man would ever call her anything outside of her name. It was not alright for him to call her that. Next, I told her that if she did not want to be labeled as something, she should not act like the stereotype. This was not me telling her what to do, but stating that he would continue to call her this if she acted in this way and that she could make the choice to mold her own identity.

                While in high school, most of my friends were females, and not all of them were given the best reputation. Most guys and girls did not even try to know them, but just gave them a label and walked away. They were not able to see the full story. When a girl lives with an abusive mother, has to deal with a dead father, and has never had a man in her life to show her how to be treated with respect, you cannot expect her to respect herself. She would have never known what that looks like. To expect a girl in a situation like this to respect herself is like expecting a five year old to understand Political Science. If it has never been presented, how can you know how to react to it?

                So I dare you, before you go an label anyone or talk poorly about anyone, look at Jesus and how He treated Mary. Men, treat women with respect and show them how a man is supposed to be. For all you know, she has never been respected before and you, as a picture of Christ, could show her the love that God has for her. Women, do not tear one another down. Instead, look at Proverbs 31:20. "She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hand to the needy." Instead of gossiping or judging, reach out to those in need if you claim to be a woman of God.

                We live in a world that does not understand the power and grace of God. That is why we are here, to show them how great He is and how much He loves us all, even the ones who we may not like or know. I dare you to be the body of Christ and imitate Christ, not the world.

                "But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy.' Since you called on a Father who judges each person's works impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." 1 Peter 1:15-17


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Guitar

                Psalms 30:11 says, "You have turned my mourning into joyful dancing. You have taken away my clothes of mourning and clothed me with joy." At my old church at home, Psalms 30:11 was part of a song that we sang.

                These past few months, I have been dealing with major depression. The depression only continued to get worse. I tried to turn to God in prayer, but it became difficult. I tried to fast to focus my mind on God, but it was of little benefit at the time. I tried to focus more on the reading of the word, but it would only do so much. I knew that something was missing.

                I knew, coincidentally, I wanted to learn the guitar in order to learn how to sing worship songs. I had a burning passion to learn but no one who was free enough to teach me. Just last night, a friend of mine, Vince, came over to my dorm and began to teach me how to play. Just in the one night, he taught me a few cords, we talked about life, and he taught me how to play the song "Set a Fire." It was exactly what I needed. In fact, I was overjoyed that night. I even woke up this morning, when I could have slept in a bit longer, and grabbed my guitar to start practicing again. In fact, as soon as I post this, I will probably go back to playing again. I was mourning and I was not able to let my soul express itself in every way. Just because reading the word wasn't encouraging me doesn't mean the Bible wasn't working. It just meant that God had something in store, and the depression that I was going through was all to bring glory to Him.

                I will still struggle with depression. I am fine with that. Even if singing to God does not make me feel totally better every time, I am fine with that. Christianity isn't about how to improve our lives. It's about giving God the glory that He rightfully owns and deserves. I will always bless the name of the Lord, no matter how my flesh may feel. I am so glad that He has allowed me to praise Him in this new way; not for the sake of my happiness, though He does care about His children's happiness, but for the sake of being able to keep my joy in Him no matter what life throws at me. I fine my joy in blessing the name of the Lord. It is more satisfying than anything else in the world.


                                                                                                                                         -D

He Carries You

                I know that it has been a while since my last blog. With the school year wrapping up, finals just ending (less than thirty minutes ago) and all of the chaos of little ol' college life, it has been a crazy time for myself and everyone around me. I can safely say, without hesitation, I would be so lost without God's grace.

                I am tired, out of energy, exhausted, and so ready for a vacation. I have been dealing with things that most people don't know about; but I can say that God has been carrying me through this storm. No matter what I have been going through, God has been right there next to me helping me through it all. When I ran out of energy to even wake up the next morning, God gave me exactly what I needed.

                Now that I am coming out of this storm (or into the eye of it, I can's tell) I can safely say that God will always give you what you need. You don't have to live on your strength alone. He is your provider, even of your strength. He will provide for you exactly what you need. I can't say I know it all; but I do know that whatever you are going through, you can lean on God to help you get through it. He is faith in helping His children. He is a loving father, after all.


                                                                                                                                        -D

His Love Never Fails

                I have said it before and I will say it again: The more we know how much God loves us, the more we will begin to see our lives changing. So often, it is easy for us to assume that God doesn't truly love us because of circumstances. We are placed into a bad position at work, or a friend dies, or money is getting tighter, or family is getting harder to deal with, or we just aren't believing that God truly loves us. It is so easy to say, "God, if You love me, You would..." and then insert the desires of our hearts. It could be "make the pain go away," "get me a new car," "bless me more," "make my life better," etc.

                The truth is, those are lies from the enemy. God's love is so much greater than that. Romans 5:8 says. "But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." He died for you while you were rebelling against Him. You had no desire for Him at all, and He came to Earth and died on the cross for you. Imagine the one person who just grinds your gears. Imagine them doing something horrible to you. Now, you knew that they were going to get exactly what they deserve for whatever they did to you. Would you love them enough to go die one of the most torturous deaths imaginable as well as take on their punishment for them so they could avoid it? I doubt it, but God did that for us. While we were doing everything that we could to rebel against Him, He still came and loved us through the cross.

                We are so quick to hold God to conditional human standards. We assume that, if we are not "rewarded" for our good deeds, God does not love us. He gave you eternal life! He justified you and blessed you with every blessing in the Heavens. There is nothing that He owes you. You owe Him your life for what He has done for you. Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all - how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?" God has already done more than enough to show His love, and He is still providing for you daily. To say that God doesn't love you is a lie. He will never stop loving you, and anyone who says otherwise is a liar straight from the Devil.

                The next time you start to feel that God doesn't love you, stop looking at conditional human things. Look to the cross and try to tell me that God doesn't love you. You may not think that He came for you; but trust me, He was thinking of you while He was on the cross. He laid it all down for YOU.


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Identity In Love

                John, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, was nicknamed the "son of thunder" when him and his brother, James, asked Jesus if they could call down fire from Heaven to destroy a city that did not accept their good news. This nickname was given to them by Jesus Christ Himself. The "sons of thunder" does not sound like the name given to someone who shows constant love, now does it? In fact, the nickname was far from a compliment or a reflection of love at all. Here is the crazy thing, though. After Jesus ascended, John became known as the "Disciple of Love." That sounds like a radical identity change, doesn't it?

                Well, it is; but what else can be expected when you have an encounter with the living God? Nothing short of radical should be expected. In fact, anything short of radical should be questioned. Now, here is the key to it all. John found his identity in the love that Jesus Christ has for him. He was transformed from a man of anger and worldliness into a man of love and compassion for others. It was by the love of Jesus Christ that this transformation was able to happen. This transformation happens today still.

                I am coming to realize more and more that the deeper we understand the love of Christ, the more radically our lives will become transformed. We all know John 3:16, and knowing that God loves the world is one thing. That's great. Christianity preaches love. Many can agree and like that idea. That's great and all; but when you realize that Jesus Christ came and died on the cross because He loves YOU, whoever you are, that is when your life changes. Until you realize the love that God has for you specifically, no matter what your past is like or what you're into, you will not be able to experience the radical life change that God has in store for you.

                A few weeks ago, February 13th, I posted "Sin And Sinners" to show us the depth of our sins. I give you this challenge: read that over, meditate on your own sinful nature, and then read Romans 5:8 ("But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were STILL SINNERS, Christ died for us."). Just meditate on this, and if you feel as if you have come to understand what it means to be a Christian and desire to follow Jesus Christ, just open up the book of John and start reading. God will guide you if you follow Him.

                May God bless you out of His deep love for you.


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Praise Him In Advance

                There is a song by the artist Marvin Sapp that is titled "Praise Him in Advance." All in all, it is a song that reminded me of the goodness of God, because it reminds us that even as we go through hard times, God will get us through them and He is still good no matter how the situation looks. I challenge you today to think of this: How many of us PRAISE God during our trials and difficulties?

                It is easy to praise God when we first accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is easy to praise God when we get a huge promotion or check at work. It is easy to praise God when things are starting to go our way. Is it just as easy to praise God when your ends and means didn't meet?  it just as easy to praise God when your family is rejecting Him? Is it just as easy to praise God when you're struggling with depression, identity issues, anger, etc.? Maybe not, but is God any less good during those times? No.

                Now, I am not saying to not pray or to praise God instead of feel hurt or anything like that. I simply desire to challenge your mindset. Are there still things to be thankful for even now, in your trial or in your peace? The fact that you can read this is proof enough to me that you are blessed. You have a way to read, you have a source for the internet, you have clothes on your back and working eyes. You have a right mind and resources that majority of the world does not. That does not mean that our trials will not be tough, it just means that even in those trials there is a reason to praise the Lord.

                Psalm 150:1-2 "Praise the Lord! Praise God in His sanctuary; praise Him in Him mighty Heavens! Praise Him for His mighty deeds; praise Him according to His excellent greatness!"


                                                                                                                                         -D

Growing Up Spiritually

                As we grow up, we begin to learn new things and develop in new ways. As an infant, we are only able to understand the world in the way that we interact with it. As we grow up, we are able to understand and remember concepts, but not more complex things like two containers holding the same amount of liquid, even if one contained is a taller size than the other. Eventually, we grow to even understand these thoughts, and will begin to understand the idea of possibilities and thinking in every field of life. We grow up, and as we grow up we can see the world more clearly. The same thing should be happening to us spiritually.

                Think of yourself from before you were saved. Go on. Take two minutes to think of what you were like before you met Christ. Now think of yourself when you first accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior. No, I'm serious. Remember what you were like. Now think of yourself now. What has changed between now and when you were first saved? I guarantee you something has changed. Just think about it.

                We cannot have an experience with the living God and not be changed, just like we cannot drink a bottle of water and not be hydrates, or get hit by a truck and not look different. God is big, and He works in our lives if we see Him do it or not. I guarantee you that you have grown. Give glory to God for it! But, when an infant learns to walk, do they stop there? No! They learn to run and talk and play!

                God has done so much in your life already, but are you ready to grow some more? We are like children. We cannot stay two years old forever. Eventually, we need to grow. If we are not growing, we are like a dead plant. Even if we are not getting taller, are we producing fruit? Now, I'm not saying do something radical, unless God calls you to do so. I'm just saying, what's the next baby step? For those of you who do not know what to do, here is a list of a few things:

                - Attending church regularly
                - Getting involved with serving your church/community
                - Intentionally spread the love of Christ
                - Make prayer a daily part of life
                - Fast more regularly
                - Read your Bible daily
                - Memorize scripture weekly
                - Share your faith with someone this week
                - Share your faith more regularly
                - Be more open about your faith
                - Learn to filter your language
                - Work on replacing a current sin with something to glorify God
                - Pray for someone other than yourself
                - Pray for yourself more
                - Fine fellowship
                - Find a mentor
                - Begin to disciple someone

                The list can go on and on, but this is not a "good person test" list. Do what God has put on your heart to do because we should always be growing, but grow at your own pace. There is no point in taking on too much and falling or growing bitter when you could master an discipline one step at a time. Let this be personal between you and God, not a new goal that you will flaunt to make yourself holier than thou. Let God do His work in you, His beloved child. Just be patient. It takes years to grow: just remember that you are growing, and that you can keep growing. God will make all things happen for you. Just pray and persevere.

                                                                                                                                         -D