TRACEY'S TRUTH: A Sad Story of a Misguided Youth!

Thought I was sort of immune to absurdities on prime time television.  Not a lot moves me emotionally any more, especially since I've been watching the Dr. Phil Show on a regular basis. You see just about everything there. But the episode he aired on Friday, October 16th  did!

The second story of the hour featuring extreme social media behavior was one about 20 year old Tracey, a beautiful black and confused young lady who thrived on negative attention she got from posting outrageous claims on the internet.

Here's an example: "I love posting crazy things just to get people's reaction," explains Tracey, who has shared details about her body, her hopes of marrying "a rich white guy," and her experience having unprotected sex on social media, for which she says she's proud she received more than 80,000 "likes." 

"I even posted I wanted to get raped just to get attention. Then, I said being raped felt amazing," she says in the video above, pointing out that her post received more than 26,000 likes and 4,000 comments. "Ninety percent of the comments were negative, but I loved it."  (Here's a video clip from the show, copy/paste address in your browser if link doesn't work)

http://www.drphil.com/shows/page/Extreme_Social_Media_Behavior/


Speaking in an exaggerated Valley Girl like cadence, she giggled and recounted her many risky exploits with sheer abandonment...except, if you looked closely you could see a sad and hurt little girl (she acted and looked much younger) that just needed someone to genuinely love her!

I  have to say, I was not impressed with the way Dr. Phil handled it.  Generally, after giving his psychological assessment of the situation, he offers free counseling or resources.  I didn't see that here at all.  After telling her that she had no self worth, no self respect, no self esteem, he left her blowing in the wind! Tracey probably left that show pretty much the way she came. And to be frank, it felt like another venue for public exploitation.  This was her TRUTH and she was determined to live it!

That's what touched me so deeply,  seeing the reality of danger from her behavior in my own personal and church family.  I kept asking myself,  where were her parents at that critical age when she was being bullying? (She did mention that her father was chronically ill and that she didn't get along with her mother--so maybe Mom's attention on caring for father left her with abandonment issues).  Where are we? I'm not placing blame but wondering, are we too, missing red flags?

My Pastor gave a thought-provoking sermon yesterday, Looking At Your House!, Joshua 24:9-15.
A Three point sermon that ought to motivate us all to action:

Point One: EXAMINE YOUR OWN HOUSE, Be a leader, speaker, commander of what goes on in your home! (vs. 14a).  Check the phones, computer cookies, nothing's off limits in your house!

Point Two: STOP MAKING EXCUSES FOR YOUR HOUSE, Stop doing what's comfortable, convenient and culturally acceptable! Excuses don't empower good behavior they enable, bad ones! (vs 15) If you find something awry, do something about it!

Point Three: MAKE A PUBLIC EXHORTATION (Declaration), Your family needs to know what will be tolerated in your house and what won't and stick to your guns!  Like Joshua and the Mama character in the movie, Raisin in the Sun,  don't be afraid to say: IN MY HOUSE, THERE IS STILL GOD!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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WALKING WORTHY...The Goal of Holiness!

I beg you....walk worthy of your calling
(Ephesians 4:1)

I guess I just can't shake this topic of holiness!  This morning I turned to one of my favorite devotionals, In Touch, Dr. Charles Stanley and my fingers went directly to a reading from earlier this week,  Responding to God's Holiness, Isaiah 6:1-8.

Then while studying my Sunday school lesson, I found that our second unit for the quarter is a study on holiness, and the lesson passage again is Isaiah 6:1-8.   I don't believe in coincidences and although I had planned to take a break this week from the blog (recuperating from an outpatient procedure), I feel compelled to share just a few more biblical insights gained from my study.

An old song says:  What the World needs now is Love, Sweet Love, but I beg to differ.  Three college shootings in as many weeks, continued gun violence, war breaking out consistently all over the world...What the world needs is HOLINESS!

I explained last week that holiness had nothing to do with clothes, rituals, or isolating oneself from sin and sinful things but had everything to do with a right relationship with God! (2 Cor. 5:21).  Simple faith in Christ puts us in the right position; but it's the practice (how we respond to it) that's missing and where we're failing to make the greatest impact on our surroundings. 

• Keeping Sacred Things Sacred. In a world where the number of twitter followers and Facebook friends are used to validate your worthiness and likability, it's hard not to try to fit in!  But by virtue of the fact that you're a Christian, you must maintain separateness! Sanctification, another word for holiness, means to be "set apart"from the world and unto God!  Keep social media in it's proper place! Refuse to malign God's name or allow others to use your page to dishonor God, to propagate sexual filth, or to post pictures that desecrate the body, (God's Holy temple). Sanitize and Sanctify your posting and let it be known that you will not allow your page to be used for maligning, trolling, or perversions of any kind.

•  Refrain from texting, scrolling, posting, viewing messages while in church!  I've been      shocked at the conduct of even so called mature Christians, who during praise and worship, and the preaching of God's Word, could not resist the lure of, bings and bongs of incoming messages, long enough to hear God speak!  Don't be fooled with placing your bible or program over your telephone or pretending you're looking up scripture from a bible app.  We know what you're doing!

• Beware of Personal Style in Dress and Speech. I'm not double-talking here.  I know I just said that holiness wasn't about what you put on!  It's not, but it can reflect your insecurities and vulnerabilities.  What you wear and how you speak portrays what you think about yourself. Clothes can be a costume to hide behind or a uniform to identify what you really are deep in your heart!  I'm over women of all ages who profess to be Christians (Holy women) who think it's okay to dress provocatively, in the name of trendy styles.  The root word for provocative is to provoke, to excite, to stir up,  an action or a feeling.  Let's face it, if you must dress or talk in a way that draws attention to yourself, you are saying you have no confidence in your God-given gifts of a pleasing personality, natural charm, and ability to converse wisely.  You deny God's ability to make us content with His masterpiece created and rooted in godliness (Ephesians 2:10). 

•   Don't be fooled by Popular Culture.  I've written about these disgusting shows before:  Preachers Wives, Preachers Daughters,  Preachers of L.A. (thank God it's cancelled), Impastor, and now a new one Preachers Exes. Shows that exploit every facet of unholy Christian behavior one can imagine for the benefit of dollars and entertainment.  No!  Holiness does not mean Sinless, but a saint growing, pursuing, and practicing a lifestyle of holiness does not put on display their struggles.  They are humbled by them and like Isaiah, feels chastened in the presence of a Holy God. 

The Goal of Holiness is this from these powerful Scriptures: Romans 12:1 -2 and Ephesians 4:1--3.

1. Presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice Holy and acceptable unto God

2. Conforming not to the world but being continually transformed with a new mind

3. Walking worthy of the calling to which you have been called 

Persevering with all humility, gentleness, and patience, eager to  maintain the unity of the Spirit

in the bond of peace!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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Are You HOLY or HOLIER THAN THOU!

Growing up Baptist, it took me a long time to get comfortable with the "H" word!  HOLINESS.  Like many people, I had a gross misconception of what that actually meant.  It didn't help that in ignorance, my wrong ideas were reinforced by preachers and teachers from various Christian denominations.  Thank God, I've learned to read and study the bible for myself!

Let me start by telling you what HOLINESS is not:  
1.  It is not what you wear: No make-up, no pants wearing, long dresses, no bare arms showing and absolutely no cutting of the hair!  Whereas I can certainly identify with the need for modesty in dress and have no doubt that there actually are some holy women under those long dresses, it's not the clothes that make them HOLY! (Matt. 22: 27-28) Jesus told the Pharisees, Outwardly you look like righteous people, but inwardly your hearts are filled with hypocrisy and lawlessness.

2.  It is not isolating yourself from sinful people : The Amish religion tried this and if you've ever checked out the reality show, Breaking Amish, you'll see that it doesn't work! They too, have a list of No, Nos.  No electricity, no cars,  no clothes of bright or gaudy colors, no taking of photographs. They separate themselves as much as possible from non-Amish people to lessen the contamination of sin in the world.  That's impossible to do and not biblical at all.  Jesus said in Luke 5:32: I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  You can't hide from sin or sinful people, you have to deal with it or them when and however it comes. 

3. Rules and Rituals:  Church laws,  kind deeds, no smoking, no drinking, no dancing, etc. some have great benefits in practicing, much you do as the result of spiritual growth but in and of themselves, DO NOT MAKE YOU HOLY! Any time YOU do something trying to earn the status of Holiness you're on the wrong path. All our righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6).  Not by works of righteousness that we have done but because of Christ mercy are we saved! (Titus 3:5) 

So if these things don't cut the mustard for holiness, how can one possibly call themselves HOLY?  It's quite simple actually.  Biblical holiness is to be in right standing with God, conforming to His will and His Word!  YOU see it's all about having a Relationship with Christ.   He is the one who justifies us (declares us righteous)- 2 Corinthians 5:21.

We are Holy because He is Holy (I Peter 1:15-16).  Positionally, God already sees us this way!  But do not think this gives you a pass to sin as much as you want!  Absolutely not!

 Holiness is to be pursued, practiced, and held up as our daily goal throughout our lives!  It is a commandment not an option;  It is imperative to have fellowship with God and have our prayers answered.  It fulfills our divine purpose for living,  and the rewards and benefits are beyond compare!

HOLINESS IS STILL POSSIBLE - EVEN AS SIN IS MAKING A POWERFUL RESURGENCE IN OUR WORLD!  

What changes do you need to make in your life style to live in obedience to God?  When will you start reaping the benefits of this wonderful inheritance, a life of abundance (John 10:10)?

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"That's the way the money goes ... POPE goes the Weasel!"

Pope Francis of Rome

Hey, I ain't hating on the Pope, so don't get your panties in a wad! But I'm sure glad that I can now turn my television on without getting a blow by blow description of his trip to America last week!

I suppose all the hype is to be expected with more than 69 million registered Catholics in America (22% of the U.S. Population) and many more who vied just get a glimpse of him. (These stats are two years old so, the numbers may be slightly different.)

It just struck me odd as a non-Catholic just how inspiring this visit was for those who are!  I read of people weeping, standing in lines for hours, altering their life drastically; bringing their children, traveling miles just to be in close proximity of His Eminence.

Truly, it looked like something out of the Gospels, when Jesus came to town!  Only, let's get this straight...The Pope ain't Jesus!  And he wasn't healing (at least not physically) diseases and infirmities.  Folks gathered around, kissing his hand, bowing before him and feeling oh so privileged to just be near him as if this was their main purpose for living.  

 Powerful and revered as the pope is and no matter the traditional teaching of Catholicism;  He is no more God's representative on earth than we are!  I just don't get it! But then, maybe this trip has a higher calling! I'm sure God has some unrevealed purpose.

In all fairness, I do have to say that this Pontiff comes off quite different from former popes.  First of all he seems more vibrant and healthy.  Remember Pope John Paul, II's bullet proof ride?  He was so frail that I wasn't sure if the glass covering was meant to protect him from outsiders or to catch him should he hit a bump in the road and fall out of the vehicle!

He also seems to be more in touch with the real world and it's social issues. Not hiding behind his papacy but actually addressing the hard stuff like sexual abuse, abortion and same sex marriages.  Got to give it to him, he's sticking to his spiritual guns and does have a certain charm about him!

Still, I'm jealous of the attention he got by the masses!  Would they treat my Jesus the same way?  God the Father is the only Holy Father I recognize (Abba Father,  Mark 14:36).  I bow before no one but  God, (Daniel 3) for even the apostles rejected this kind of treatment. (Acts 14:15) But God deserves every praise!

 I believe that Jesus, would have barely gotten His feet on American soil before being profiled as a Terrorist! You do know that in human flesh, He would present as an olive skinned, bearded middle eastern man, dressed in ethnic garb!  How many photos of men like this have you seen flashing across your T.V. screen since 9/11?

People hung onto every word the Pope spoke and he did have wonderful things to say!  But did he really say anything different that what Bible preachers and teachers have been saying?  His key themes were: We need to love each other more, attend to the needs of the poor; humble yourself before the Lord, judge no one and work toward peace and harmony!  I don't know about you but I get that every week, in Sunday school and morning service!

Having said all this, I ask you to do as I'm going to do.  Search the scriptures more thoroughly regarding End Time events.  Revisit a study of the book of Revelation and pray to God for discernment.  What did this trip really mean for America and the world? My heart tells me THAT GOD IS UP TO SOMETHING...AND THE POPE'S VISIT IS ONLY A PREVIEW OF COMING ATTRACTIONS!

UNTIL NEXT TIME!...

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A Woman For All Seasons

I Thess. 5:17 Pray continually!
(image, picturespider.com)

Excuse me while I get my shout on!  I'm just so full of joy this morning.  After six weeks of a liberating bible study at my church and a couple days bonding with some sacred sisters at a retreat, all I can say is GOD IS SHO NUFF GOOD!

I'm no stranger to prayer mind you, but I can't tell you what the ministry of prayer has done for me over these past weeks!  The sheer number of opportunities increased at least ten-fold.  With all the violence, sickness, health scares visited upon my community, friends and family, it seems every hour or so somebody was calling me to pray for or with them!

Couple that with the nation wide release of that phenomenal movie, War Room, and another, Captive, being released this week...if you've missed the message that God is calling us to pray...then something's wrong with your God Meter!  

Like you, I'm well aware of those rare breed of women, called Prayer Warriors.  I grew up with them!  Generally, they were the older women of the church.  Real strict looking, starched and severe in their white dresses.

They had eyes that looked like they could see sin in your life ten miles away! And if you even whispered you needed prayer for anything, they would gather around you, lay hands on your body, toss their heads back and wail to the Lord on your behalf! 

Now I have to tell you, I didn't understand much of what was going on then, but Lord, I sure appreciate it now!  Those women had spiritual discernment!  They knew when you, or your family, or your job, or your city was in trouble and they entered into intercessory prayer instantly.  We need to do the same thing!

God has broken that stereotypical image of a Prayer Warrior today! We don't have to be scared of the term any more! Don't have to worry that we don't fit the mold, can't meet the standard of those women of old. He's not just calling older women to seek the Lord in prayer, He's calling women of all ages to hold up the banner! He wants us to be a Woman for All Seasons!  What Seasons am I talking about? Here's only a sampling!

• A Season of  Lies - Satan, with the help of some very influential people are telling the world that Biblical Truth doesn't matter.  You can be, live, talk, and malign Christians for the beliefs and it's perfectly okay in the name of Tolerance! (1 Tim. 4:1-3)

• A Season of Hedonism (pleasure seeking) - The sexual abuse of our children by people in trusted authoritative positions (teachers, ministers, child care workers) is sickening! There's no facet of our society it has not touched. (Ephesians 4:19)

• A Season of Greed - Over consumption of everything is evident in our world today.  America is especially guilty because we have more access to excess than a lot of nations.  But who is paying the cost? Those who can afford it least.  We have super-sized ourselves into obesity, national debt, chemical dependencies of all kinds, and have become technological gluttons, with each new gadget draining our financial resources. It's as if we have forgotten Who owns it all! (Psalms 24:1)

Here's my challenge to you:  Go Right Now to your Prayer Closets, Your Prayer lines,  Your Prayer Meetings, Your Prayer Partners, near and Far...

BE A WOMAN FOR ALL SEASONS....BECOME A WOMAN OF PRAYER!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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JOURNEY TO SISTERHOOD: If You Say It, Do it!

"For the upright will inhabit the land,

 those with integrity will remain in it."

(Prov. 2:21)

A woman of the Word is also a woman of her word! There's nothing more harmful to a person's reputation than to be known as one who does not keep her word.

We make promises so frivolously.  Even before some of them come out of our mouths, we know we don't intend to keep them.    The fact that we take so little time to even consider what we're saying is proof enough.

Some make promises out of guilt.  Sister Friend went with you to a certain place and now you feel obligated to return the favor.  When the date comes around, you find a convenient excuse therefore reneging on your promise!

Some make promises to try to fit in.  People Pleasers, always find themselves over engaged and pressured into events and tasks that they don't have the slightest interest in. They constantly find themselves weighing in the balances--Do I go or risk not being asked again and left out for the next big thing?

Once there was no need for contracts, IOUs, promissory notes and the likes because a a woman's word was her bond!  Not any more.  Verbal agreements are now being videotaped and audio-taped for  business purposes. Too many trusts have been broken by people who you thought you could depend on.  Or at least could count on to give you a straight answer.

Let me tell you one Person who doesn't think integrity is passé, out-of-style, or simply blasé -- God! Check this out:  

• “This is what the Lord has commanded. If a man vows a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge, he shall not break his word. He shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth. (Numbers 30:1-2)

•  You shall be careful to do what has passed your lips, for you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God what you have promised with your mouth. (Deut. 23:23)

• “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil. (Matthew 5:33-37

• But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: (I John 2:5)

From the Old Testament to the New Testament, the message is the same.  Good human relationships are based on honesty and integrity.  Think before you speak.  Keep your commitments few and your integrity always intact.  If by chance you cannot keep your word, make sure you own it, and/or reach out to the one depending on you, with a sincere apology and an act of good will.  Perhaps offer your time or service for another occasion. 

Knowing integrity's importance to horizontal relationships, how much more do you think it influences our fellowship with the Lord?  W.O.W your Lord and your friends!  Be a Woman of Your Word!

UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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JOURNEY TO SISTERHOOD: Apologize, Already!!!

Something short of a miracle happened to me last week. Two sisters took me aside and apologized for possible wrongs done to me!  One, I had forgiven long ago.  The other, came as a shock, as frankly, I couldn't recall any incident or moment of discord.

I can't begin to tell you what the gesture meant to me.  I can only hope it was equally as humbling and freeing for them.  It started me thinking about the power of these two little words...I'm sorry!   Of course it needs to be sincere but is there any easier way to get on in our relationships after a misunderstanding?

Along with three other phrases: Please, Thank you, and I was wrong, we just might have the answer to World Peace! Here's what I've learned.

 First, an apology is not meant to assign blame or elicit retribution from an offending party. It's not about catching my sister friend in a vulnerable position and sadistically twisting the knife of guilt.  Giving back some of the pain I experienced.

HERE'S WHAT AN APOLOGY WILL DO: 

• IT ACKNOWLEDGES YOUR PAIN.  As a human you have feelings.  You exist as a person with God given rights and dignity.  When wounded emotionally and/or physically, the perpetrator violates both of these and depending on your vulnerability, your self worth may have suffered. 

• IT RESTORES POWER TO THE INJURED. There are few things so devastating as to be in a position of powerlessness at the hands of another.  The loss of control and helplessness causes a fear and anxiety that's really hard to describe because it's different for everyone.

• IT CLEARS THE WAY FOR DEEPER HEALING. I don't know a lot of women who wait around for an apology before moving on with their lives, but for a few this step is absolutely necessary.  An apology shows that there is remorse and may even allow for an explanation. The more details you have about the nature of an offense, the more you can learn from it and avoid the negativity that caused it.

• IT COULD FACILITATE RECONCILIATION. I'm sorry will not fix every problem or heal every wound, but sometimes it is the beginning of the process that restores a relationship.  We must never underestimate the impact wounding has on us and others.  The collateral damage that occurs could take hours of prayer and spiritual counseling to help us become whole again.  Still, even if you never regain the warm and fuzzy you once had for a sister friend; the Grace of God will enable you to resume a cordial, even pleasant association honoring Him and the past you once shared.  Just ask the Lord to show you how!

Galatians 6:10 is a wonderful reminder:

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.
   
UNTIL NEXT TIME...

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