Faith

It's believing you have something when you obviously don't.
It's trusting in God whom you haven't seen physically before.
It's looking at your bank account and understanding that it's not your source.
It's understanding that your job isn't the best thing that happened to you.
It's standing firm when all that's keeping you balanced is a cracked piece of wood.
It's saying YES when the devil says NO.
It's standing straight when the your shoulders are the heaviest they've ever been.

It's ridiculous to the carnal mind;
But it doesn't matter what they think.

Christianese

So, I met this pastor who literarily, turns off his 'Christian Mode' in some situations. I remember challenging him once time when he said he was pissed off, and I said he should have prayed - his reply was, "that wasn't no time for prayers baby".

Hmm? So Christianity should only be practiced in some places and in some particular situations? As this society moves more and more into immorality we begin to accept somethings that were once atrocious. Even in the church, we find ourselves saying stuff like, "It's alright; It's because of who he is". I think if Christ put His personality into consideration, He would not have died on the cross.

Christianity is not a religion, it's a lifestyle; a relationship with God. It should be a habit - attitudes of the Holy Spirit that we cannot get rid off, we cannot turn off what becomes a part of us.

Also, think about the other people who look at our lives as christians, looking for lifestyles to emulate, or attributes that make us stand out. If they see us always taking off our "Christianity Cloak", what explanation can we give to God for leading these people astray?

Romans 2:24 - As it is written: "God's name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you."

Everything done in secret will be revealed

God I need your help now more than even before. I don't know what controls me, but I know that because I have the mind of Christ, I know what to do. "Get thee behind me Satan". God please do not allow anything that would cause my disgrace to come upon me. You Word says that you do not leave the righteous forsaken. Lord your promises are yes and Amen.
I need you Lord, I need you. Save me from myself. I don't want to cause destruction. I don't want to find myself hopeless at the bottom. You freed a murdered from the enslavement of sin, this is definitely not too big to do. I surrender myself. I'm not going to help you do Your job. I'm letting go, and I'm letting God go.
Move Holy Spirit, move on my behalf. Please work for me. I hate to be in this situation, I hate the down-and-out feeling. Come rescue me Lord. Come.

Bibeli Mimo

(That means Holy Bible in my Native language)

In church last Sunday I sat next to somone who didn't come with a Bible; maybe she did but she didn't have it with her during the service. I looked at my cute pink Bible and I had all these yellow marking (highlightings) all over my Bible, and to anyone generally, it would have looked like a real Bible-reader's Bible.
As the service went on, the pastor mentioned some Bible verses that I had heard of before, but I wasn't able to remember the verses, or even the books of the Bible that they were taken from. And then I asked my no-Bible friend, and she knew the exact verse!
I'm sure you're thinking "fine; big deal" - sarcastically, but it actual fact, it really IS a big deal because what that taught me was that it is not about how colorfully marked my Bible is but how well I learn it. Am I reading just for an opportunity to mark my Bible or do I plan to commit what I read to memory?
Sometimes, highlighting may simply function to let others know - "YES, I read my Bible". It should be way more significant than that.

WOW!

I was reading the first book of Ephesians this morning and this time it had a different meaning, or maybe it was the first time it really meant anything.

1. You know when Jesus said we should pray (according to the will of God) - "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven", he meant it literarily. Because verse 3 says that we have every spiritual blessings in the heavenly world. WOW! Think of what heaven is like - no pain, no suffering, happiness, joy, peace, abundance... we can actually enjoy all of that while on the face of the earth. Isn't that amazing?!
2. Then - we have been made right through Jesus Christ, with The One who makes everything agree (or work together) with his plans and purposes - verse 11. So when we pray His will, He makes everything work together for our own good; we know that His plans for us are good... (Jer. 11:29)
3. Here's the crowning glory - When you and I got saved, we were separated by Jesus blood; it's like he put a stamp on us that visible even to the devil. So Here's what happens when sin or evil 'comes nigh' us, as long as we're not non-chalant about guarding our heart, they flee. However when we go near evil or sin, our conscience feels no rest, we feel detached from the CEO of our hearts; we would have to spend time rewelding the connection - through prayer and praise.