What's up in Sherrice's World?

Bloodlines_Trailer.wmv

2010-07-05T01:12:00.001-04:00

New Blogspot - www.sherricethomas.com

2010-04-18T22:21:00.000-04:00

Hello Friends, Family and Fans.

The What's Up in Sherrice's World? blog has moved to www.sherricethomas.com. I will be closing this site within the next week.

Have a wonderful day!

What's Your Marital Brand?

2010-04-13T14:30:00.000-04:00

Marriage can be a tumultuous journey full of difficulties. In my own marriage, I have learned more lessons than I care to count. Each lesson could be the topic of a book. Spicing Up the Marital Bed, Savor the Flavor with Robust Dialogue. Woman, Hold Thy Tongue. Man, Clean Up Behind Yourself. I can go on for days with these titles.

Even in my attempt to be humorous, I want to be careful not to make light of what I learned. For the most part, the lessons were invaluable. Even still, I wanted the information to be specific to our needs as a couple and not just textbook theories and testimonies. I prayed for a better marriage, yet I did not ask for specific, creative strategies that were exclusive to us. I believe we are all connected yet God called us to live individual lives. In addition, we could be going through the exact same problem as Billy and Mary down the street, yet our need for significance causes us to want a more personal solution.

When we ask God for creative strategies, we cannot be fussy in regards to how he gives us the information. Here is our story. During our elders’ ordination ceremony, our pastor was trying to say Fred and Sherrice and instead, he said Frerrice. This new name appeared to be a mistake, yet Pastor made a profound statement that stuck with me. He said, “There are no mistakes in God so blending there names is just a confirmation that the two has become one.” So amazed by that comment, I started forming names for the couples who were with us. John and Kelli - JoKelli. Kelly and Michelle - KelChelle. I could not think of a name for JR and JaQualia, even though I entertained a million combinations. Personally, I like JJ. After the ceremony, Kelly Fortune was teasing us about our new celebrity names. He mentioned that Brad and Angelina were Brangelina. The marketing wheels began turning in my head and God used them to drill in the concept of marital branding.

The Lord began to speak to me over the next few months. Two questions stood out in my mind.

1. When someone hears the names Fred and Sherrice, do they see Frerrice?

2. Moreover, what do people think of Frerrice? Not from the perspective of seeking validation, yet from the perspective of displaying a holy light in our own unique way.

Instead of guessing, I started asking. People used words like financially stable, focused on goals, the couple who argues a lot, the couple with nothing in common, and two people who do not seem to be a good match for one another. Whoooooooooo! This was a revelation for me. I did not want to leave a legacy like that. I wanted people to say the couple who worships together, despite their circumstances, the couple who works though challenging problems and cheers us on when we are working though ours. I shared the concept with my husband and he agreed that we needed to change our image and work on our brand identity, according to the word of God. By doing so, we could win more souls to Christ and be a help versus a hindrance to the kingdom.

Now, when we ask people about our brand, their answers describe a couple who is living for Christ versus one on the Highway to Hell. Working on our brand gave us a common goal that has yielded so much fruit in a short time frame. Just imagine what we will be doing fifty years from now. I am now passing on each lesson I learn to my blog entry readers. I challenge you to work on your brand identity as an individual and as a couple, if you have a spouse of significant other. I would love to hear what your unique stories and your custom-made results.

The Balance Finder Fan Page is Here!

2010-04-12T23:18:00.000-04:00

The Balance Finder is about to make its debut into the world. The release date is May 1st.

Make sure you join The Balance Finder Fan Page on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/pages/The-Balance-Finder/114944238518506?v=info

While there, be sure to reserve your autographed copy of The Balance Finder.

I look forward to interacting with all of my readers!

Radical Christian Perspective on Social Media

2010-03-31T11:31:00.000-04:00

As a radical Christian, I embrace social media as a tool to spread the gospel and encourage people to live according to Christian principles. For this reason, I am a proud subscriber and avid user of both Facebook and Twitter. I hear many Christians speak negatively of social media, yet I am finding that their reasons are quite interesting. Let’s explore a few.

I don’t want my business in Cyberspace.
I chuckle every time I hear this one because it the most intriguing of all the reasons not to use social media. As if your business is so important that people just have to know it. For the sake of fun, I will cut you some slack. Maybe there are a few people trying to get the “jiggy scoop” on them. Here’s the deal. As a social media user, you control what you post. Your business can’t be told unless tell it first. I’m just saying. If you can’t think of anything profound, consider posting inspirational messages, scriptures, or quotes. Here’s another idea; simply leave your status blank.

No one ever posts anything of value. There is no need to put your personal life online.
This reason is entertaining, too. You are the believer who should be posting things of value. Don't worry about what others are posting. Have I seen a few status updates that I may not have put on my page? Yes, yet that’s why they are posting on their own page and not mine. If others like to use Facebook and Twitter to let us know they are at the grocery store and just broke down to buy some Ben and Jerry’s Chunky Monkey ice cream, its okay! It’s their status so they have the right to share as they please. If you don’t like it, block it. Better yet, pray that the Lord will make their splurge calorie free instead of criticizing their posts. Now, that would be a miracle.

My relatives and friends are always saying off the hook stuff or they are cussing on my page.
This is a legitimate concern and I have a great solution. Block them and pray for them like there is no tomorrow. Keep posting what the Lord has shared with you on their page until they accept Jesus as their Lord and savior or block you in return. Then start sending a plethora of messages. Your posts or messages should not speak to their only to their sin. They should speak to where God wants to take them or how God wants to use them. Share prophetic dreams, visions, and words from the Lord. No matter what, do not allow ignorance to stop the use of social media from responsible believers who are spreading good news and cheer.

People are always trying to hook up with me.
This too is a legitimate concern if you are married or not interested in those who keep posting suggestive things on your page. This seems to be more of a problem on Tagged than any other form of social media. I did have to close my Tagged page for that reason. Facebook and Twitter are much easier to manage on that front. Here’s a suggestion. Keep talking about Jesus no matter how hard they pursue. In fact, witness to them. I have even linked up stalkers with my husband or saved male friends and family members to ensure that the message was loud and clear. Personally, I am flattered that my spirit makes people want to get to know me. Yet, I will tell them where I stand in a hot minute. No “hateration” necessary, just keep it moving. Now, if you are weak in that area, you may have to take a different approach. I can share that offline.

Four is enough for today. This was so much fun and a relief. I have wanted to get that off my chest
for quite some time now. I encourage you to comment with you thoughts on using social media for
The Kingdom of God. I look forward to a robust dialogue on this subject.

As always,

Loving you like Jesus!

Mere Simplicity

2010-03-10T22:59:00.000-05:00

Hey World!

Today, I had a revelation that will change the course of my life. It was refreshing and quite beautiful. What did God show me? One simple word - Simplicity. It is the key to life. We make things so complicated for some reason. I am not sure why we do this. What I do know is that God created the earth simply by speaking a word. He then created everything associated with the earth in the same manner. It took Him 6 days to complete such an amazing task. Each time I reflect on God's power to create via mere simplicity, it brings tears to my eyes.

What situation are you dealing with that could be solved by just making a simple decision and acting on it? I encourage you to reflect on this and pray. Wars would not be fought if people simply had a change of heart. Congress could decide what they would like to do about health care, if they could simply make a decision. Simplicity is the key. Will you put it in the lock and turn it? Or will you continue inserting keys that don't fit?

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Jesus Stops By a Mountain Monestary in a Distant Land

2010-02-03T22:50:00.005-05:00

On a snow-capped mountain in a distant land, 100 Buddhist monks are meditating and chanting prayers to their gods. As they sit in the Lotus position, they take deep breaths. They methodically and intentionally breathe in and breathe out. Suddenly, a voice comes out of nowhere and says, "I am the Alpha and the Omega. The beginning and the end. I am He who was and is and is to come. I am the Lord, you God, a great king, who's name is above all other gods. Come before me and make a joyful noise. I am the rock of your salvation, so sing unto me with thanksgiving."

Upon hearing this voice, the monks stand in awe. Almost instantly, they recognize the owner of the voice as the King of King and Lord of Lords. Suddenly, tongues of fire rest upon them and they are immediately baptized with the Holy Spirit. They begin speaking in a foreign language that I can understand, just like the day of Pentecost. Without any warning, the heavens open up. People from miles around begin running up the mountain to the monastery just to see this phenomenon. The angles in Heaven begin to sing, "Holy is the Lord, God almighty, so declare His glory." Then, every person on the snow-capped mountain cries out in unison, "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God, almighty." This simultaneous praise invokes action in the spirit realm. As the angels begin to war for the souls of these people, the temperature accelerates and the snow begins to melt. The monks begin to throw their idols and associated paraphenalia into the sea below. The temperature of the water also begins to increase. As the items crash into the blue waters, they begin to fizzle and dissolve. Once again, the people are in awe.

Those who have assembled on the mountain are baptized with the Holy Spirit and begin to speak in tongues, in the same manner as the monks had just moments before. The chief priest comes out of the monestary to see what is going on. He is appauled at the site before him and tries to stop the activity. Suddenly, he turns into a pillar of salt. The people and the monks are in awe once again. They begin to cry out again, "Holy, Holy, Holy. Lord God, almighty." The monestary burns down to the ground and a green, bitter smelling smoke begins to permeate the atmosphere. This is what happens when Jesus stops by a mountain monestary in a distant land.

My Personal Inventory

2010-01-11T13:22:00.003-05:00

This month, I decided to take a personal inventory, which involved answering the following questions.

1. How have I grown in the past six months?

2. What is the fruit of that growth?

3. How can I enhance my skills?

4. What do I want the Lord to show me?

5. What will I do about it?

Here are my answers.

1. I let go of frumpiness and embraced my God-given beauty. In the past, I have grown in so many other ways while continually neglecting my appearance. My excuse was that beauty was on the inside. Talk about false humility!

2. Weight loss, clothes that actually fit and a becoming hairstyle have helped to increase my confidence and has opened a number of doors that were previously closed.

3. I plan to enhance my networking skills as I begin to pursue two dreams - publish The Balance Finder, my first book and open a publishing company.

4. I want to see The Balance Finder on the New York Times Bestseller's List and to tour the world sharing the spiritual principles in the book. I also want the Lord to use me to perform miracles on these tours. Seeing someone's legs grow out, watching a vitiligo sufferer's color return to its original state or something awesome like that!

5. I will pray more for increased faith, finances, lucrative partnerships and the holy boldness to perform miracles.

When I read this list, I was somewhat overwhelmed because these are dreams I have put aside due to fears and insecurities. No longer will I be bound to those spirits. When I take my next personal inventory, I expect to see forward movement in these areas. How about you? Get introspective and take personal inventory of your life. You may be surprised at what the Lord releases you to do. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this matter sooner than later.

Murder Is The Case That They Gave Him

2010-01-04T08:23:00.000-05:00

Yesterday, I received a phone call about a young man who allegedly choked his girlfriend to death. I grew up with this young man and watched him be abused on a level that most people would not believe. Unless he can prove his innocence, he will spend a significant portion of his adult life incarcerated. Murder is the case that they gave him, however, if he was guilty, it would not be the true crime. The true crime is the ongoing rejection he experienced throughout his childhood. This rejection started in the womb and continued to show its ugly face even after his birth. Extreme beatings from his stepfather simply sealed the deal. Rejection did not travel alone. It brought a friend who manifested in the form of the spirit of hurt. The spirit of hurt welcomed another friend, unforgiveness. This unforgiveness spirit opened the door to a spirit of bitterness, which was fed by constant memory recall or rejection, physical abuse and verbal slanders. Bitterness fed an anger demon that led to drug abuse as a coping mechanism. The anger demon escalated to the point of reinacting that level of abuse with his girlfriend. Then malice showed up on the scene, which allegedly led to murder.

When we do not go to Jesus with our emotional hang ups and baggage, there are dire consequences. Keep in mind, these consequences do not always manifest in physical murder. Some people murder their own character and esteem. Others don't just stop there. They murder the ones they love with their words and sometimes even their deeds. Murder is the case that they give him. Even though he had been murdered throughout his childhood and no one ever said a word. Like Brittany Murphy's character in Don't Say a Word, he was determined to keep it silent. "I'll never tell." We see what happened to her in real life.

If you are a murderer or a living victim, it is time to throw in the towel and surrender it all to the Lord. He will lead you to a place where you can get support from strong Christians. In this place, your ultimate inner healing will take place. Do not live in this state any longer. Why? Because you don't have to! The Lord did not put you here on this earth to live a defeated life. He wants to show you real love. Real love is that unconditional love from Jesus and His people. It heals all sicknesses, diseases and spiritual heart conditions. Without it, we will all continue to be murderers or murder victims. Start today and make a change.

Soul Winning Challenge - Reap a Harvest that is Out of this World!

2009-12-01T01:17:00.001-05:00

Are you on fire for the Lord? If so, why not spread it? The California wildfires have nothing on an anointed believer who wants to tell the world about Jesus. The fruit of righteousness is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise (Proverbs 11:30). Is that you? If you are a believer, you have just been tagged in. Why? We are all called to the ministry of reconciliation, which is simply reuniting lost souls with God.  Don't worry. It is not as hard as it sounds. Especially once you get used to it. In Luke 14:23-24, the Lord tells us that we are to compel people to be a part of the kingdom. This involves going out to get them and not waiting for them to come to the church (Acts 20:20). I am writing this blog to ignite that "compelling" a spark in your life through five helpful tips - Use holy boldness, demonstrate the kingdom, show agape love, understand your role and follow-up. Let's briefly explore each of these tips.

1. Use holy boldness - When the apostles went out to tell the world about Jesus, they were not timid or afraid. They used every door and opportunity to share the good news whether it was in the marketplace, over dinner, in the streets and even in prison. When the Lord opens the door, use His knowledge and wisdom to minister to needs and share the gospel. Strike up conversations in odd places, such as elevators, restrooms, etc. Start out by talking about the weather, an article of clothing the person is wearing (i.e. sports paraphenalia, etc) or even admiring something that most believers would shun, for example tatoos and/or piercings. In other words, use whatever the Holy Spirit puts on your heart. When Phillip approached the Ethopian eunuch in Acts 8, he focused on a book the man was reading which just happened to be scriptures. Imagine that! For more dynamic events like this, read the book of Acts. Holy boldness was taken to another level in this book. Ironically, the book has no real ending, which lets us know we should continue on with those acts of faith.

2. Demonstrate the kingdom - Talk is cheap if you cannot back it up with action. Stir up the anointing on the insider of you by practicing what the Bible preaches. If someone tells you they have some sort of ailment, offer to pray for them and then move as you are led by the Holy Spirit. If you get a strong desire to share something with a person that will build them up, comfort them and/or restore them, go for it! If you see an opportunity to strong the Lord's power, make it happen, in the name of Jesus. People respond to the Lord's power much more than they will respond to our logical arguments and debates. Be respectful of their beliefs and their right to have those beliefs, even if they are not concurrent with the truth of God's word. Being respectful does not mean that you are in agreement. You are simply agreeing to disagree to ensure that the person does not see Christians are argumentative and disrespectful.  If you don't believe me, check out I Corinthians 1:17-18, I Corinthians 2:1-5 and Titus 3:9. Remember, I Corinthians 3:7 lets us know that God does the actual "saving" not us. That's why signs, wonders and miracles follow us everywhere we go (Mark 16:17). Demonstrate the kingdom!

3. Show some agape love - Agape love is unconditional. God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to die for our sins (John 3:16 and Romans 5:8). There is no greater love. Since Jesus paid the price, we are not called to die for the sins of others, yet, we are called to love them into the kingdom. No matter what a person throws your way during your evangelistic efforts, respond with love. Meaning, do not argue, do not take the bait and get drawn into confrontations and most of all, do not take rejection of the gospel personally. They are not rejecting you, they are rejecting the Lord. This rejection may be temporary or permenant, yet it is not for us to figure it out. We must do what the Lord says and let Him handle the rest. Also, if there is a need that you are led to meet, do it. Make sure you are led by the Holy Spirit, or otherwise, your acts of kindness will be in vain. In addition, speak loving words that will produce life in the person. Many times, a kind word can open up the door to share the gospel and bring the person home where they belong, in God's kingdom.

4. Understand your role - In Mark 4:14-20, we learn that some of us will plant the word of God, while others water and some will actually reap a harvest when a person accepts Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. Be mindful that you can be doing one of these three actions when you are sharing the gospel, demonstrating the kingdom, etc. Since we serve a multi-dimensional God, your role is interchangable with each interaction, so DO NOT get stuck in one way of witnessing. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit.

5. Follow-up - When you minister to someone in any way, shape, form or fashion, the Lord may lead you to build a relationship with that person for the purpose of prayer and follow-up. In some cases, you get to plant the seed, water it and reap the harvest, or a combination of at least two of these actions. Amazing! Look at God.  You may even introduce them to a believer you know who has had a similar lifestyle or experience. For this reason, exchange phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Ask the person how they like to communicate (i.e. phone, e-mail, text, chat or face to face) and be respectful of their wishes. If you feel led, invite them to your place of worship or link them with one that is more in tune with their needs.

Let's recap the five tips - Use holy boldness, demonstrate the kingdom, show agape love, understand your role and follow-up. Let's incorporate these tips into our interactions and reap a harvest that is out of this world!

Live Out Loud with a Purpose! Praise! Praise! Praise!

2009-09-16T06:53:00.002-04:00

Master. Savior. Healer. Redeemer. Wonderful. Our Lord is all that and so much more. How many of us know that deep within our hearts, yet find it hard to stand on in times of trouble. I stopped by to tell you that you are not alone. You are in good company. For even the father of many nations experienced similar issues in his life. In Genesis 37:35, Jacob (who we know as Israel) was in an extremely sorrowful state. His children tried to comfort him, yet, he refused their consolation. How many times have we been in extreme pain, seeking comfort, yet refusing what the Lord has to offer? Some of us have been on a pain roller coaster for years. I hear some of you saying that you want it to go, but just don't know how to let go. I hear others saying that I have mastered this. Yet, still, others are saying, pain is my friend. What would I do without it?

If you are experiencing pain, just know that it is taking up resident in your life and not paying "a lick" of rent. When one does not pay rent in the natural, the landlord serves a notice of eviction. Today is the day that you will evict pain from your life. I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying that He will perfect whatever concerns you. You are his masterpiece, a fine work of art. You command a price far above what you can imagine. So why, beloved, are you walking around in pain. Godly sorrow builds contenance of the heart, not worldly sorrow. I speak inner healing into your mind, body and soul. Release it to the Lord. Its acceptable to weep, yet know that weeping may endure for a night, but joy, comes in the morning. Bind the spirit of pain and sorrow. Forgive those who have hurt you. Take a chance and show the Lord's unconditional love. What do you have to lose? Absolutely nothing, because your current state of pain is causing you not to function at your God-given level. You are called, chosen and selected to be a part of a wonderful kingdom. Live out loud with a purpose.

So, for those of you who are in pain, I declare and decree that the Word of the Lord will permeate your heart and begin to heal each and every hurt from your past. I am believing that those who are in bad situations will be set free. The chains will be broken off today. Take a moment to live out loud and give the Lord the praise that He is due with the fruit of your lips. Praise Him out loud until you get a breakthrough! Praise! Praise! Praise! Your breakthrough is here and you don't see it yet! Don't stop! Praise! Praise! Praise! The Lord is healing your heart with each word of praise that proceeds from your mouth! Praise! Praise! Praise! Your destiny has been held up for too long. Satan, I bind your retaliatory spirits and counter attacks, in the name of Jesus! Praise! Praise! Praise! Until you can see your path is clear!

What about Jacob? He stopped wallowing in his misery and became Israel, the father of many nations. You are a part of his purpose and destiny. Praise! Praise! Praise! Live out loud with a purpose! Praise! Praise! Praise! The shackles have fallen off your feet and hands! You are free to run, free to dance, free to set others free in the name of Jesus! Live out loud with a purpose and praise!

A Place of Spiritual Renewal

2009-09-06T02:02:00.001-04:00

During our walk with Christ, we often come to places of spiritual renewal. A place where we go to another level in the Lord. Gilgal is physical manifestation of this spiritual place in the Bible days. It represents a rolling away of the reproach from the past.

Here are a few notable events that occured at Gilgal.

- The Israelites camped out here when they crossed the Jordan, before they conquered Jericho. Joshua 4:19

- The memorial stones from crossing over Jordan were brought here. Joshua 4:20

- The Israelites circumcized the men who were born in the wilderness here. Joshua 5:1-5

- Saul was given another heart at Gilgal. I Samuel 10:8-9

- David was met by the people of Judah to restore his kingship when his son Absalom died. II Samuel 19:15

- Elijah and Elisha were on their way to Gilgal when Elijah was caught up in the whirlwind. II Kings 2:1

Gilgal is definitely a place of change, physically and spiritually. Now is the time for your change, your spiritual renewal. While you are camping out here, prepare to conquer a few giants, walk in your mantle and assume your position in the royal kingdom. Cut away anything that's unclean and build your memorial. You will be given a new heart that is even more in tune with the Lord. Expect new things to begin to occur in your life. Roll away the reproach of Egypt and embrace Gilgal.

Aliens in a Foreign Land

2009-08-23T22:39:00.004-04:00

How many of you have ever felt like you do not belong here on this earth? It seems that the more you try to live for Jesus, the more the world is against you. Brothers and sisters, I am here today to let you know that there is a reason that you feel like this is not your country. Almost like an illegal alien in a foreign land with different laws and different types of people. No matter what takes place in their new country, they always long for their birthplace because there’s no place like home.

We are a citizen of the United States of America, but as a Christian, we have dual citizenship. Dual citizenship in the United States is interesting because even though the government allows a dual citizen to maintain citizenship in another country, that person must agree to the following requirements.

Solemnly swear to uphold the constitution of the United States
Renounce all allegiance to any foreign leadership.
Support and defend the constitution of the United States against all enemies, including those in your home country.
Join the military as one who bears arms or one who does not if the U.S. government needs your services

Even though this person is a dual citizen, it is almost like his or her home country does not exist when it comes to the laws that govern life. It is important to keep in mind that some other countries laws may not correspond with the U.S. definition of dual citizenship. This is where global conflict comes in to play. Which laws should this person follow? How is this person to live his or her life?

The dilemma is similar for a Christian. We struggle with not feeling welcome in our country of birth because we are truly not from here. If God formed us in our mother’s wombs and breathed the breath of life into us, then our original home is Heaven. The spirit of life He breathed into us belongs to Him. Since He is in Heaven, then technically, so are we.

Many of you may say, I have not ever been there before. From the physical perspective, that is true. Since the Holy Spirit lives inside of you, you have a dual nature; a physical and a spiritual nature. We are unique because we have a physical body indwelled by God himself. Since your spirit is of God, you live here, but you do not belong here. You may be an American, but you are a citizen of Heaven, looking forward to the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:20). Even though we are called to obey the laws of the land, our allegiance is to the Holy Word of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.

In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to speak against the government by asking whether or not a believer should pay taxes. Jesus said we should render unto Caesar what Caesar is due and render unto God what God is due. This speaks to our dual citizenship. Our responsibility to Jesus and our responsibility to our country. We are in this world but not of this world, however, as American citizens, we are able to do things like vote, pay taxes, call our Congressman with complaints. If you don’t know the phone number, see me after Bible Study. In Titus 2:12, the Lord reveals that we are to live soberly, righteous and godly before the world. Matthew 5 tells us that we are a light shining bright on a hill. We must shine this light on the world. If we as Christians stop participating in the world’s system, this would give the world the edge they need to be even more corrupt than they already are. Eventually, the world will become so corrupt that there will be a time when believers must totally separate themselves, but as for right now, we still have an obligation. We are the moral and spiritual barometers of the world. Without us, more unborn babies would be dying and people living unholy lifestyles would have no one to remind them of Jesus' original design for their lives. I have stopped by here to tell you about a new heaven, a new earth and a new Jerusalem, where you and others with your same nationality will dwell with Jesus in righteousness. Its time to turn in your green card and get your New Jerusalem ID. You are no longer an alien in a foreign land because there’s no place like home.

What is Tolerance? The Real Definition

2009-08-14T14:09:00.004-04:00

Tolerance is one of the most popular buzz words I have been hearing lately in diversity circles. After hearing the term 100 times, I thought about exploring the concept to see how it links us with the teachings in the Bible.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines tolerance as sympathy or indulgence for beliefs or practices differing from or conflicting with one's own or the allowable deviation from a standard. Hmmm….an interesting concept. So that means if someone decides to worship the a chair in their living room (believe me, it happens), we must be willing to be tolerant of their belief system. We are expected to behave in this manner even if it is detrimental to a person’s well being and spiritual destiny. Hmmm….once gain, an interesting concept. I decided to solicit some thoughts from my network of friends on Facebook. Here are a few of the responses…

An attitude that you develop to deal with a situation, while you may not like it, you adapt to deal with it for the sake of someone or your own sanity
The ability to deal with people and situations when they don't line up with truth
Being able to work with the people I work with
The ability to deal with others in spite of what they do and how they act towards you! Prayer closet where you at?
Dealing with foolishness. That's funny. I always say I have a low tolerance for foolishness. Meaning...if it's foolishness, I deal with it but only for a (short) season. I deal with it according to God's standards. Outside of that, if a person does not want to change their foolish ways (after a while of effectively ministering to them), I give it ... Read More to God and let Him deal with them accordingly. I believe this is the only way they will learn their lesson. You can't make someone do what you feel is right for them to do. I'm sure you heard the saying, "you can lead a....but you can't make him drink it!"
Tolerant is the ability to endure thru love. For instance, one can love a person in spite of that person's trespasses against them.
I say, "thru love" otherwise, we just put up with them, but that type of "tolerance" is giving up on the person.

These were personal definitions from strong, spirit-filled believers. It seems that we are all willing to work with someone, yet, only for a season. I believe the Lord allows us to be tolerant so that we can get to know a person and win them to the kingdom with love. What is your definition of tolerance and how do you operate in that realm?

Prophetic Word from the Lord

2009-07-16T19:23:00.008-04:00

I am gathering you, so draw nigh to me. I am gathering you into a unified body of believers to come against the enemy and take back everything he has stolen from you. I am gathering a people who are set free from generational curses and releasing generational blessings. Send Judah first. Praise me, my people. I am gathering you to a place of praise, a place of deliverance, a place of abundant life. Zoe life. I am gathering you to an awakening. A praise awakening, a spiritual awakening.

Praise me with your mouth and your hands. Praise me with instruments and banners. Praise me with all your heart. Release my praise as I desire to hear you praise me. Your praise binds the enemy, yes, it stops him in his tracks. He has no power in the midst of your praises. Stop looking to and fro for a word from me. Praise me and I will inhabit your dwelling. I will saturate you with my word and reward you for your praises. I declare that you are royalty. Royal people with a divine calling, walking in righteousness. Praise me and I will restore you, refresh you and refill you. I will renew you and release you from the bondage of those things that are holding you back. You are the head, not the tail, free from debt and now an owner.

Beloved, declare my righteousness in your praise and I will declare you righteous. I will not withhold my good things from you because you are my child. I am gathering you, so come to me. I will set you free.

I am a Writer on a Journey to Destiny

2009-07-15T23:52:00.008-04:00

Last month, I went to the Black Writer's Conference and Reunion (http://www.blackwriters.org/) in Las Vegas, Nevada. My first writer's conference ever! Thanks to fellow writer and co-worker, Dasaya Cates, I am making my debut in the writing world.

In the past, I simply wrote for fun. I was not concerned about editing, finding an agent or getting published. Then, one day, I had an ephiphany - I could write for a living. At the conference, I learned if I wanted to make writing my career, those things I was previously not concerned about needed to be added to my game plan. My prayer life and overall life philosophy changed as a result. Here are a few things I learned while gleaning from other writers at the conference.

1. You must be able to get along with people if you want to sell your books.

2. You must know how to write a query letter and book proposal.

3. You can advertise on your blog and earn a little extra cash on the side.

4. Weak character development equals a weak book.

5. In order to write full-time, it is a good idea to have multiple streams of income.

6. Self-publishing is hard work, yet can be lucrative if you properly market your book.

7. Publishing companies do not necessarily provide you with a marketing budget.

8. Editing and copysetting and keys to success.

9. Write everyday.

10. You must be a reader to be a good writer.

11. All writer's conferences are not created equal.

12. N. Kali Mincy has a great Fiction Writing Toolkit (http://www.coachgreatwriters.com/).

13. Tia Ross is the hardest working woman in event planning and editing (http://www.tiaross.com/).

14. William Patterson is a marketing genius (http://www.baronseries.com/).

15. ReShonda Tate Billingsley (http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/), Sophia Simmons (http://www.sophiasimmonsonline.com/), Monique Mensah (http://www.moniquedmensah.com/) and Donna Deloney are great writers.

After leaving this conference, I no longer see myself as a training consultant. I now see myself as a writer. I was born to do this and I plan to fulfill the dream. I am a writer on a journey to destiny. How about you?

You are Royalty, so what do you Decree?

2009-04-03T17:31:00.008-04:00

Every since I was in Kindergarten, I knew two things about myself.

1. I was different than the other children and my family members.

2. I was meant to be a queen.

During my formative years, my parents opened our home to those in our hometown who had the desire to transition to a city where jobs were readily available. When I was in the 1st or 2nd grade, my Uncle Martin and his friend were our latest guests and they treated my sister and I like queens. The friend always picked me up and swung me around, which I absolutely loved. He told me that I was a Nubian princess destined for greatness and that when I grew up, I would be a Nubian queen. I was so excited because finally, someone else realized that I was royalty. In my mind, I had known it all along! This was just the boost that I needed. If only my family, friends and classmates would accept this concept, we would all be fine.

My uncle's friend began to explain royalty to me from a secular perspective. He told me that I should travel only in the royal chariot and that my maidservants would feed me the best green grapes, green olives and chunks of cheddar cheese. These were my favorite snacks so he definitely had my attention. My uncle added to this by telling me that I was beautiful and that I should never settle for less. He made sure that I understood that I only deserved the best. You would think that these words would have made me stuck-up and unapproachable, however they did just the opposite. I felt that a queen should be approachable and loyal to her servants so I began to love on people more and more. When I accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and savior of my life, I began to see what being royalty really meant.

As I was worshipping and I heard the words, "You are royalty, so what do you decree?" Immediately, I thought about my uncle and his friend sharing that with me from a secular perspective. I believe that they were imparting my destiny through those prophetic words, as the gifts are given without repentance. Keeping this in mind, I began to recall all of the scriptures related to servants of Christ being royal.

And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. Revelation 1:6

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9

I began to meditate on those words and the Holy Spirit began to speak a prophetic word into my spirit that I have been commissioned to share with my fellow believers.

You are royalty, so what do you decree? I am the King of King and the Lord of Lords and you are mine. Spiritually grafted and adopted into my divine family. I receive you as a joint heir with Jesus and as a holy descendant, you have the right to my fortune. I am your heavenly Father, rich in houses and land. I own the cattle upon a thousand hills and much more. I have promised to provide all of your needs according to my riches in glory. You are royalty, so what do you decree? Delight yourself in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. As you grow in me, my desires become your desires. I grant what is in my will, just praise me and worship me in spirit and in truth. Your destiny is in my hands. You are mine and I am the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. You are royalty, so what do you decree? I have given you the keys to the kingdom. Use them. I have given you access to my throne room. Join me there. I have treasures stored up for you in Heaven. Stop living like a pauper and live like you are rich, because you are. Not just monetarily, but spiritually. You are spiritually rich and you have divine access. Use it. My capacity to bless you is limitless. I can bless you more than you can imagine with your human mind. Tap into the spiritual realm and seek my plan for your life. Declare it and decree it in the heavenlies and it shall be. Through me, your words have the power to unlock your destiny. Be careful what you speak. Remember, you are royalty, so what do you decree?

This word blessed me more than you will ever know! If I were you, I would begin to declare and decree some things over your life, your family and the future generations to come. Isn't it funny how someone can speak something into you as a child and it comes to pass? I am royalty! That's what I declare and decree. I simply want God's will for my life. That's what I decree! What about you?

Are you Aiding and Abetting a Fugitive of the Holy Spirit?

2009-03-31T14:48:00.002-04:00

7 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. Galatians 6:7-8

As I started out my day, I thought about the law of reaping and sowing. How many times do we help people out without consulting the Lord? Many times, we find that the person’s situation continues to get worse as time goes on and we cannot figure out the reason. As believers, we tend to help people no matter what. We will give them our last dime and pray for the Lord to bless us to survive until the next installment of money comes our way. We open our homes, share whatever we have and continually give, give and give. Our forms of outreach ministry all involve giving. The scriptures tell us that it is better to give than receive (Acts 20:35), however, when do we know that we have gone too far with the giving?

In the book of Galatians, the apostle Paul speaks to the law of reaping and sowing. When you live holy, you are sowing spiritual things and will reap spiritual blessings, like eternal life. When you sin, you are sowing to the flesh and will reap corruption. There are some occasions when we overstep our bounds by not being obedient to the Holy Spirit and do not allow the law of reaping and sowing to play its course. So, let’s say if your brother or sister keeps falling into a certain sin and calls you each time to get him out of it. You drop whatever you are doing, not thinking about the Holy Spirit at all to help your brother or sister and guess what? You have officially become an enabler. You are aiding and abetting a fugitive from the authorities when they should be locked up based upon the law of reaping and sowing. Aiding and abetting a fugitive is against the law in all of the United States and according to the Bible. I used a brother or sister in the example, however, parents do this with their disobedient children, children do it with their disobedient parents and some of us will do these things for people we do not even know.

What is our primary offense in this matter? Disobedience to the Holy Spirit. We cannot do what we want to do in the name of helping someone and be disobedient to the Holy Spirit. This causes you to enter into your own cycle of reaping flesh and sowing corruption. Now, you have let someone else’s bad decision to cause you to sin and fall out of favor with the Lord. This has opened the door for Satan to have legal ground in your life.

My brothers and sisters, please pray and seek the Lord on this matter. You may have given Satan legal ground unintentionally. If this is your case, please seek the Father and repent. Do not return to this disobedient behavior no matter how badly the person tries to put a guilt trip on you. Renounce your affiliation with the activities and forgive the person if you feel bitterness rising up in your heart. The next time they call, seek the Lord for the answer before jumping in to bail them out. As Prophet Stanley Jack would say, this is your prophetic bail out plan. Once you begin seeking the Holy Spirit and taking action based upon that direction, you will come up against some challenges, however, you will begin to see the chains that had you bound drop off and you will be free. Whom the Son is set free is free indeed, so I can no longer live like one in bondage. Be free to run, free to dance, free to launch, free to be who God called you to be, doing what God asked you to do and not what you believe or what you are guilted into doing. Freedom! Be free in the Holy Ghost! I would love to hear your testimony about getting free!

Wanted, Jesus Seekers

2009-03-23T11:27:00.006-04:00

The Lord is looking for seekers. Diligent seekers with a heart sold out to Him. He wants those who continually seek His presence and desire His loving kindness. Seek Him with all your heart and all your soul. He is not pleased with idolatry, so burn your graven images. Allow the baptism of fire to permeate your very being. Rid yourself of pollutants and junk that keep you from worshipping Him in Spirit and in truth. Signs and wonders will follow you as you seek Him. Leaving a trail of changed hearts, changed lives and changed circumstances. His desire for seekers is not about us. It’s about glorifying His name and bringing more lives back to Him. The more we seek Him, the more the lost will find Him. Seek the fire, seek the love. Seek Jesus and you will find Him.

That Kooky Prophetic Girl!

2009-03-19T17:57:00.003-04:00

Have you ever felt that there was something strange in the atmosphere. You can't explain it, you just know that it is eerie. Last week, was that kind of week for me. I could not sleep well and wrestled throughout the night with strange dreams. I prayed in the Spirit over and over again, even while driving and doing menial tasks. Then on Friday, I started talking to my husband about Satanic High Days. He looked at me like I was crazy, yet being the sweet person that he is, he listened to me. I was almost in tears as I shared that the Holy Spirit was sharing with me that it was a Satanic High Day. A day of animal and human sacrifice to their god, Satan.

Side Note: The Holy Spirit often reveals things to me that I am reluctant to share with people. Who wants to be known as "that kooky prophetic girl"? Not me! Regardless, the Holy Spirit keeps on doing what He does. Thank you, Jesus! I may not understand it or even like it yet I am willing to do whatever you say! Obedience is the key. So now, I am going to share the rest of this with you all.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, I am telling my husband about Satan's desire to steal God's worship. That's why the cherubim guard the throne (Revelation 4). Not only are they worshipping, they are guarding God's worship. Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty! I share some information that I read in Rebecca Brown's book He Came to Set the Captives Free and how it coincided with the vision from the Holy Spirit.

On Sunday, we went to church and I learned that there was a Psychic Fair right here in Columbus on Friday the 13th. I am not superstitious, yet I am super sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Those people had probably been speaking death into the atmosphere and strange incantations against whomever and we were blatantly sitting back doing nothing. The Holy Spirit impressed it upon my heart that the prayer warriors must start cracking some things in the spirit. Its cool to pray for someones healing or a problem to be solved, but let's get to the root cause. Satan does not like ANYONE and wants EVERYONE to worship him even though he has nothing to offer in return. He hates us, loathes us and deplores us!

Just today, the Holy Spirit showed me a missing person being taken away into a field. The person was placed in the middle of a pentagram. Those surrounding the pentagram were chanting some strange incantation. This lets me know that missing people aren't just killed for no reason or sold as sex slaves at bath houses, they are being sacrificed on Satanic High Days. There are people in high places who are involved in these rituals, too. Don't believe the stories you were told when you were younger! Satan is real and he is waging wars in the heavens, as he is the prince of the power of the air. We serve the most high king, Jesus Christ, and have all power to tread upon serpents and scorpions. We have power to cast out demons and speak life! If you don't believe me, read the book of Mark. Don't read it as literature, read it in the Spirit.

As you read this blog entry, I am praying in the Spirit for you. I pray that the Lord will surround you with a band of angels who are linked together letting no demonic or human spirits penetrate. The name of the Lord is a strong tower, when the righteous run into it they are safe. Blessed be the name of the Lord and His name is Jesus! Call on the name of Jesus and you will be safe from the demonic forces of the world. I pray that you open the eyes of your heart and become more and more sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

That kooky prophetic girl is loving you!

Prepare for Rain

2009-02-03T19:58:00.004-05:00

Hello World! I have one simple question. Why is it that the more holy we live, the more Satan tries to attack? I know the answer, its a rhetorical question that I just felt like typing. As I experience one storm after the other, the Lord's direction is clear. Prepare for rain. This directive is not just for me. I have been commanded to share it with all believers.

How do you prepare for rain? Pray! There was a silly song by MC Hammer years ago. The lyrics were simply "You gotta pray just to make it today!" As I have so gracefully aged over the years, MC Hammer's words continually resonate in my mind. Prayer is not only a necessity, its an essential! An essential part of the life of the believer. So, when you are feeling discouraged and down, remember the famous words of MC Hammer! Then tell the Lord, "God of wonders beyond our galaxies, you are holy! There is none like you, Lord! Lord of Heaven and Earth! You reign and have dominion over it all! Do your will in my life, Lord because I surrender all."

Prepare for rain, my friends, because the storms will keep coming! Don't get wet! Stay dry under the umbrella of Jesus Christ!

I saw Jesus in Mexico

2009-01-24T23:13:00.006-05:00

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were in San Diego and decided to drive down to Mexico. A few years ago, we went to Reynosa, Mexico on a missionary trip, so we were extremely excited to see a different part of that country. Exciting to meet new people and check out the Mexican scenery, we drove to the border, parked and walked over. We literally walked into Tijuana without having to go through immigration at all. We were surprised because in Reynosa, they were a little more inquisitive about why we were entering their country.

While we were there, we caught a taxi to an area called "The Revolution". The driver was wonderful. He only charged us $5 and told us about how the economy was declining there just like it is in America. He said that he drove semi-trucks in America but he missed his family so he moved back to Tijuana. He started driving a taxi and made at least $150 per day and was able to support his family. Now, he is lucky to make $50 per day, which is one-third of his original take home pay. Needless to say, things were tight. The Revolution is an open market area where Mexican vendors sell their products to tourists and natives. The taxi driver said that tourists rarely come over and as a result, the economy is taking a big hit. When he dropped us off, he advised us to only use the yellow taxis because the other companies were not as good. I saw Jesus in Mexico!

We walked down the street towards the market area. An older gentleman greeted us and complimented Fred on his Steelers gear. He showed us some beautiful silver jewelry and allowed us to bargain to get it at a good price. His son-in-law owned a leather store so we stopped by to see what he was selling. They were watching the Eagles and the Cardinals game on a small TV. The store was in a building and it was immaculate. He sold leather clothing, hats, key chains, purses, backpacks, ponchos, cowboy gear and a number of other things. We made some purchases and then went to catch a taxi to get back to the border before it was dark.

When hailing a taxi, we ended up in a white taxi, forgetting the advice that the yellow taxi driver gave. Once inside the white taxi, the driver was aloof and not nearly as friendly as the yellow taxi driver. I tried to make conversation with the minimal Spanish that I know. I noticed that he had pictures of Jesus all over his taxi, so I simply said, "Ah, Christo!" The driver immediately perked up and said "El es mi amigo!" I said "Magnifico!" This time, I thought I saw Jesus in Mexico, but he turned out to be a wolf in sheep's clothing!

I was talking away and my husband tapped my shoulder then pointed to the meter which was reading $20 by now. We also noticed that the other driver's meter did not move nearly as fast. By the time we arrived at the border, the cost of this 12 minute ride was $39! I was not only angry about the cost, I was angry that he claimed to be a believer and lived a life of deception, taking advantage of American tourists. This is what a failing economy can do to a person! This is a message for all of us as we are dealing with this recession.

What's the lesson here? The Lord sent the yellow taxi driver to show us the way at minimal cost and we ignored his advice and ended up getting ripped off by the white taxi driver. God sent his son to die for our sins at minimal cost to us and we ignore him daily! Why can't we just listen to the Lord? If we would just listen, we would not be taken advantage of by Satan! I saw Jesus in Mexico because Fred held his temper and did not pulverize this man! I saw Jesus in Mexico because we were able to show this man the love of Christ even though we knew he was ripping us off. I saw Jesus in Mexico because the border patrol agent allowed us to walk through with our goods and a simple warning even though we had purchased a bag that was not copyrighted. I saw Jesus in Mexico!

Land of the Free and Home of the Brave

2009-01-16T01:43:00.004-05:00

Oh beautiful for spacious skies and amber waves of grain.

For purple mountains majesty above the fruited plain.

America, America - God shed His grace on thee.

And crowned thy good with brotherhood from see to shining sea.

Such a beautiful song! Our country is so great that it is finally working on racial issues. An African-American man will be sworn in as president of the United States in less than a week. A beautiful song, yet quite deceiving. In our National Anthem, America is described as the land of the free and the home of the brave. People came here to start a new life and live in a new world. They wanted this beautiful land and all of its natural resources so badly that they stole it from under the nose of the Native Americans. It did not just happen once or twice, it happened over and over again. We always want what's not ours!

We have stripped California dry of all of the gold we can find. We are pumping all of the oil out of Texas and talking about drilling in Alaska. We light camp fires when we are told not to and cause forests and houses to burn down to the ground. Now, this same place that we "worshipped" for its beauty is being stripped day by day of its natural resources because we are too greedy to restrain ourselves and stop feeding our wordly desires. Why is this happening? We are worshipping the creation and not the creator? Why must be so full of greed?

Singing this song makes me feel like a Siren from Greek mythology. The Sirens sang beautifully and lulled sailors to their death beds. We have been so busy living the life and singing the song that we are about to lose our rights. We are not just going to lose them, we are going to hand them over for our "protection". We have already started to do so!

My fellow Americans, don't allow the Sirens to lull you in. Be vigilant, steadfast and unmmovable, always abounding in the love of Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah and He will return for His church. Will you be ready or will you still be singing the song?

Eat the Whole Scroll

2008-12-03T00:23:00.001-05:00

Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit.

Jeremiah 2:11

Today, I was listening to the radio and had the pleasure of hearing a news reporter quote the beliefs of Christians who voted in the most recent presidential election. This young man shared some interesting ideas that were quite disturbing. For instance, he shared that older Christians are passionate about social isses such as pro-life and bans on gay marriages, while younger Christians are passionate about alternatives to abortion as opposed to the pro-life stance and they find gay marriages to be acceptable. I have to admit that I was taken aback by his statement because if this is true, we are deciding that we do not want to eat the whole scroll. We seem to accept some sins because the scroll is sweet but not others because the scroll is bitter. Who has bewitched us to think that sin is acceptable? I am disturbed by this! Not because I am perfect but because I too was guilty of this sin! I immediately repented and asked the Lord to forgive me for condoning selective sin. Suddenly, my spirit became grieved because we have allowed Satan to enter in to our society and tell us what to accept and not to accept.

The workplace diversity programs have dictated what we can and cannot do for too long! I will no longer be a slave to being politically correct, especially in a time like this! Our pet demons cannot be cuddled when it is convenient! We must be delivered, preach deliverance and administer deliverance at a moment's notice! No longer can we stand by and be closet Christians who are afraid to share the WHOLE SCROLL IN LOVE! Bitter or not! Jesus saves and cleanses us from sin. He does not desire that we keep living the way that we once did. He does not desire that we condone the sins that are convenient for us. Being lukewarm is not an option! Live a holy life for Jesus! This is our reasonable service! Will you join me in eating the whole scroll or do you just want the part that's sweet? The Lord says that there is a way that seems right to a man in his own mind, but the way thereof is death. I want to live and want you to live, too! Eat the whole scroll to breathe life into yourself and those around you!

Lovin' you like Jesus Christ!

Dare to be like Daniel!

2008-11-16T22:55:00.006-05:00

Hey World!

Lately, I have been thinking on holiness. How can I be holy despite all of the temptations thrown my way and all of the evil that goes on in this world? There are days when I feel like throwing in the towel, but then a small, still voice reminds me of whose I am and I can make it another day. In my prayers, I have sought the Lord on this subject because I thirst for Him so much. I desire to love on Him, please Him and to know His mysteries. He encouraged me to read the book of Daniel. I thought that was strange because I have read that book so many times. The Lord promised me that this time would be different because I am now ready to have some mysteries revealed to me.

I began reading and just in the first verse, I learned something new. I continued to read and learned even more. The Lord has recently revealed the prophetic seer gifting to me and now I have a different understanding of Daniel. Reading it this time, I no longer looked at it from the perspective of an administrator or teacher. In addition, I know see how he is giving people all kinds of information through visions and dreams, and because there is minimal fasting or seeking the Lord or teaching on this subject, people are thinking that they just had a dream. They, like me, are not realizing that these dreams reveal so much more than we ever knew.

I encourage you to seek the Lord about your dreams. Begin writing them down as soon as you wake up and see the Lord moving in your life. I would love to hear some testimonies on this subject! Remember, he promised us dreams and visions in His word. Dare to be like Daniel! Seek the Lord, live holy even if it means your life and eat healthy to keep your mind free from clutter. I can't wait to hear about these awesome dreams and visions that He releases your to share!

Have a blessed day!

From Idol Worship to Generational Curse to Deliverance!

2008-11-10T00:09:00.004-05:00

Good morning, world! It's me, again! I am so excited about my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He keeps giving me these awesome revelations. I have been reading I and II Kings to learn more about the kings of Judah and Israel. For some reason, King Jeroboam was continually mentioned. It seemed that most of the kings of Israel, whether they were faithful to God or not, continued to allow a false worship system set up by Jeroboam to continue. I thought to myself, this system must have been deep so I did a refresher reading with prayer, fasting and meditation to get a deeper understanding of this text.

Well, I found out that Jeroboam was the first king of Israel when God split the northern and southern kingdoms. Since Jeroboam was afraid that Israel would want to go back under the kingship of the House of David, he came up with a scam to prevent them from going to Israel. He had two golden calves made and instituted a system of false worship with priests, sacrifices, shrine prostitutes, etc. etc. and the people willingly accepted worshipping created idols they could see in place of worshipping the invisible God who is the creator of ALL things. This system was so deep because it was built upon deception and convenience. Since they could worship close to home, they did not worry about traveling to Jerusalem. Once again, they compromised for convenience and visibility.

This system was so deep that it continued to affect the future generations and they could not completely wipe it out no matter what they did. Those kings who were loyal to God did not even wipe it out. My holy ghost imagination tells me that some were afraid while others believed there was no harm, similar to when Catholics evangelized people from tribes and lifestyles of pagan worship and allowed them to mix it in with their worship of Jesus Christ. This is not appropriate behavior and it results in generational curses. Just like these people could not stop their idol worship, it is not happenstance that there are generations of people having children out of wedlock, dealing with addictions, struggling with their self image and/or stuck in the welfare system.

How many times have we allowed someone or something to keep us from praying, reading our Word, fasting or going to the house of God? How many times have we fallen into idol worship by focusing on what is tangible instead of the intangible? How many bad decisions do we make based upon someones bad advice? Each time we do any of those things, we are setting up our own idols and systems of false worship. As a result, we are bringing generational curses upon our family, just like Jeroboam caused a generational curse to be upon the people of Israel.

After all of this information, what is the call to action? Brothers and sisters, please join me in a quest to stay pure and continue to seek the one and only true God, Jesus Christ! Many of us believe that we have no idols. This may be the case, but just in case there is an unknown factor, please seek the Lord and ask Him to reveal it to you so that you can renounce it, bind it and send the affiliated spirit on its happy way into the abyss from which it came. It may even be an idol established by our family members in the past that we may not know about. Ask the Lord to reveal it.

I was praying for someone a few months ago and I heard drums in my head each time I went to lay hands on their head (the Holy Spirit revealed that this person's thought life was being afflicted by Satan). I stopped the prayer and asked the person if he heard drums. He said no, so I knew it was an unknown stronghold over his life at that point. I started asking him questions about his family history and he shared that there were two women in the family who never married and were involved in some activity that no one ever talked about. I immediately sought the Lord and began to bind that witchcraft spirit and the word curses that have been placed over his life. I directed the spirits to leave him and forbid them re entrance. I sent them to the abyss from which they came and began to minister deliverance. He said that his mind was so free at that point. He had not thought that clearly in years. When we listen to the voice of the Lord, we can help people be delivered from these generational curses.

My simple call to action is this - Let's abandon our self-made idols and return to the Lord!

Love ya!

Big Government or Federalism?

2008-10-17T13:33:00.001-04:00

As I was watching the presidential debate this week, Senator McCain, made an interesting statement on an extremely important and controversial issue. He said, “I am a federalist and I believe the states should decide”. As a Christian, I am not sure that I can support federalism. This type of thinking has led to many inconsistencies in the administration of the same programs and laws throughout the United States. For instance, if you are a homosexual couple in Ohio who desires to be married, it is quite illegal. However, if you hop over to California and take up residency there for the proper amount of time, you and your same sex boo can tie the knot legally.

Let’s consider this from a biblical perspective. Federalists believe that the states have the right to set their own agendas and determine the handling of issues, rather than trying to impose a nationally uniform solution (http://www.wikipedia.com/). For instance, presidential nominee John McCain, a self-proclaimed federalist, has us fooled because in one breath he supports the overturning of Roe vs. Wade and in another breath, he supports each state making that decision. Christians, do not be fooled by either candidate’s attempt to sway your vote based upon your Christian principles that neither candidate truly possesses. I understand that the country was founded based on federalist principles, however, we also know that most of our founding fathers were deists. They believed that God created the earth and does not interfere with its normal operation. Many of them did not even believe in the concept of Heaven or Hell. Their beliefs are similar to the Universal Unitarians of today. In other words, they do not have the understanding of Jesus like we do. If the “states” are “united” than why operate in federalism. Embrace the principles in scripture and let the scriptures be our law!

If the federalists were a Christian denomination, their train of thought would lend to the idea of relative thought versus absolute truth. Think about it. That’s why we have so many denominations and ways of thought today. I am an advocate of big government, allowing the United States government to ensure the consistency of the administration of programs and laws throughout the country. When I mentioned this to a friend, she reminded me that most dictatorships start that way. I thought about Fidel Castro and Saddam Hussein and I had to admit that she was right. Then a revolutionary thought came to my mind. I would not mind being under a dictatorship if that rule was based upon the absolute authority of the Word of God as written in our Holy Bible. Under the Bible’s absolute authority, there is no room for federalism or relative thinking. Renee Descartes famous saying, “I think, therefore I am”, would be disputed by the biblical truth that the Lord created you and that is why you exist, not just because you think. There would be no room for evolution being taught in our classrooms because it is not a biblical truth. Also, the definition of marriage would not be disputed because “It is written” as a union between one man, Adam, and one woman, Eve.

It is important that as Christians, we embrace the concept that in our lives, God is our absolute authority and the Bible outlines His stance on every issue of life. Do you believe in Big Government or are you a Federalist? I trust you will see this from a different perspective after reading this blog.

An Economic Euroclydon!

2008-10-12T22:50:00.002-04:00

The prophetic word that the Lord, Jesus Christ, spoke through Prophetess Madeline Sanders keeps ringing in my head - Economic Euroclydon. I had to check it out in the word, for myself. I wanted to see why she said it with so much passion and now I know.
It is an economic crisis on the level of the winds described in Acts 27:14. A typhoon or whirlwind beyond what we can understand, especially in this part of the country.

Just imagine how our economy is going to be turned upside down. It is going to be so shocking to some, but not for us. Perry Stone had a dream about a famine in the land. The video has been removed from his website, of course. I'm sure he ticked someone off. However, the synopsis is below. When those economic winds blow our way and famine is in the land, we must remember that Jesus promised to supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory. He is giving us wisdom to make provision! Love y'all!

Is There A Silent Famine Sweeping the Globe?

A few weeks ago while watching FOX news, I was amazed to see where food shortages were occurring in Egypt, Afghanistan and even in small Gulf States. I immediately thought back to a few years ago when my father was in deep, intercessory prayer. He was overwhelmed with a burden and was uncertain the purpose of the spiritual pressure he was sensing. After praying in the Holy Spirit, he arose from his knees and announced, “The Lord has revealed that there is coming a famine, and it will be especially strong in nations that have fought Israel and the Jewish people.”Dad was so persistent concerning the importance of this warning that I asked him to appear on our Manna-Fest telecast and reveal the warning the Lord had given him. We then told the leaders, especially in the Gulf States and the Arab world, to prepare additional reserves of food that would be needed to help their people.The

Reason for Famine

When one thinks of famine, we think of a traditional famine caused by severe drought and lack of rain. This famine however, has been birthed not just by a lack of rain, but by something strange and somewhat bizarre. Here are some recent statements:“From India to North Korea to Pakistan, even in New York City, higher grain prices, fertilizer shortages and rising energy costs are combining to spell hunger for millions in what is being characterized as a global “silent famine.”One of the causes of the famine – bio-fuels or using corn for fuel instead of food!Recently, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), said bio-fuels “posed a real moral problem” and called for a moratorium on using food crops to power cars, trucks, and buses. Jean Zieglar, who is a special reporter for the right to food said, “Producing bio-fuels is a crime against humanity.”What many American do not know is according to a report in USA Today and articles written by ABC News, the grain reserves in the United States are now at their lowest levels since World War II. America has stockpiled grain for many years. At times this grain would be sold to nations during difficult times. Our stockpiles are going out the door faster than we can make them, in fact 15 times faster than normal.The reason bio-fuels are to blame is that many U.S. farmers are now using their precious farm land to grow corn used for bio-fuels and not corn used for food. The government is subsidizing the farmers with 51 cent for every gallon. This has caused several problems that were not anticipated at the beginning of the bio-fuel demand, which was pushed upon us by the environmentalist groups and the Washington Politicians.

- Farmers are growing corn for fuel instead of food, thus creating a shortage of needed food corn.

- The grain shortage is affecting hay. Some horse lovers are selling horses because they can’t get hay.
- The politicians apparently never thought about what to do in case a drought hits the farm belt?

The shortage of grains is affecting livestock and cattle farmers.As if this were not enough, in many parts of the nation up to 50% of the honey bees are missing. The scientist researching this strange phenomena list five causes for the honey bee disappearances. This small bee actually pollinates many fruits and vegetables that we enjoy on a weekly basis. In fact one out of every three bites you eat was pollinated by a honey bee! Besides all of this, there have been thousands of independent truck companies (40 trucks or less) that have gone out of business in the past 60 days. They are often hired to deliver food to markets in various areas, including sea food, beef and other items to markets and restaurants.

Perry Stone
voefeedback@voe.org

Who is God in America?

2008-10-08T00:38:00.001-04:00

God is mentioned in so many aspects of our lives. Specifically, when it comes to the documents drafted by our founding fathers. Who was there God? I am not quite sure, but I know for a fact that it was not Jesus. Many of our founding fathers were deists. They believed that God created the earth, however He did not deal with its normal operations. I have to pause to say, that's not the God I serve. They also believed that God's greatest gift to man was the ability to reason and have compassion.
Thomas Paine wrote a book expressing many of these beliefs. For this reason, we have churches such as the Unitarian Universalists and many others misleading people down the wrong path, away from Jesus Christ, the Messiah! As a result, the world moved from the Bible being the authority on absolute truth to relative thinking, which has manifested itself as free thinking.
I am here today to tell you that free thinking will send you straight to a burning hell! We must repent and be baptized in the name of Jesus, for His kingdom is at hand! If you died today, do you know where you would spend eternity? If not, try Jesus! He can give you the gift of eternal life. Its going to cost your something, though - your very life! He wants people who are willing to not be conformed to the ways of the world, but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. He wants some R12 Christians who will fight the good fight and live holy, adorning His doctrine before a group of people who are lost to relative thinking. Will you answer the call to salvation? Jesus can't wait to see you in His presence!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Minister Sherrice

Move! Get out the way!

2008-09-09T23:55:00.000-04:00

Hello World! I read Isaiah 6 and was truly blessed by the prophetic, yet timley, message. When and only when King Uzziah died did Isaiah see the Lord. Even though he was a holy king and a man of God, he had to die for Isaiah to get the the next phase in the ministry. There are many people in our way that we allow to block us from seeing the Lord, yet, we can block our own victory, as well. Many of you are asking, "How do we block the victory, Minister Sherrice?". We block the victory when we succumb to the ways of the flesh. The flesh will never be satisfied no matter how much you feed it. We must stop allowing our stinky, filthy, nasty flesh to keep us from seeing the Lord. It is impossible to satisy so why do we keep feeding it? Because it feels good and we tend to go after what we can feel versus and serving an invisible God, whom we cannot see. Our obedience is key because through it, He will bless us, lead us, guide us and reveal more mysteries.

Who has to die in order for you to see the Lord? What are you willing to sacrifice? How much are you willing to give our yourself and your substance?

I want to see the Lord sitting on His throne. I want to see the train of the temple that filled the place. I know many of you want this too. How do you get there? Seek the Lord's face in praise and worship. The way you live will determine whether or not you get to the place that God has for you! People of God, please worship the Lord in the beauty of His holiness. Lay prostrate before Him and exalt His name on high! Adore Him like He deserves to be adored. Tell Him that you love Him and that He is your king forever!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Minister Sherrice

Spiritual Antidotes for Satanic Viruses

2008-09-01T23:49:00.002-04:00

II Corinthians 10:1-6

While preparing for next week's Bible Study lesson, I was overwhelmed with the desire to share some information with you in a blog. I am so amazed at how Satan tries to attack us through our thoughts. He constantly tries to distract us from the true work of the kingdom by tempting us to focus on carnal things instead of spiritual things. The scripture tells us that the weapons we should use to fight Satan are not carnal but spiritual. Through Jesus, we can can pull down his strongholds and speak against those things that Satan has planned against us. He plants this information in our mind, like a virus. Our job is to use the antidotes to attack the virus and get cured. What are the antidotes? The Word of God, the power of prayer and the direction of the Holy Spirit. Stop allowing Satan to control your thoughts! Renew your mind to have the mind of Christ! If you do this, you will become dead to the wrong things people do to you. Instead of scheming on how to get revenge, you will be praying for their forgiveness. Renewing your mind will help you take those negative thoughts into captivity. Instead of stewing in your anger, you will rejoice in the Lord, always! It also means that you will see problems as opportunities to overcome, glorifying the Lord, Jesus Christ. Instead of crying and complaining, you will praise the name of Jesus from the rising of the sun, until the going down of the same.
Over the next few months, I will be working on a book that will reveal the truth about Satan's evil kingdom and the fact that he's already defeated. If you would like to share your testimony on this subject, please respond to this blog. Either way, I would like to hear your thoughts!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

To Vote or not to Vote? That is the Question!

2008-08-24T20:14:00.001-04:00

Soon, it will be election time. Many of us know exactly which candidate will get our vote, while others may not be so sure. There are a few of us who have said that they are not voting this year. I have been thinking about the latter position quite deeply and want to be sure that we are praying before we make that decision.
As Christians, we have a dual citizenship. We are citizens of Heaven and we are citizens of our country.

In Matthew 22:15-22, the Pharisees were trying to get Jesus to speak against the government by asking whether or not a believer should pay taxes. Jesus said we should render unto Caesar what Caesar is due and render unto God what God is due. This speaks to our dual citizenship. Our responsibility to Jesus and our responsibility to our country. If we as Christians stop participating in the political system, this will give the world the edge they need to be even more corrupt than they already are. We are the moral and spiritual barometers of the world. Without us, more unborn babies would be dying and people living unholy lifestyles would have no one to remind them of Jesus' original design for their lives and marriage.

No matter what your decision is on November 4th, I admonish you to pray with an open mind. This means that you have to be indifferent to your own opinion and ideas and open to what the Lord has to say! He will show you that the Bible clearly gives direction for Christian conduct. Remember, we can share that information with the world, but we cannot force them to adhere to it. Last but not least, remember that these times have been prophesied in scripture. There is nothing new under the sun.

I hope you have been encouraged to pray and seek the Lord before making a decision based upon emotions, race, gender or personal beliefs. God is allowing both candidates to run for some reason that even I do not understand and we must ask Him who he wants in the position. His answer may be a surprise! I would like to hear your views on this subject. Please comment.

Lovin' you like Jesus!

You Can't Beat God's Giving!

2008-08-19T15:48:00.002-04:00

Giving from your heart is such a key principle in our Christian walk and it has been demonstrated to me this week. I am a firm believer that the tithe was for the Levites. Since we no longer have Levites, the Holy Spirit placed it on our heart as a family to step up our giving based upon the principles outlined in II Corinthians 9:7. It is amazing what happens when we do what the Holy Spirit says instead of being so ritualistic.

Here we are as a family, having Bible Study each Monday evening at 7PM and our family members started inviting others. The Lord has truly blessed and our family ministry is growing to encompass those outside of our bloodline. People have been saved, filled with the Holy Ghost, delivered from addictions and other strongholds and have formed closer relationships with the Lord. Our lives have been changed by sharing our home and the Word of God with others. We are growing and changing our lives for Christ, as well. We have not only been blessed beyond belief, we have been attacked by Satan like you would not believe, yet we still press on in the name of Jesus, doing His mighty work.

As a teacher, I love visual illustrations, so I was praying about buying a whiteboard to use during the Bible Study and when I minister at retreats or other churches. They are rather expensive and as always, there is another bill that needs to be paid. This week, I was able to purchase the white board! Guess what? It was on sale! I was talking to my sister in Christ, Kelli Young, while I was making the purchase and I was just so excited. We broke in the white board by drawing a chart to compare the Eastern and Western Worldview with God’s Worldview (Proverbs 14:12 and Proverbs 16:1-3). Those who were at the Bible Study enjoyed the visual and said that it added to their understanding. Look at Jesus!

Here’s the kicker…someone from the Bible Study came up to me to give me a hug. He placed some money in my hand and said, “My wife and I want to sow into your family’s ministry”. I was ready to shout because we love the Lord and do not do this for monetary gain. My husband and I are blessed with full-time jobs that pay quite well. But nevertheless, yesterday, I experienced an overflow! When everyone left, I showed my husband the offering and to our surprise, it was for the same amount that we had paid for the white board! Thank you, Jesus! The first thing that came to my mind was a song we used to sing at Liberty Hill Baptist Church every Sunday when I first accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of my life…You can’t be God’s giving. No matter how you try! The more you give, the more He’ll give to you. Just keep on giving because its really true!

Loving you like Jesus!

Minister Sherrice Thomas

Someone's Waiting on You!

2008-08-11T23:15:00.001-04:00

Last night, at our family Bible Study, the Lord was using me to teach, but I learned something, too. He blessed me to learn that He wants us to be vulnerable and share the very problem we are trying to hide.

Before today, I was not a fan of testimony services because I thought that people just said a bunch of silly things that did not amount to a hill of beans. Especially those who tend to be long winded. I praise the name of Jesus because today, I learned something different! If you follow the guidance of the Holy Spirit, telling what He tells you to tell to whom He tells you to tell it, then miraculous things happen. The spirit of bondage will be broken in your life and the life of others!
Whom the son is set free is free indeed!

You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free!

The truth is the Word of God!

Satan can only use it if you refuse to lose it!

Someone is waiting on you! Stop embracing that spirit of fear and embrace the Spirit of God! Tell your story like only you can! You will be surprised at the changes that take place in your life and the lives of others.

Love ya!

All that Babel!

2008-07-21T22:12:00.001-04:00

How many times have you heard sayings like, "Let's Stay Together", "Be on One Accord" or "Work as a Team"? There are times when we can be on one accord but not working for the common good that God has called us to. Picture this. A team of young men and ladies have a common goal, they want to be rich. To accomplish this goal, they formulate a plan and decide to rob a bank. Are they on accord? Yes! This is proof that being on one accord about the wrong thing is not a good idea.

In Genesis 10, we read about Nimrod the mighty warrior and all of the lands he conquered and ruled. According to Prophetess Madeline Sanders' work entitled Daughter of Abraham, Nimrod was the first world ruler. In Genesis 11, we find that everyone on earth at that time spoke the same language, so communication was at its best and they were on one accord. Their goal was to build a tower that reached Heaven so that they could stay together and not be scattered abroad. In theory, this does not sound like a bad idea, however, it went against God's command in Genesis 9:1 to be fruitful, multiply and replenish the earth. They could not do this if they all stayed in one place. Once again, they were on accord, but in a state of disobedience. God knew that a people on one accord could do anything that they put their minds to, so to help them out of their sin, He confounded their language to cause a communication barrier and scattered them across the earth to prevent their clannish behavior. As a result, the tower building ceased.

In our comfort zone, we want to be part of a crowd and have a sense of belonging. This is not a bad thing if we focus on the Lord Jesus Christ as our source. It becomes a bad thing when we look to people as our source. If God has given us a command, we cannot allow our selfish desires to stop its progress because His will will be done regardless. So family and friends, I challenge you to understand on which things we should be on one accord and on which things we are called to do alone. When Nimrod led these people into disobedience, he led them into idolatry and pagan worship and it has been off the chain every since. Let's stop leading one another into sin and start leading one another to a right relationship with God. Listen to the Holy Spirit who dwells on the inside and not to the plans and schemes of man who live on the outside.

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Minister Sherrice

Restoring God's People to Righteousness

2008-07-12T23:15:00.001-04:00

Imagine what the slaves must have felt like on the day that they learned about the Emancipation Proclamation. This document set them free from the plantation owners rule. For some, it was a time to celebrate. For others it was a time to cry. Yet still for many, it was a time of utter confusion. Even though they were free, most of them did not have a place to go or a purpose, so they ended up being sharecroppers. We all know that this institution was nothing more than a legalized version of slavery.

Being set free by a man does not guarantee you anything but that freedom. Know this! When God sets you free from someone or something, he gives you a purpose and a plan. Today, we are going to learn about the Israelites being set free from foreign rulers. We will discuss the purpose and the plan that God had for them. Abraham Lincoln could not do for the slaves what God did for the children of Israel. Why? Because he gave man’s version of freedom, not God’s!

As a result of their disobedience to God, the Israelites were in captivity under Babylonian rule for approximately fifty years. God’s chosen people were now forced into a life in an idolatrous nation. Despite their living conditions, God still expected them to live amongst these foreigners and live different lives to avoid being overtaken by the sin in the culture.

When the Persians conquered the Babylonians, Cyrus, the new king, permitted Israelites in captivity to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple and establish homes for themselves. For those who wanted to stay in his land, he ordered them to help by financially supporting this mission. Finally, there was a king who gave them their freedom. Rebuilding the temple was important to the Jewish people as the temple was the place where God dwelled. While in exile, there were some who held tight to the belief that the Lord would deliver them while there were others who had given up. Whatever the case may be, they were excited to restore the place of worship so that they could feel the presence of God again.

Despite many challenges, the Israelites worked hard to rebuild the temple and eventually completed it. This process took approximately 18 years. Darius was the Persian king who was ruling during that time. He sent Ezra to establish a government based upon the word of God (Ezra 7:25-26). You and I both know that this was God’s divine plan to restore his people to true worship. Who was this man called Ezra? He was a scribe and a descendant of Moses’ brother Aaron. His name meant “God is a help” and it was befitting as he would live out his life displaying the virtue of this name. He was highly respected in his community. He worked as a government official in Babylon, where he was also held in high regard because of his dedication to God and his work ethic. Many of think that what we do at work or school is secular and the other aspects of our lives are holy. Reading the book of Ezra will help you see that God sees our whole life as holy and we should live it accordingly.

King Darius sent Ezra and a number or Israelites to Jerusalem. Before they traveled, Ezra called a fast so that they could be humble before God and pray for wise guidance for the journey (Ezra 8:21). The rest of chapter 8 tells us that Ezra organized the people and gave them orders. Then they worshipped by offering a burnt offering to the Lord. In chapter 9, the leaders come to Ezra and share that the Israelites who were living in Jerusalem while the temple was being rebuilt have allowed the ways of their neighboring pagan nations to sneak into their lives.
One major concern was the intermarriages between the Jews and the pagan nations. The concern was not about interracial marriages, but more about interfaith marriages. God specifically told the Hebrews not to marry their pagan neighbor, yet they disobeyed. Why? For convenience, money and/or a sense of false peace. Not only did the laypeople commit this sin, the leaders were among the first to commit it. These Hebrews had united with enemies of God. Similar to what we do when we decide to allow the ways of the world to take over our lives through the wrong kind of music or television and the company that we keep.
Something had to be done about this situation! The people must be restored to righteousness. Without the denial of the flesh, Ezra would not have been clear on the plan or able to clearly see the condition of the Hebrews. People of God, if you want clarity in this life and you want to get closer to God start with a fast!

How did Ezra accomplish such a great task of restoring God’s people to righteousness?

1. He mourned for their sin.
In Ezra 9:3-5, he mourns for a period of time because he feels the same way about sin that God feels about sin. When we see our loved ones in a fault, we should not be mad at them personally, we should be mad at the sin that they have allowed to overtake their lives. When you focus on being saddened by the sin and not the sinner, you can do God’s will in the situation. In II Corinthians 7:10, the apostle Paul tells us that godly sorrow works repentance. If we repent before the Lord, we will be changed. Ezra’s godly sorrow would eventually lead to the repentance of the people in sin.
2. He interceded on their behalf.
In Ezra 9:6-15, we see a true leader in action. His reaction caught the attention of the people and they set around him until the evening sacrifice to see what he was going to do. Ezra did what a good believer does best, he prayed. He interceded on the behalf of his brothers and sisters in the faith, just like we should when we come across sin in the camp. He did not gossip, he did not stop talking to them, he did not treat them badly. Ezra simply prayed. After his prayer, the people were convicted and began to cry tears of godly sorrow. The leaders and priests let Ezra know that they were behind him and asked him to take charge so he called a meeting for all of the returning exiles to meet in Jerusalem in three days.
3. He exposed their sins through the Word of God and offered a solution
In Ezra 10:10-11, he reveals the sin to the people, instructing those who are outside the will of God in this situation to separate themselves from their pagan wives. Can you imagine being told that you have to leave your wife and family? I couldn’t! Especially since God is not excited about divorce. In this case, he put it upon the hearts of the leaders to take extreme measures to purify themselves since their marriages were sinful. You cannot be married to the enemy and dedicated to your savior at the same time. Think of it this way, these people came from lives of polytheism and pagan worship. The pagan worship rituals included fornication, adultery, child sacrifice, illicit drug use, castration, swindling and many other strange activities which were all not like God. Could you imagine being in your house praising the name of Jesus and your spouse whips out a golden calf and begins to bow down to it. It just won’t work! Your children will be confused, first of all. Second, one person is going to have to convert to the others belief and lifestyle. And we all know that in most cases, the Christians tend to go the way of the world. God knew this and forbid the intermarriages in the first place. This seems harsh, but it had to be done. In these days, we would say, it does not take all that, but trust and belief that living a lifestyle of holiness does take all that and if we keep saying that it does not, then we are not reading what the Word of God says about how we should live our lives.
Ezra did not just stop here. In the book of Nehemiah, we find that when the Hebrews were working to rebuild the wall around the city of Jerusalem, Ezra was sharing the word of God with them. He was an awesome teacher and he made sure that his people learned how to live a holy and righteous life. Now that’s a mighty man of God!
In Deuteronomy 6:1-6, Moses told the Hebrews to read the word of God and shared the importance. Ezra was passing this same message down to this generation and we must do the same in ours! Read that text today to learn what we must do to preserve the purity of our families. It applied then and it applies now.
People of God, if we are in this world, we cannot be of this world. Every Christian is an evangelist and a disciple in one way shape or form. It’s our job to fast, intercede for others and show people what God says about their situation including how he can fix it. Just like Ezra, we are called to restore God’s people to righteousness. Will you answer the call?

Do You Want to See Your Family Die?

2008-07-07T23:30:00.001-04:00

Hello!

Yesterday, I visited a local church in my neighborhood. The sermon was entitled Family Matters and Deuteronomy 6:1-6 was the scriptural text. The text spoke to staying in the Word of God, sharing it with your children and talking about God everywhere you go. The pastor said, "Witnessing to your family members increases the opportunity that you will see them in the New Jerusalem". Of course, I can't be basic in my thoughts and my first thought was "Do You Want to See Your Family Die?". If we do not share the gospel with them, that is exactly what will happen - they will die a spiritual death.

We have a Bible Study in our home each Monday night and we started praying about the mission in relation to this Bible Study. The Lord showed me that it is now our personal mission to be sure that we share the gospel with each unsaved member of my family at least once. This means that I have to work even harder to build personal relationships with those who I may not have spent much time with in the past.

When He commissioned me to do this work, many of my family members started coming around more. Fred and I have shared the gospel with those who come and some have accepted and some have not, but we keep trying. Why? Because we don't want to see our family members die.

Do you want to see your unsaved family members die a spiritual death? If not, start sharing the gospel ASAP! Pray John 3:16 and Romans 10:9-10 over your family, be a light in a dark world and share the gospel like there's no tomorrow.

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Prime Before You Paint!

2008-06-30T23:15:00.002-04:00

This weekend, my husband and I were painting the bathroom. Because I like bright colors, it was originally pink. My husband is a man's man and decided it was time to change the color of that pink bathroom. For this reason, we decided to paint, changing the color to bone to make it more neutral. Since we were rushing, we decided not to use a primer to paint over the darker color. Big Mistake! The crazy thing is that we both knew better.

When the first coat was applied, pink streaks were visible underneath the bone color. Immediately, I thought, this is what happens when we try to cover up sin as opposed to seeking the Lord for forgiveness and repenting. For the sake of fun, I'll call this act The Great Cover Up! Jesus is like a primer that should be used when trying to paint over a darker color. Sin has left a crimson stain on our lives, however, Jesus can wash us whiter than snow, if we seek Him. He does not want us to play a starring role in The Great Cover Up so let's get out of line and stop auditioning.

Without a primer, you have to continually paint over and over again to try to overshadow the darker color. It takes a great deal of effort which results in major frustration. The same occurs when we try to deal with our sins without Jesus. We do not have the power to handle it. The Holy Spirit, who lives in the heart of a believer, equips us for this task. We cannot do it without Him. That's why we must prime before we paint instead of not seeking God and doing things on our own. It will save us so much time, money and frustration. If we live holy, we do not have to deal with the guilt and shame of Satan that is associated with The Great Cover Up. Why? Because Jesus has the power to wash away all of your sin!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Just Say No to Satan's Sarcastic Bait!

2008-06-28T12:22:00.001-04:00

Hello Family and Friends! It has been quite a week of conviction! After reading I John 3, I prayed and asked the Lord to show me how I was missing the mark. I love the Lord, don't drink, smoke, do drugs, etc. etc. so I thought I was doing quite well. Of course, that line of thinking comes from the natural man and not the spiritual man. The Lord showed me that I have a serious problem with offense. I am easily offended, especially by those who like to tell jokes and be sarcastic. Even though those people should not do what they do, I still have to show them Christ in my response.

On several occasions, someone has been condescending or sarcastic to me and I have made the mistake of responding to them in the same manner. What seems to happen is that the sarcastic person is ignored by the onlookers since most people have seen them in action and are used to their antics. Instead the attention goes to me with comments such as, "Sherrice, I can't believe you said that". On several occasions, I have allowed this situation to weaken my witness. God forbid! In my natural mind, I kept thinking that this is not fair. Now that I am beginning to renew my mind through the Word of God, I understand that I have to take the higher road. Instead of responding with more sarcasm, I should stop allowing Satan to use that person as bait to offend me and respond in the proper manner to set the example.

These lessons are challenging because it goes against my natural defense mechanism. As a believer, I have to make sure that I use my spiritual mechanism - Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. Instead of immediately responding, my goal is to start saying, Holy Spirit, speak for me or tell me to be silent. By doing this, I will no longer respond in a sarcastic manner. I know this blog is not just for me so for those of us who struggle with this issue, let's read the book of James and agree in prayer. Our goal is to replace sarcasm with words of agape love, no matter how offended we may be by those who Satan is using to set us up.

In high school, we used to participate in DARE which was a drug use prevention program. We were told to "Just Say No". That will be our slogan to remind us to not be hooked by Satan's bait. By doing this, we will begin to glorify God in our words even more! Remember, Just Say No to Satan's Bait!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Is Work a Curse?

2008-06-27T12:17:00.002-04:00

In my role in the corporate world and as a teacher with a counseling spirit, I often hear people complain about their jobs. I have to admit, work is not the most exciting place in the world, however, it concerns me that people let it affect them in such an adverse manner. As I talked to many of these people, I found a common thread. Each of them admitted that they do not start their day with the Lord. Neither do they take period breaks to recharge with scripture or praise songs. As a teacher, I feel responsible for sharing ways to live daily for the Lord AND ways to seek the Lord in combating Satan’s temptations.

Another trend that I noticed was the belief that work is a curse. The justification given came from the account of Adam and Eve’s original sin in Genesis. I challenge those who believe that work is a curse to read Genesis 3:17 again. Since Adam and Even decided for eat from a forbidden source of food, God cursed the work of the ground to yield food, not work. God did not say that work was cursed; He said that the ground was cursed. He promised Adam that he would have to toil to bring life from the ground. Despite this, we know that he provides comfort and rest to those who are obedient to His word. If you do not believe me, check out Genesis 5:29. In this account, Moses, the author, is explaining why God gave Noah his name. The name Noah means rest and comfort. He also said that this shall give him comfort from work since the ground is cursed. I know that we all have moments, but as a Christian we should live in Christ, not those moments. Read I John 3 if you don't believe me. Here are some ways to do that.

Understand that as a believer, you no longer have a sinful nature (II Corinthians 5:17) .
Your nature has been changed so you must actively pursue the renewal of your mind to match your new nature. This is a lifestyle of worship which involves seeking the Lord in all things (Romans 12:1-2). “All things” includes your work life, since it is a part of your lifestyle. Read Ephesians 6:5-8 to help with the attitude of a worker who is serving the Lord. Remember, you work for Jesus not Nationwide, Progressive, The State of Ohio, JP Morgan Chase, Nationwide Energy Partners or wherever you work. Just fill in the blank!
Start your day with the Lord (Proverbs 8:17) in prayer, meditation, reading the word and praising His name.
As you go through the day and face challenges, talk less and pray more (I Thessalonians 5:17). While in a meeting a work, if you are getting frustrated, begin to pray quietly to yourself to bring you mind back in. The Lord will give you a new plan (Proverbs 3:6).
If you miss the mark, do not dwell on that situation. Seek the Lord and repent by telling Him what you did and asking Him to show you ways to avoid falling into that trap again. Dwelling on it is another way that Satan tries to make you think you are more like him than Jesus Christ.
Strive to live without sinning. It is possible because Jesus did it (Hebrews 4:15). I did not believe this until I read I John 3 a few weeks ago, which is quite convicting, by the way. I am working to be more Christ like even more than before as a result of reading this chapter. There is so much more that the Lord has to share with us on this subject, however, this is a blog. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this.

As always, loving you like Jesus!

God Put this on Earth for Us!

2008-06-26T19:49:00.001-04:00

When I was a babe in Christ, I was into movies that I truly had no business watching. A prime example is Friday, starring Chris Tucker and Ice Cube. At this time in my life, a friend of mine had unlimited access to Pay Per View movies and we all watched this movie over and over again. We watched it so much that we knew the lines by heart. Hollywood should have been paying us for free advertising.

In this film, Chris Tucker played a character who was so addicted to marijuana that he turned friends on to the drug and even owed the neighborhood drug dealer, Big Perm, all kinds of money for using the stash he was supposed to sell.

An infamous line from that movie came directly from Chris Tucker (Smokey) when he was challenged about continuing to "puff the magic dragon" - "God put this on earth for us". For some reason, that line came to my mind today. My first thought was - Smokey was crazy! My next thought was - we are always misusing what God put on this earth and then justifying our bad behavior. Ironically, Satan will tempt you with something and if you take the bait, he has the nerve to add an addiction to that thing if we don't watch out.

God put this on earth for us! If we are going to use that logic, let's talk about the one thing that He did put on earth for us to become addicted to and use every day or even more if you so desire. What can that be? The Bible! It has been translated into almost every language in the world and there are thousands of types - The Message, New Living, New International, King James and as if that was not enough, the New King James, New American Standard, and many many more. It gets even better! Not only do we have different languages and types of translations, we also have different people adding their own study notes regardless of denomination. We have Joyce Meyer, Finis Dake, John McArthur, Scoefiled, TD Jakes - What's your flavor?

The Bible is the greatest book of all time! Why? Because God put it on earth for me, you and every other living soul who want to learn more about the Lord and holy living. He wants us to use it so much that we write the words on our hearts, just like my friends and I knew every line to that devilish movie. Eventually, Bibles will not be allowed on this earth. If you don't believe me, read the book of Revelation. With this knowledge, you will see my point. You better learn it and write it on your heart right now while you have a chance!

By the way, Chris Tucker is now a believer and his Smokey days are over! Praise the name of Jesus! Remember, the Bible was put here on earth for us, so use it!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Did I say "Thank You"?

2008-06-25T12:04:00.001-04:00

Jesus is alive and He's on the throne! Praise the name of Jesus! I am so excited to be called His child! Jesus, I just want to take some time to simply say "Thank You"! I am so privileged because without you, I am helpless and worthless, in need of a savior. I thank you for calling me, equipping me and giving me the mind to serve you! Jesus, you are awesome, mighty, holy and worthy of all my praise! You are the lover of my soul and I simply say "Thank You". Without you, I would be lost, lonely and in need of a savior! You live and you are alive and I simply say "Thank You". Without you, I would be sinking deep in sin! I praise your Holy name for who you are, for healing me from my sin sickness and making me white as snow! Did I say "Thank You"? Well, just in case I didn't, I am saying "Thank You" again!

Spiritual Housecleaning

2008-06-25T10:14:00.001-04:00

Hey family and friends! Greetings in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

How many of you have been doing some spring cleaning to spruce up your place? I keep a clean house but had a great deal of clutter in storage spaces. We needed to use that space for another project so we have been literally "cleaning out our closets". As we "cleaned out our closets", we realized that the Lord had set us up. :-) This natural project had a spiritual meaning. Why? Well, what you see visually contributes to how you live your life. We may have been clean on the outside, however, our closets revealed that we had some clutter in our lives. With all that clutter, we did not have an accurate inventory of our belongings. We could not see the good stuff from the bad stuff. Spiritually, it let me know that on a personal level, I needed to clean out some clutter in my mind, my schedule, my friendships and my habits.

Clutter causes you to be blinded to the truth about yourself and others
Getting rid of clutter in the natural helps you see how to do it in the spirit
A cluttered past can cause issues in your life today if not handled properly
Some things need to be thrown away, while others need to be given away
Generational curses can hide in the clutter and cause problems in your life
Taking care of your house makes you eliminate other unnecessary activities
Eliminating the clutter helps you see your friendships and relationships more clearly
Pagan symbolism and spirits from your past can be hiding in your closet - I have to add to this one. Let's talk about pagan symbolism and spirits. You know that stuff from our fraternity and sorority life. Those items that are supposed to empower a specific race or gender. Better yet, if you are married, gifts from an old significant other or pictures of an old significant other. How about indigenous art that we did not understand the meaning when we bought it, but we do now. This one really hurt because I had to throw away half of my doll collection. Oh, I almost forgot to add. You cannot give that stuff away, trash it! If it has a bad meaning from you, it should not be given to someone else. Back to the list - books and games that speak to witchcraft, death and darkness - Harry Potter, Dungeons and Dragons, crazy sexual stuff (sorry for being graphic but ladies, some of those toys need to go in the trash and don't play me like you do not know what I am talking about. Men, get rid of the magazines and only use the internet for pure things).

Cleaning out your closet can have a serious impact on your life! I encourage you to try it and let me know how it works out for you.
Lovin' you like Jesus!
Sherrice

Grandma Molanie's Homegoing Celebration

2008-06-24T17:59:00.002-04:00

What can I say other than "Thank You, Lord for giving me the most beautiful and spirit filled grandma in the world! Family and friends...check out the pics! The homegoing celebration was awesome! Can you believe Brian read Psalm 23 in public? :-) Can you believe that the Sledge brothers sat through an entire service without one complaint! This is how we know there is a God! :-)

Kudos to Aunt Cheryl, Mel and Jordan for all of their hard work. We really appreciate you all!

Have a blessed day!

P.S. Uncle Martin, just as you feared, you are on the internet. HA HA HA!

Jesus is Alive!

2008-06-23T09:24:00.001-04:00

Hello World. I was in church the other day and noticed that more than 100 people were wearning necklaces with Jesus hanging on the cross. Immediately, I was grieved in my spirit. It is unfortunate that we choose to primarily identify with the fellowship of His suffering and ignore the power of His resurrection. Any Bible believing Christian would throw out those pagan symbols and use their life as an example or representation of Jesus Christ, not Jesus Christ crucified on the cross, looking helpless and hopeless. Jesus Christ is alive and well! He was resurrected and ascended into Heaven to take His rightful place on the throne and intercedes on our behalf. So saints, let's throw away those pagan worship symbols and let your life be the representation of Christ!

Lovin' you like Jesus!

Minister Sherrice Thomas