I've said this for a while now and today it rang true more than it ever has. We HAVE to come to the place where we realize its not now nor has our lives and living them out EVER been about us. Think about it. Jesus said that the greatest commandment is to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and the second commandment is just as great, to love your neighbor as yourself (Mk 12:30-31). We're not commanded to love ourselves; we do that without being told. But we are to love God and also love others. Ultimately our lives are for the glory of God. Everything we do must demonstrate Him. Sure we're not perfect but we must strive to display who He is by who we claim to be.
Why did my statement ring true? I experienced some stuff this morning and could have easily allowed it to consume me and my day; to take it to heart and make it personal and get defensive. I realized though its not about me. I went to work later on and had a conversation with a co-worker and realized that they are going through some stuff of their own. If I had been so caught up with me I wouldn't have been able to lend an ear and some words of encouragement to them. I was thankful to God, thankful to the Holy Spirit, thankful to the Living Word which is Christ for having done a work IN me so that there could be a work done THROUGH me.
I'm no better than the next person; I'm just being real. Remember that our lives are for Hid glory. Remember that we share in His sufferings. Remember that as we humble ourselves and follow Christ's example of humility, God himself exalts us in His time :)
Blessings til next time!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Saturday, May 8, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Sheep
Most people probably look at sheep as dumb and weak. Cartoons and other shows tend to portray them as such. But are they really like that? My devotions this morning spoke to being a sheep. Psalm 100 says that we are the sheep of His pasture. Does that mean we're stupid or weak? Of course not! Far from it. But it does mean we should be more simple in our approach to life. We have a tendency (and I am DEFINITELY speaking for myself) to overthink and complicate A LOT of things in our lives; particularly our walk with God, which in fact should be our entire lives. In the devotion the author explained that sheep spend all their time with their shepherd, so much so that even if they are amongst another flock they know their shepherd's voice different from any other shepherd. They follow his lead and trust him for their food and protection without asking questions. They just simply do, taking it day by day.
I determined today to be a sheep with Christ as my shepherd. I want that we all be sheep; one flock under one shepherd going where he leads us, knowing his voice and trusting him without question. Thinking about it this morning made me realize even more how much there is to who I am which in turn made me realize how much there is to God. Think about it. He is the shepherd: I am the sheep. But it doesn't stop there. He is the healer: I am healed. He is the king: I am royalty. He is the high priest: I am in the priesthood. He is the redeemer: I am redeemed. He is holy: I am holy. I am a reflection of him and he is the "I AM" and he has no limit. Awesomeness!
So be a sheep, but be a a royal, healed, redeemed, holy, sheep in the priesthood. Be a soldier in the army; be a servant and everything else that he is. Blessings til next time!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
I determined today to be a sheep with Christ as my shepherd. I want that we all be sheep; one flock under one shepherd going where he leads us, knowing his voice and trusting him without question. Thinking about it this morning made me realize even more how much there is to who I am which in turn made me realize how much there is to God. Think about it. He is the shepherd: I am the sheep. But it doesn't stop there. He is the healer: I am healed. He is the king: I am royalty. He is the high priest: I am in the priesthood. He is the redeemer: I am redeemed. He is holy: I am holy. I am a reflection of him and he is the "I AM" and he has no limit. Awesomeness!
So be a sheep, but be a a royal, healed, redeemed, holy, sheep in the priesthood. Be a soldier in the army; be a servant and everything else that he is. Blessings til next time!
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
Thursday, April 29, 2010
This is a test only a test. Lol. Ladies and gents, if you have been
wondering where my blog has been for the past 4/5 months, wonder no
more! I'm not promising to be blogging everyday or anything but I have
discovered other means of posting other than directly from a computer.
So now I shall be blogging a bit more frequent. I have to get back in
the grove of doing it but I'm sure it's like a riding a bike or
something. So be on the look out for a blog and follow me on twitter
@4hizglory!
wondering where my blog has been for the past 4/5 months, wonder no
more! I'm not promising to be blogging everyday or anything but I have
discovered other means of posting other than directly from a computer.
So now I shall be blogging a bit more frequent. I have to get back in
the grove of doing it but I'm sure it's like a riding a bike or
something. So be on the look out for a blog and follow me on twitter
@4hizglory!
--
Shivonne Johnson
Administrator
Soul Movement Crew
A subsidary of MRYS International,Inc.
Multi-Media & Entertainment Services
FLORIDA | NEW YORK
Office: 786.279.4628 | shivonne@soulmovementcrew.com
www.soulmovementcrew.com
www.mrysinternational.com
www.newdmagazine.com
www.mykindofevents.com
Soul Movement Crew is a multimedia and entertainment group based in
South Florida. Our mission is to use positive programming to encourage
and uplift individuals from all walks of life.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Thoughts after MONTHS of nothing on my blog LOL
I haven't done a blog in MONTHS!! The year is almost up and I figured I should get back on my blogging game. This blog isn't going to catch you up necessarily on my life or anything just sharing some thoughts.
Right now, I am in a waiting period. In a book I'm re-reading called "Lady in Waiting" there's a chapter entitled 'Lady of Patience.' There's a part that stuck out to me in this chapter and it reads:
"If God is faithful, why is it so easy to lose patience? Why is it so hard to wait? Why is it easier to settle for less than God's best? Fear is a huge hindrance to waiting......Fear is an internal pressure."
I'm re-reading this book because of a message my pastor preached on Sunday. He titled it "God's delay is not God's denial." The book ("Lady in Waiting") is subtitled 'becoming God's best while waiting for Mr. Right' but the contents of the chapter aren't just about how to deal with being a single woman waiting on a man, but more so about being a single, COMPLETE woman in God and the attributes of that woman. As I am re-reading the book, I'm reading the chapters out of order (got that from my bestie, shout outs to Mon Ami!). I'm reading the sections that pertain to what I'm facing at the moment.
The portion that I mentioned in the patience chapter spoke volumes to me because I realized that I still had fear within me. And it's not just about being single, but about all the different things that I know God has in store for me, things that will reflect my relationship with Him that I have yet to see manifest. And I realized that my impatience was due to fear; fear of not seeing these things come to pass and also a fear of not knowing what exactly was to come or how and when it would come. But as I read through the chapter (specifically the portion I quoted) I was reminded that God IS faithful and He's never failed me, so why should I start getting restless now?
What helped me really get pass the different fears was the Word. And it wasn't the 2 Timothy 1:7 scripture that everyone quotes when they are fearful ("For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" NKJV). The scripture that encouraged me was a psalm (my fave book of the Bible, by the way). Psalm 131 was the passage and it states:
"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mothers milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord - now and always." (NLT)
In The Message it reads like this:
"God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!"
I'm the type of person who likes to know things before I get into it and I get impatient when I don't know what's going on. But I don't need to struggle with not knowing because I'm not a baby in Christ anymore. I know my DADDY, I know what He can do and I trust that He is and will do what's best for me. And if it means that sometimes I'm not to know all the details, then I will quiet myself and just bask in His presence.
And so I took the psalmists exhort, "wait with hope" and the author's exhort, "wait patiently and win triumphantly the future your Father has planned for you."
Blessings til next time!!
Right now, I am in a waiting period. In a book I'm re-reading called "Lady in Waiting" there's a chapter entitled 'Lady of Patience.' There's a part that stuck out to me in this chapter and it reads:
"If God is faithful, why is it so easy to lose patience? Why is it so hard to wait? Why is it easier to settle for less than God's best? Fear is a huge hindrance to waiting......Fear is an internal pressure."
I'm re-reading this book because of a message my pastor preached on Sunday. He titled it "God's delay is not God's denial." The book ("Lady in Waiting") is subtitled 'becoming God's best while waiting for Mr. Right' but the contents of the chapter aren't just about how to deal with being a single woman waiting on a man, but more so about being a single, COMPLETE woman in God and the attributes of that woman. As I am re-reading the book, I'm reading the chapters out of order (got that from my bestie, shout outs to Mon Ami!). I'm reading the sections that pertain to what I'm facing at the moment.
The portion that I mentioned in the patience chapter spoke volumes to me because I realized that I still had fear within me. And it's not just about being single, but about all the different things that I know God has in store for me, things that will reflect my relationship with Him that I have yet to see manifest. And I realized that my impatience was due to fear; fear of not seeing these things come to pass and also a fear of not knowing what exactly was to come or how and when it would come. But as I read through the chapter (specifically the portion I quoted) I was reminded that God IS faithful and He's never failed me, so why should I start getting restless now?
What helped me really get pass the different fears was the Word. And it wasn't the 2 Timothy 1:7 scripture that everyone quotes when they are fearful ("For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" NKJV). The scripture that encouraged me was a psalm (my fave book of the Bible, by the way). Psalm 131 was the passage and it states:
"Lord, my heart is not proud; my eyes are not haughty. I don't concern myself with matters too great or too awesome for me to grasp. Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself, like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mothers milk. Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, put your hope in the Lord - now and always." (NLT)
In The Message it reads like this:
"God, I'm not trying to rule the roost, I don't want to be king of the mountain. I haven't meddled where I have no business or fantasized grandiose plans. I've kept my feet on the ground, I've cultivated a quiet heart. Like a baby content in its mother's arms, my soul is a baby content. Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope. Hope now; hope always!"
I'm the type of person who likes to know things before I get into it and I get impatient when I don't know what's going on. But I don't need to struggle with not knowing because I'm not a baby in Christ anymore. I know my DADDY, I know what He can do and I trust that He is and will do what's best for me. And if it means that sometimes I'm not to know all the details, then I will quiet myself and just bask in His presence.
And so I took the psalmists exhort, "wait with hope" and the author's exhort, "wait patiently and win triumphantly the future your Father has planned for you."
Blessings til next time!!
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The importance of relationships
No this is not a blog about having a man. This is about the importance of maintaining valuable relationships with your sisters (speaking from my perspective as a woman) and with your brothers (for the men). There is nothing wrong with building a friendship, a sibling type relationship if you will, with those of your gender. They are vital and help to grow you as a person. Last night (into today) I had the opportunity to fellowship with my sisters and they were all such a blessing to me. From the moment I met these particular ladies I had thanked God for them(check out a previous blog lol) because our spirits and mindsets were alike. They all flow in the flow of the Holy Spirit. You probably wouldn't believe it if you saw us all last night, but not all of us has known each other that long. I particularly was one who has only known everyone for less than a year. But I feel like I've known them all my life.
The Lord was in our midst last night. And I don't say that in the way people understand it, the "churchified" way. We were playing games and you knew based on how we interacted and conducted ourselves that the Lord was present; that His Holy Spirit is truly alive and functioning in each of our lives. We shared and opened up with each other (and to God) and God moved in that room! He's taking us higher and deeper.......yyyyeeeeeaaaahhhhh.....think about that! That sounds oxymoronic but meditate on that;-)
Don't neglect those kinds of relationships with your brothers and sisters in Chirst. Talk with each other. Be transparent with each other. Read the Word together. Pray with and for one another. This will cause you to be in agreement with each other. Amos speaks to two not being able to walk together unless they agree. So build the relationships so that all are in agreement so that the promise in the Word can be made manifest, where two are agreeing on earth concerning anything you ask, the Father in heaven will do it (Matt 18:19). But that promise can't be established unless there is agreement, honesty, transparency, realness with each other.
Men and women alike, foster these relationships and learn from each other. Watch God work in the friendships that are established and use it to manifest His glory.
Blessings til next time!!
The Lord was in our midst last night. And I don't say that in the way people understand it, the "churchified" way. We were playing games and you knew based on how we interacted and conducted ourselves that the Lord was present; that His Holy Spirit is truly alive and functioning in each of our lives. We shared and opened up with each other (and to God) and God moved in that room! He's taking us higher and deeper.......yyyyeeeeeaaaahhhhh.....think about that! That sounds oxymoronic but meditate on that;-)
Don't neglect those kinds of relationships with your brothers and sisters in Chirst. Talk with each other. Be transparent with each other. Read the Word together. Pray with and for one another. This will cause you to be in agreement with each other. Amos speaks to two not being able to walk together unless they agree. So build the relationships so that all are in agreement so that the promise in the Word can be made manifest, where two are agreeing on earth concerning anything you ask, the Father in heaven will do it (Matt 18:19). But that promise can't be established unless there is agreement, honesty, transparency, realness with each other.
Men and women alike, foster these relationships and learn from each other. Watch God work in the friendships that are established and use it to manifest His glory.
Blessings til next time!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Christian swag?? - read and please leave comments
My homie Dre had a status up addressing whether "Christian swag" makes sense. This is what I was lead to write.
This is my take based on the origin of the word "swag." In the Webster's dictionary the 1st definition is sway...sway means fluctuating, oscillating, i.e. going back and forth. In James chapter 1 it speaks about asking for wisdom and having faith when you ask and not doubt for then you are double-minded, unstable in all your ways. It goes on further to speak of God as unchanging, that He is not like shifting shadows. If the 1st definition of swag speaks to fluctuating, going back and forth how can we as Christians say that we have "swag?"
The 2nd defition speaks to a decoration that hangs between two points, one that droops, is curved. But we're not called to be curved or crooked. Prov 10:9 says "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall."
The 3rd definition speaks to loot, goods acquired by unlawful means. We are commanded in Exodus 20 to not steal.
The 4th defnition says "a depression in the earth." Depression is a state of being sad, lowering of functional activity, loss of quality...we are the salt of the earth. We are to bring flavor, life, enhance the earth not lower its value or quality.
The 5th definition states it as a pack of personal belongings as understood to Australians or to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings. This sounds like a weight, a burden. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The psalmist in Ps 68:19 says "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."
With all that said we as Christians DO NOT have swag. We are NOT to sway, we are NOT to be crooked, we DO NOT steal, we are NOT sad or depreciating the earth's value and we DEFINITELY DO NOT carry a burden. So having "Christian swag" or "Jesus swag" is a scheme of the enemy, a means for him to infiltrate and influence the minds of Christians, especially young people so that they do not function as God intended for them to function.
We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us. The power that's available there is infinite; it's abounding! Saying as Christians I got "swag" or my "Swag speaks for me" is a ploy of the enemy to replace the Holy Spirit, to not truly acknowledge the power and strength God promised from so long ago. You're speaking into your life something that is not the Word, something that is not TRUTH. And Jesus said "then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). But if you aren't speaking truth into your life then you are wrapping yourself in bondage. Jesus prayed in John 17 "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth." The only way for us to be holy is to know the truth. SWAG is NOT truth.
Now "swagger" as defined by the Webster's dictionary is "to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner ; especially : to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence." Superciliously is defined as "coolly and patronizingly haughty." All in all "swagger" is pride, it is being boastful. Ps 10:4 states " In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." Proverbs speaks to pride in more than one verse.
Prov 11:12 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humilty comes wisdom.
Prov 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Prov 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
We are called to be humble. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2 to have the mind or attitude of Christ. Phil 2:7 "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." If Jesus who is God could humble himself to become lower than the angels didn't walk around in arrogance or pride then who are we to be walking around haughtily? Jesus humbled himself and washed his disciples' feet in John 13. He led by example to show us what it means to be humble. Swagger is not humility. Swagger is not biblical.
Both words (swag and swagger) have different meanings. But both meanings are contrary to the Word of God, contrary to the truth. As 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 states "But let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." Let God approve and commend you. Don't do it yourself; only boast in the Lord.
This is my take based on the origin of the word "swag." In the Webster's dictionary the 1st definition is sway...sway means fluctuating, oscillating, i.e. going back and forth. In James chapter 1 it speaks about asking for wisdom and having faith when you ask and not doubt for then you are double-minded, unstable in all your ways. It goes on further to speak of God as unchanging, that He is not like shifting shadows. If the 1st definition of swag speaks to fluctuating, going back and forth how can we as Christians say that we have "swag?"
The 2nd defition speaks to a decoration that hangs between two points, one that droops, is curved. But we're not called to be curved or crooked. Prov 10:9 says "People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall."
The 3rd definition speaks to loot, goods acquired by unlawful means. We are commanded in Exodus 20 to not steal.
The 4th defnition says "a depression in the earth." Depression is a state of being sad, lowering of functional activity, loss of quality...we are the salt of the earth. We are to bring flavor, life, enhance the earth not lower its value or quality.
The 5th definition states it as a pack of personal belongings as understood to Australians or to travel about carrying one's bundle of personal belongings. This sounds like a weight, a burden. Jesus said in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." The psalmist in Ps 68:19 says "Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens."
With all that said we as Christians DO NOT have swag. We are NOT to sway, we are NOT to be crooked, we DO NOT steal, we are NOT sad or depreciating the earth's value and we DEFINITELY DO NOT carry a burden. So having "Christian swag" or "Jesus swag" is a scheme of the enemy, a means for him to infiltrate and influence the minds of Christians, especially young people so that they do not function as God intended for them to function.
We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us. The power that's available there is infinite; it's abounding! Saying as Christians I got "swag" or my "Swag speaks for me" is a ploy of the enemy to replace the Holy Spirit, to not truly acknowledge the power and strength God promised from so long ago. You're speaking into your life something that is not the Word, something that is not TRUTH. And Jesus said "then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free" (John 8:32). But if you aren't speaking truth into your life then you are wrapping yourself in bondage. Jesus prayed in John 17 "Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth." The only way for us to be holy is to know the truth. SWAG is NOT truth.
Now "swagger" as defined by the Webster's dictionary is "to conduct oneself in an arrogant or superciliously pompous manner ; especially : to walk with an air of overbearing self-confidence." Superciliously is defined as "coolly and patronizingly haughty." All in all "swagger" is pride, it is being boastful. Ps 10:4 states " In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God." Proverbs speaks to pride in more than one verse.
Prov 11:12 - When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humilty comes wisdom.
Prov 13:10 - Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice.
Prov 16:18 - Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.
We are called to be humble. Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2 to have the mind or attitude of Christ. Phil 2:7 "Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being." If Jesus who is God could humble himself to become lower than the angels didn't walk around in arrogance or pride then who are we to be walking around haughtily? Jesus humbled himself and washed his disciples' feet in John 13. He led by example to show us what it means to be humble. Swagger is not humility. Swagger is not biblical.
Both words (swag and swagger) have different meanings. But both meanings are contrary to the Word of God, contrary to the truth. As 2 Corinthians 10:17-18 states "But let him who boasts boast in the Lord. For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends." Let God approve and commend you. Don't do it yourself; only boast in the Lord.
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