“Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.”
Psalms 112:4 NIV
Being yourself can be an outright irritation to some people! There you are minding your own business, at your job or in your yard and someone saw you and caught an attitude!
Then the complaints come:
“She was humming a song in the lunchroom and it upset me”.
“I saw him planting in his yard and I think he is growing poisonous plants that might hurt the squirrels”!
Instead of feeling angry or picked on, rejoice!
What?
No, really. Give a belly laugh and smile from the inside out. You are shining. The world has become so caught up in reality shows and social media that promotes through negative propaganda, it appears to have turned proper perspective upside down.
What your “haters” are really saying is, they like how you are generally a happy person and wish that they could keep their spirits high like you do! Your complaining neighbors think you are lucky to have a green thumb because your garden is one of the loveliest in the neighborhood!
Yet the negative energy behind the complaints has a plan. If you take offense, and stop your humming or get angry and stop your gardening, well, your joy will weaken. You will become susceptible to the onslaught of fear and oppression that you have avoided. Then, you will end up like so many down and depressed folks who do not realize that they have been lured into the darkness that seeks to overtake the Light.
14 “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
Joshua 24:14-15 ESV
When on a path of spiritual growth, we will encounter obstacles. At the start, we may be very enthusiastic to enjoy the abundant life and we have every intention to follow the voice of the Holy Spirit in us
However, we live in the world. We watch television, we’re on the internet, we listen to music, read books, etc., etc. Imperceptible, at the onset, we may not recognize the compromise going on.
Society, cultural and peer pressures influence us. We do not wish to appear odd or fanatical, so we bend a little around our friends and colleagues. We begin to compromise, just a little a bit. Until finally, if we are not careful, we find ourselves repeating those acts and having those thoughts that are contrary to living in the Light.
The admonition of Joshua is something to bear in mind as we seek to grow in the spirit. What am I suggesting?
Practice the presence of God daily! Listen to your heart. Think thoughts of gratitude throughout the day, thankful for what The Lord has done. Whle you are listening to a lecture in class or consulting with a client, think of God’s presence with you at that very moment.
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:7
Before a young woman’s turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, six months with oil of myrrh and six with perfumes and cosmetics. Esther 2:12 NIV
This particular scripture has come to mind often during this fast time. Not until today, did I realize the significance of it.
We are at the start of 12 months in 2016. Oil of myrrh, among other things is used for purification and that is basically what fasting is about!
So what is the Holy Spirit saying? What plans or dreams do you have for this year?
I know I have quite a few and I use this fasting time annually to help me prepare or develop my plan for the goals I have. Many churches have a fasting time or Corporate Fast at this time, so many of you may be in some form of fasting or cleansing also. It is a time to listen to the voice inside as we set aside our pleasurable foods and treats or television, etc., so we can hear her.
Yes, I said her. It is Woman Crush Wednesday after all!
Now, don’t go calling me a heretic yet! Take a little word study with me 1st.
Pneumatology is a theological term, which is the doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit.
The Hebrew word רוח (ruach; “wind; spirit”) is one of the few words that is sometimes used as masculine, although it is mostly used as feminine.
In Aramaic also, the language generally considered to have been spoken by Jesus, the word is feminine. However, in Greek the word (pneuma) is neuter. There are biblical translations where the pronoun used for the Holy Spirit is masculine, in contradiction to the gender of the noun used for spirit in Hebrew and Aramaic.
Why did the Church Fathers decide to override and refer to the Holy Spirit as male? That is for another discussion.
I only provide this as a foundation for my particular view. So relax and keep reading! I am referring to the Holy Spirit as she because of her actions in us. The Holy Spirit comes alongside, comforts us. The knowledge brought forth by the Holy Spirit is intuitive and in that respect feminine. So I am not saying the Holy Spirit is gender female specifically, but that the energy or vibe, if I may, is female.
I believe, very strongly in my heart that The Lord wants women to honor and value their femininity. It is clear there is much confusion in this area in our society and amongst ourselves. Even the metaphysicians speak of this time as the age of the feminine. I digress.
Moreover, I believe this is in part, why I have been given this “ministry” of Beauty to share.
As to the scripture above, we are at the crown of the year. How will you use the information that you have received during this time?
Is this a time to review and continue what you started last year, culminating in the manifestation of that thing?
Or is it a time to let go of all the stuff you came up with on your own and truly hear what The Lord would have you do?
This purification time is to set you up for success in the entirety of the year!
What you will get out of this time of purification, however you designate to do it, is power for living out your dreams in 2016!
I realize I have kind of put myself out here but Thank God, I’m just a messenger.
After the Holiday feasts and parties, you have noticed some extra fat on the sides? I am not talking about “sides”, like mashed potatoes or macaroni and cheese either! I have added some extra fat on the left and on the right-ugh!
I am starting a 90 Day Challenge today! The challenge is to achieve a healthier, prettier me and get ready for increase in every area of my life, now and in 2016!!
I will be featuring my successes along with pics of clients and friends who will be joining me. http://www.facebook.com/prettybodyetc
Beauty inside out is about revealing that which resides in you, by what you do, how you feel and how you look! In our reality t.v driven, “Keepin up with the dysfunctional” world, everything is visual.
Walking as the Bride in the Kingdom of God; Beauty Treatment #10 Consistency
The little successes along the way make you a success by doing those things that work over and over again, refining as we go. Admittedly, I have been slacking. Truth be told, I was so overwhelmed by what God has been doing in my life by following the “treatments” I became amazed and impressed with my Self and “fell of the wagon” as it were.
2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? 4 Have you experienced so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham “believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness”. Galatians 3:2-6 NIV
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Ephesians 6:12
There is so much strife going on in the world today. Wars, murder, oppression…it can be so overwhelming, especially if you watch daily news shows! Then, there is the stress found in day to day interactions with people; jealousy, racism, and overall “hateration” *my neighbor’s word- not sure if it is a “word” but you get it. Lately, I have found myself being drawn into arguments and basically getting my anger button pushed by people who are normally jovial and good natured. I wondered about this-Is everybody going crazy? Do I have an invisible sign on my back that says “fight me”?
Then I remembered Ephesians 6. It is not the individual, it is the age old spirit of darkness doing its work. I do not mean the devil specifically. It is negative energy overall.
All physical reality is made up of energy. Our thoughts are vibrations of energy. As such, they have a powerful influence in our lives. Put simply, where your focus goes, your energy flows (borrowed this statement from someone, somewhere-it really sums things up).
The upside is that we are in control of our thoughts. We can choose to not be moved by angry people or loved ones getting on our nerves! We can choose light instead of darkness-even in the midst of a blow up with your significant other or dealing with the annoying kid in drive-thru who could care less that you only have an hour for lunch!
I create the blacksmith
who fires up his forge
and makes a weapon designed to kill.
I also create the destroyer—
but no weapon that can hurt you has ever been forged.
Any accuser who takes you to court
will be dismissed as a liar.
This is what GOD’s servants can expect.
I’ll see to it that everything works out for the best.”
Isaiah 54:16-17 MSG
Well welcome back huh!? I have been practicing what I preach and it has been an amazing journey, so far, so good! Not to say that I questioned the principles that I have been given…. Honestly, I was just going with my gut. That is where the yogi’s say your spirit resides anyway.
Walking as the Bride in the Kingdom of God has been a total makeover; inside and out! I will be publishing a little book to share with you very soon.
Short version of what I have discovered over these past months:
The law of Attraction works! However, “as a man thinketh” is the governing energy. You can SAY all you want but your mind and heart had better be on the same page!
God is good! But we know that already!
More to come…..
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.
1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
and we are filled with joy.
4 Restore our fortunes, Lord,
like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
carrying sheaves with them.
