Sometimes The Good You Do Don't Do You Any Good?

I actually heard someone say this. I thought about it for a moment because a moment is all I needed to realize that as quick as it rolls off the tongue, a person not being knowledgeable in Christ, could think that statement is profound. Sometimes the good you do, don't do you any good. Really? Does that type of thinking go along with the saying, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions"? When I heard the person say the title of this entry, I had that moment. But when it came to writing material based on it, I couldn't even come up with a testimony. Hey, I don't get writer's block!

Going back to the mission statement for Kingdom Living (written at the top of this blog), the material for me to write started to flow again. In defining good, you already know, that's God. Jesus said it to His disciples (Luke 18:19 AMP). Now when accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we also agree to be followers of Him. It is the definition of Christian. We desire to be more like Him. So when we do things that are pleasing in His sight, it is without malice, grumbling, or with an ulterior motive. We do so because we are blessed and continue to be while others either don't know who they are in Christ or haven't yet chose the abundant life. Twisted statements, like those mentioned above, makes sense to them. To them, it is profound, sound, and words to live by. The road to hell statement, has been said often throughout my childhood.

When we do good for others, we do so for others to be well off. We do so, because we have been provided for. We do so also out of obedience in Christ. He did it, so we do it too. How can this not be good for you? How can this lead you to hell (3 John 1:11 AMP)?

When you are doing something for someone else because you owe it to him/her, do you feel frustration because you don't wish to pay back the debt, or you might have issues with the person that hasn't been sorted out, or you could be thinking that this good thing you are doing is going to advance this person even higher then he already is (1 John 5:1-3 AMP)? Thoughts like that could worry a person into an early grave. Why? Because it is what the enemy does. It might have started out as a test to see if your heart is as good as you would like it to be. The test shows you what God sees and what you need to rid yourself of. If you don't use better words to push out those negative thoughts, then you are what I like to call, "feeding the beast." The more you grumble, complain, or look at what someone else has and compare it to what you don't, the beast gnaws away at the blessings you do have until the only thing you have left is your health. The ease Jesus came to give, you have opposed it - hence comes disease. So if this defines, that road paved to hell - well, I guess it would make sense. But it would also show that your intentions weren't good, which then becomes biblical and the truth (Proverbs 21:27 AMP).

I was going to write an entry on why a Christian would be bored. I had a hard time getting material on that too. Then I saw a banner on facebook. It said: only boring people get bored. Which in a sense is scriptural. Christianity is a faith walk. We walk in the spirit so not to fulfill the lust of the flesh (Galatians 5:16 AMP). The Word also says that faith without works is dead (James 2:20 AMP). Its as if you can have as much faith that God will do this or that for you, but without any effort from you (the ability God has put in you), would He be a good Father to do it all? A man can guide his children to assist them to walk, but if he walks for them, they will never try to walk themselves. If man assists a baby bird to come out of his shell because the baby bird seems to be struggling so hard to get it off, he kills the baby bird. He might have had good intentions in the assistance, but the bird needs the struggle to get his lungs activated. Because of human assistance, the baby bird never gets that necessary struggle to breath appropriately and eventually dies. God is good.

Some seeds might be a good snack and that's all they will ever be. Other seeds can do more if planted in good soil though it has a process to go through even in the dirt to get to where it needs to be and produce fruit. There is an outer covering that has to sloughed off otherwise, it won't grow. Water and the minerals in the dirt gnaw away at the outer covering to get to the inside. When the minerals do,  along with heat from the sun, the seed then germinates and grows. This is also what happens to a believer. The serpent, when cursed after the fall of man, was told by God that he would eat the dust of the earth for the rest of its days. The dust of the earth was also used to create flesh (man). The struggles man goes through is first because of the curse. Then we find the Lord who came not to condemn man but to give him life. Without Jesus, man would continually be cursed, having good

intentions based on his own definition and still going to hell. God allows man to go through what he does so he can not only live the life he has chosen but an abundant life having produced much fruit (1 John 5;10-12 AMP).

Understanding this basic concept can move a hum-drum life into the stratosphere. But it is up to you. Can you still do good and be content or have you turned to the dust once again (2 Peter 2:20-22 AMP)?

Who Signs Up For This?

I write a separate blog for Christian singles for purposes of teaching messages that aren't readily heard over the pulpit. It is to tell the younger generation a couple of things that aren't usually thought of or expected. I have tried to understand why the older generation keeps such crucial information to themselves when we all hope that the next generation has much more success then the previous one - or at least, we are supposed to be thinking this way (Titus 2:3-5 AMP). Is it more amusing to see such young people crash and burn then to see them at peace with all that they have been blessed with? I try to understand why. The only answer I can come up with is - jealousy. If you have a better answer as to why you haven't taught anyone anything - I will make the retraction.

It has to be true in every believer's life, where we have looked around at all that we have been through and can still say that I am standing and still on fire for Christ. But then upon closer scrutiny, maintaining the stance doesn't seem like the victory that it was supposed to be (Romans 12:11 AMP). As you struggled through to get to the calling you know you are destined to do, sinners right and left are making what seems the abundance that is supposed to be yours (Colossians 3:5-6 AMP). While you drive the hoop-dee, Pimp Daddy laughs at you cruising in his Lexus. While your trying to put some pennies together to purchase laundry detergent, the neighbors who aren't thinking about God just came home with bags and bags of designer clothes and shoes. While you look at the spouse you married believing marital life was one thing but the rolls of fat or receding hair line is clearly telling you otherwise and a co-worker with a Cabala red string just came back from a European holiday with his live in girl friend. You just have to ask, what the bleepity-bleep-bleep is going on (Galatians 5:19-21 AMP)?

The subject matter for this entry has much to do with marital life. Its the look on the spouse's face after finding some disgusting habit that he/she never saw while dating. Its the expression of seeing the spouse as some sort of stranger. For some it happens within a few weeks, for others, it not only takes years but also seeing single life as the treasure once had and should have kept.

The institution of marriage is a wonderful thing (Hebrews 13:4 AMP). The sanctity of that union is something that all single people who believe Jesus is Lord aspire to obtain. The issue which draws me to write is the rush of getting that sanctity by any means necessary. When all of the fairy dust is cleared, the wedding favors have been taken or tossed, the bridal gown is put away once and for all, and the attention is resumed on the factors of life - promises vowed are expected to be upheld. That expectation is stressful to those immature not quite ready for absolute monogamy. Seeing skid marks in underwear, having to see your bride shave her armpits, or sitting on the toilet certainly ruins the mystique. If ever wondering why one wishes to maintain a certain sense of privacy, you now have the answer.

While the things aforementioned doesn't seem too big to discuss right now, when going through them, it is all one can think about until something bigger comes along. Which is what I am trying to get to. Originally, I thought I would never think about marriage again. I had been through it and wasn't looking forward to getting back into it. In fact, I made a promise to God when the papers were signed and all things were finalized, I would never do such a thing to myself ever again. I did mean that, much like I meant once I had my last child, I wasn't going to have anymore. But then in reading the Word of God and realizing why women were created, it would be selfish for any woman to make the resounding statement never, ever walking down the aisle of matrimony. Why selfish? Because woman was created for man (1 Corinthians 11:8-9 AMP). If she refuses to do what she is created for, she is going against her purpose. She would then be in opposition to God.

Then one sees where marriage has been going in the last 20 years. It isn't something hopeful to be apart of. Initially, we all think that our marriage is going to be different from everyone else's but most certainly those people having experiences in divorce court believed the same thing at one time or another. Just like a vegetable garden, the marriage has to be worked on so not to be over run by weeds, small animals stealing a meal, over growth of the vegetables, and insect infestation. When Adam was given the garden to tend, it served 3 fold. Adam had something to do, he was developing habits to continue to do, and could see if he slacked off from doing what was needed, something or someone else could come in and take over. This is marriage and the man's responsibility to maintain - or at least initiate the maintenance of it.

Women must see what he is doing before accepting a date much less his proposal. He has to have something to do and is maintaining it. If she is desperate to marry and doesn't see certain matters already in place, she will be the one doing it all. This has happened over and over again. She is exhausted, with children, and doesn't look anything like she did when he first took her "off the market." She becomes resentful and bitter towards him. He doesn't know what has happened to her and why she is angry all of the time. What he will say that destroys the marriage is that she changed. That would not be true entirely and most of the time, he knows it. He changed her because of what he didn't do but promised to when they exchanged vows.

I have a theory about May/December romances. I believe a man gets such the younger woman so she won't realize what the women his age already knows. It is why the men in the ministry I use to attend would go elsewhere to find their brides. They knew that the pastor informed the women of the church certain things that they needed to look for in a man. If he did not have those things, not to give him the time of day. The pastor expounded on a wealth of information, having been a conformed "wolf" himself, according to him. He saw the women of that ministry as his little sisters. It was touching and appreciated, yet the appreciation was short lived because there were marriages going on in the ministry but not to the women that had been in attendance for many years waiting. The wait served as temptation to dummy down for the men and pretend not to know what has been taught to them or continue to wait and past the test. The deception was seed sown to be harvested once the marriage had taken place. Again, bitterness and resentment would be the product of such seed.

In scripture, I was reading of other marriages that did not have the happy endings that is originally thought of when the exchanging nuptials come about. Nabal was an evil man as considered by David (1 Samuel 25:5-32 AMP). He was wealthy enough to give to David's troops after battle but didn't see how he had to be the one to loose his possessions for the sake of men that had done nothing for him. David was ready to drive his sword through this man for having such an attitude. But if it weren't for his wife, Abigail, to run and save her husband from his mouth, she would have been a widow sooner than expected.

Job was on his own having an offering fest for sins that no one confessed to him. How upset could his wife have been losing all of her children and everything she had helped to build with this man? She didn't know what he had done. She was over wrought. Why else would she have told him to do what she did (Job 2:9 AMP)?

How about Queen Vashti? She was minding her own business while her husband the King had declared a 6 month party of drinking wine. No one was drinking but him when he called for his wife. Why wouldn't she go to him? Was it because that is all the King would do is party and drink? Could she have been tired? When she didn't go to him, was it disturbing to him or did it become disturbing when he received the advice from a bunch of princes? After their advice, the Queen was dismissed. She received a bill of divorce. How surprising could that have been (Esther 1:1-20 AMP)?

When we marry, do we do so with blinders on? Are we so in love with being in love or with being married or with having guilt free sex, or with the financial benefits that come with marriage so much so we don't see the hearts of those we marry? The Word tells us that man sees the outward appearance but God sees the heart of man. He tests the hearts of men. With Him being the greater one on the inside of us, do we really have an excuse or surprised at what our mates will do over the years? God tested each and everyone of us. Many of those tests were given while we were going through the dating process, if we are being honest with ourselves.

In reading the testaments from the scriptures, we must be able to see that in sowing good seed there has to be a good product. God said that with every seed of its own kind, will produce that product of that seed (Genesis 1:12 AMP). If love is sown, love is given. If peace is sown, peace is given, If kindness is sown, kindness is given. What choices have you made? It is written, God said for man to be fruitful and multiply. While for years believers  thought this to mean procreation, being under the new dispensation, why not think in terms of the fruit of the Holy Spirit? If we multiply that, how pleased would God be with us?

Cheaters!

You know who you are! You have been this way for quite sometime. Yes, you did the acceptable thing in Christian circles by going to the altar so all could see you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior, but only you and God see how you really were then and now as you read this post (Romans 12:2 AMP).

As you looked around the church and see how many members conduct themselves, what were you thinking (Luke 6:45 AMP)? Did you really wish to be more like them in Christ, or did you just need one of them in your household so you could continue on in your dirt but be considered clean because of who you married (1 Corinthians 7:13-17 AMP)? Why aren't you ashamed yet? Look at what you have done to make that innocent person miserable? Does it matter to you? Has it ever mattered?

If not, you need to know something: just as real as God is to the people you decided to infiltrate, He will become real to you. He is good and His goodness continues as a Father. Would that you could be shielded by the one person you married. What if the one person you married called on Him for help? Shall I pray for mercy and grace upon your soul (1 Timothy 2:3 AMP)? Idk...I detest cheaters so.

Why? because if you cheat, you'll lie. If you'll lie, you will steal. If you steal, you will kill (John 8:44 AMP). All of these actions are the characteristics of the enemy (John 10:10 KJV). Entertainment of the these fruits is the same as the personality of sinners. Who do you think you are fooling (Galatians 6:7 AMP)?

Got Trouble (part 2)?

In my training of being a "good Christian" I was told to hold the ministers in high esteem. How can you do this and not believe one word that he/she is saying? I kept that training (and even today) thinking that true believers think good things and would not wish any hurt, harm or danger on others because we all serve the same God - He is the entire definition of Love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 KJV). Even writing that, I sound like the one that jumped off the turnip truck all wet behind the ears. Don't get me wrong, I do believe that God is love and that we are to walk in the Spirit to not fulfill the lust of the flesh; its just that people are not always going to do as you hope. They will not always stay fast to what the Word says even in times of trouble. We all have our days and go through tests. Whether we pass those tests or not is sometimes determined by what the day brings.

Plenty of people are angry because the day didn't bring what they hoped for and instead of assessing what they did, its easier to blame God or whoever is closest to the problem. Trouble is not stirred up from nothing. There has to be an action for the reaction. If you don't weed your garden, you cannot expect a healthy harvest (Proverbs 24:30-34 KJV). If you don't raise your children in the admonition of the Lord, you cannot be surprised when they don't honor their parents (Proverbs 22:6 KJV). If sweets and candy are the foundation of your diet, you cannot expect for God to miraculously rid you of obesity and diabetes (Psalm 141:3-4 KJV). The effort taken to resolve a problem has to be with as much fervor as was taken for the problem to arise.

I have written before about when I was raising my children. I made sure they were dressed well. They ate a hot meal before going to school and had vitamins daily. They attended church regularly and knew to respect their elders. If they ever got a cold, I never coddled them with it. I acted as if there was an intruder looking to steal, kill and destroy. My children stayed healthy. You see the action and my reaction.

In the offering portion of church services, the minister in charge of receiving the offering began with having the congregation to pray for an amount to give beyond the usual giving. He stated, "if you hear two amounts, give the largest one." The congregants laughed knowing the comedic personality of the minister. Though I understand now he knew that there were those who listened and adhered to that instruction simply because of him being a man of God. He doesn't know what other people have to do with that money and giving beyond what they normally give could put them in further problems then they already had. Yet, the general statement used when there is concern, "if you take care of God's house, He will take care of yours." Or there is another statement, "if what you received isn't more then enough, sow it into the church, and watch God do what He does." What does that mean? Where is the scripture for that (2 Corinthians 8:11-14 MSG)?

I listened to one of those sermons and to give what was coined as the "destiny seed". It was all I had in my purse to have gas for the next 3 days until my next paycheck. The instruction was to give this seed to the person the Holy Spirit is leading you to give the seed to. There was a woman right behind me that was searching through her purse. I thought she might be looking to get her "destiny seed" and couldn't find anything. I just knew she was the perfect person for me to give her my last $10.00. Now, there I was watching thousands of people giving to everyone else and I was waiting. God knew what was in my gas tank and what wasn't in my wallet. I just allowed faith to do what it does and as it started to calm down and people returned back to their seats, I refused to get discouraged. They must have not seen me sitting way over here. So I waited for church to dismiss and I sat still hoping that God would direct whomever He needed to over towards me. I went to the door to make it easier. It just didn't happen. I stayed so long the parking lot attendants were coming in. There was no one left! No one! Instead of getting angry, I decided to believe it was a seed that needs time to produce.

The following Sunday, the pastor preached about sowing seed into good ground. In it he surmised that sometimes the seed we sow is for the next generation and other times while we are waiting for a tiny bush, God will have us sow seed for a redwood tree. He explained that redwood trees take a while to grow but when they do, they last for hundreds of years. It wasn't one of those sermons that had people excited. They were more then likely thinking the same thing I was, "why didn't you say all of this last week with the destiny seed sermon?" It was sort of rhetorical knowing that if the two sermons were put together, there wouldn't have been the response that there was. That previous week was a tough one and I learned a valuable lesson. During the many services I attended and there was always going to be an offering portion, I already prayed before I got to church. I had my tithes all ready and what my offering would be for the entire week. There wasn't one thing any of those men or women of God could say that would move me from what was already established before I got there. Just as I prayed for the speaker to make sure all that listened would hear the message intended individually, I also prayed for myself and what God would have me to do. I may have been one of the few that didn't run around the church when the prosperity sermons would come up or the prophetic word came about for the New Year, what I did have is the peace that I use to struggle to find in the Word for practical application.

 The 23rd Psalm is one of the first passages that most of us learned in Sunday School. For some of us, it didn't mean anything but a means to make some adults proud that we could memorize and retain so much at our age. Nevertheless, once grown and meditating over each verse, there was one part that caused my brow to furrow. "The Lord prepared a table before me in the presence of mine enemies..." The table preparation is understandable. Its provision. Its giving what is needed for us in times such as these. Its the spiritual food we receive when we attend church services and hear the word that is applicable to enrich our lives even more. Some of it tastes better then other parts but its all nourishing - because it is the Lord that gave it. Him being for our good. Now the other part is the quandary. In the presence of mine enemies? Why are they there? Why would I dine in the presence of enemies? Should I be getting them out of there? Wouldn't the Lord have already done that for me? The Word says what communion hath light with darkness, so why are my enemies at the table (2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV)? Who invited them?

In the ministry I was involved in, there was a 24 hour prayer line where I volunteered 1-2 days out of the week. One of those days there was a supervisor that gave me certain tips in shopping for things. We conversed and seemed to be getting along well. During the Christmas season many congregants get together and donate a basket of homemade products for the volunteers. I didn't know this and neither did the supervisor. A few minutes before shift ending the supervisor went to use the facilities. It was a pretty quiet afternoon with very few calls coming in. I was noticing all of the decorations around the room when the supervisor's replacement came in. He announced that the basket behind the desk was for us. In the basket was all of the goodies that were prepared especially for the holiday season. he said to take as much as we liked. As many of the different things that were on display, I choose a nicely wrapped cellophane bag of spiced pecans. Just then my supervisor who had used the facilities came back. She saw all of the volunteers with the goodies that were placed behind her the entire time she was working. She asked what was going on. Her replacement explained that they were gifts for us. My supervisor sucked her teeth in disgust and looked around at what we all had getting first choice, "I didn't know that. You mean I could have got something. All I wanted was the pecans. Who got the pecans?" She looked around and saw me about to open the bag. "Aww, I wanted them." I suppose I could have given them to her, but the whining was irritating me. Instead I asked, "would you like some?" I held the bag to her and she looked at me with a strange expression, "sure," she replied. She didn't take the bag from me nor did she motion for me to pour the contents in her hand, instead she took her hand and dived into the bag making sure I saw her touch each and every pecan before she retrieve a small handful. She smirked slightly putting one the nuts into her mouth and keeping her eyes fixed on me. I know she was either waiting for me to go off on her or reconcile to give her the entire bag. She just came from the bathroom. The other volunteers saw what she did too. They looked at me for a response. I smiled and gathered my belongings seeing that my shift was over. When she didn't see me respond the way she expected, she looked shocked.

In answering the question, who invited the enemies at the prepared table: they were already there. It is written in the last days, there will be many false prophets (1 John 4:1 KJV). The Word doesn't say that there will be many liars. Liars could very well be sinners and what would we care knowing that where that trait comes from (John 8:44 AMP). What we don't expect that the very people that is receiving the same training that we are, have also embraced or not released those old habits that should have passed away a long time ago.

I wrote about a man interested in me before. We had a wonderful first conversation and the second time we were on the phone, he asked what is my favorite sexual position. We attended the same church! His goal was to be a minister! His career was working with children!!! What sort of question was that to ask a Christian woman? I didn't call him or coerce him to call me. He asked me for my number and asked when was the best time to call. My pause spoke volumes and I wouldn't receive another call from him. Can you see what would have happened if I did? Can you see a desperate woman answering that question with him and the trouble happening afterward?

I suppose what I am writing isn't something that is said in any church that I have ever been in. What I am writing to you is for you to trust in God (Isaiah 26:3 KJV). There are many people going through all sorts of things. Just because they have the assignment to be at a pulpit doesn't mean they are always going to give wise instruction. It is why you must read the scriptures for yourself. A single woman, the head of the music department not only leading the choir but also a devotional leader, got pregnant. The congregants struggled on how to treat the matter. I watched them and saw the reaction of the devotional leader. We knew not to be judgmental and also to be kind. There was no need  in ousting her from the assembly by which we stand for love. In time, all seemed to be well again. Now what about all of those other girls that watched this devotional leader and have been influenced by her? What about the young men that wished for a wife just like her? Who encourages them? What trouble will they get into?

There are spots. There are wrinkles. There are stains. There is God, prayer, worship, praise, and love. God is looking for a church without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27 AMP). Stains come about when old habits are embraced and it isn't recognized. The stain remover has not been applied. Trouble comes when the Word isn't used. Trouble resides when it is not recognized as being what it is. Life has many decisions to be made. God told us that what we have before us is life and death and for us to choose life. Seeing that we have, the decision pressed before us has the same two choices - for anything and everything. Which ever one we decide will keep us on the path of life rather then lack, trouble, anguish, hardship, despair, irritability, aggravation, frustration and the like? We must maintain peace and joy in righteousness to have the abundant life that was promised - not trouble. Choose life for all decisions and be well.

Who Has The Keys?

I find it utterly fascinating to see the relationships between men and women. Drawing the conclusions that women are so much more different then men and vice versa went out with the old passing away. Being of one  body in Christ, we know that we are all the same and the only difference is that half of us have a womb. We all love the Lord and are aware of what He has done for us (Romans 5 AMP). So while we are living that abundant life in this one body, let us come to an agreement about this other difference between the sexes that has been going on all of this time and can only come together when the will of man has been yielded for God to do what He does best - love (1 Corinthians 13:13 AMP).

No, it doesn't necessarily have anything to do with sex; nevertheless, it is a tiny facet of the subject matter. It has to do with primarily men having a specific role and women doing what they are called to do so men can do what they are to do. It is such a cyclical function, much like a machine. But when the will of men gets into the mix, its as if someone threw a wrench into the wash cycle and the entire operation is at a freeze until the appropriate tools are available to be used to find the problem, fix the broken part, oil it, manually rotate it to be sure that when plugged in, all of the parts are working efficiently. It is such a long process when that will isn't yielded over. You can't imagine how many storms didn't fair well, how many people woke in the wee hours of the morning to stand in the gap with prayer, and how many missed out on their blessing because they weren't at the right place at the right time and the divine connections weren't made because of one man.

Consider the patience of God when He heard the complaints of the children of Israel initially to be saved from how the Egyptians were oppressing them. God heard their cries and found a man to lead them out of the oppressive environment (Exodus 3:9-15 KJV). You would think after all of that and having their time managed for them and told what to do at every hour of the day, when they were delivered from that - finally been made free that they would be in a rejoicing state forever more, yet no sooner then had they been let go from Pharaoh and his army did they start complaining of the most mundane tedious of things. God heard their cries and delivered them from all of what they whined about. With all of that, He still was looking for them to be satisfied with more then they asked for. He let them know that there is a land waiting for them that will flow with milk and honey. It is good news, something to look forward to and motivation to keep on going to obtain this land having freedom to do as they pleased. With the gift practically in hand, they still complained. How patient was God before stating that He won't hear any more of it? That generation had to go or there would be scores of people doing nothing but complaining. How pleased would any father be to hear his children not satisfied with anything that he provides for his family? The patience of God is much more than that.

Now consider the time it has been from the fall of man to the time Jesus arrived, went into ministry, the crucifixion, and the resurrection for all of man to gain the life he once had. He descended to retrieve keys that were given to man in having dominion over all of the world so man can do what he was created for (Ephesians4:7-17 KJV) . In so doing, we have seen so much torment with man and all of the atrocities of the world. He has blamed, complained, oppressed, and was depressed. When he was provided for he rejoiced and when he didn't get what he wanted when he wanted it, he went back to blame, complain, oppress, and be depressed. It just sounds so much like the children of Israel and I can't help but to wonder how pleased is God to see such things when we know He changes not (Hebrews 13:8 AMP).

So these keys that I recall. It isn't brought up much in the Word of God; however, it does have some importance as to why men are in the state that they are in and women seem to be following right behind. I  watched this morning an episode of Independent Lens aired on PBS entitled Pushing the Elephant. It was showing the African woman from the Congo receiving the Humanitarian Award for the year. She lives in the Untied States but has such a passion to help the oppressed people of her home land. She cries and prays over the people they have lost and goes through the tribes of women who have lost their husbands. These women without husbands are considered less then citizens. They are told to keep quiet and manage the house. If they need to know anything their husbands will tell them. Only the men don't. So they get together with this woman who received the Humanitarian Award and she teaches them so they can have affirmation on how well they have done in the midst of all of their troubles. She encourages them to know that they have all of the keys they need to improve their situations. When she finishes, the women speak of how they would like for her to run for political office there if they were allowed. They continue that they need someone like her to speak for them and to them. Yes, I agreed. Their faith needed to be encouraged for them to see that they had all of the keys that they needed. Jesus made that provision. Now it was up to them to see it .

This is easy to write...would that it be true if living there? When oppression has weighed heavy on people, it takes a process for them to get out of it and stay out of it. With this woman living in the same condition as all of those people, how did she realize what they didn't. She told those listening to the program, it was her father teaching them with a rope and prayer. He tied the rope around his entire family to illustrate before he prayed that it was forgiveness and love that will keep them together. She knew if she didn't teach her children the same thing, it would have been futile for her to teach these things to the people of Congo. Where did her father learn this from?

I have been drawing illustrations of these women with keys and explaining in the description part that women have all that God has given to her to be successful. It is the men who need the help. God intends for us all to be patient and content in whatever state that we are in. If you choose not to be patient, then you get what you get but you will find later in the relationship that regret found a place and the attitude from the children of Israel begins to form. Paul called it trouble (1 Corinthians 7:27 KJV). Its when patience (along with the other fruits of the Holy Spirit) is in full operation, things are learned, skills are honed in on, and experience and knowledge become factors that are precious to anyone who doesn't have it. Women are naturally multi-taskers. We obtain a goal and a vision and have already mapped a time line and how to celebrate the end result. Put those skills with women who love the Lord and that is treasure that only God can define. This is what He has given to men that love Him. Men must hear God to be able to find that specific woman with those specific keys. She has seen the same vision given to him by God. She has been cultivating it as her own; however, with the right man in the right place, she knows what to do and how to get it done. This is his help. This is what God meant in Genesis (2:18 KJV).

That Doesn't Hurt

It is about 5 in the mroning (it could be earlier) and your eyes are barely open. You have a knowing to get up to pray and the longing to go back and slumber. Having full knowledge of who He is, you battle the flesh to get up and be obedient. You enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 100:4 AMP) as you begin your prayers in the Spirit. Within the first 15 minutes, thoughts about your day and all that you have to do try to come. So while in prayer, why not start writing your to do list? How about getting a few minor household chores out of the way; its like two birds with one stone sort of a thing. Hey, that laundry isn't going to fold itself. Isn't it garbage day? Why not take it out to the curb while you are up doing stuff anyway? Are you still praying?

When I was a child, my parents taught us to pray just before bedtime. We knelt at the side of the bed with ourhands pressed together saying the same rehearsed rhyme that we said in those impressionable years. We thank God for everyone and loved people all the same. Feeling good about going to bed, oddly enough, after those prayers; we got a kiss from Mom and the lights were switched off for the night. No big deal, right?

Then as adults and returning back to church, many ministers have taught certain methods to pray as they understand scripture to be. I have heard to kneel and use the Word. I heard to sit with another chair facing you as if you are speaking to God. I heard to pray in the Spirit and do other things like multi-tasking. I heard that people literally get into a closet while others sit under large pieces of furniture. I suppose one could mimick anyone of those techniques based upon who was teaching and how their life has fared or do what seems just right for you.

Nit-picking through what got others out of their issues is a waste of time. I decided to do the multi-tasking thing because kneeling at the bed side was getting hard on the knees, my feet would go to sleep, and sometimes I would be waking up from that kneeling position wondering if I had finished praying or not. I deducted that I did and moved on with my day. Throughout my faith filled life, I made sure that my prayer time was anything but uncomfortable. If I kneeled it was on my bed and sometimes under covers. Most of the time I prayed while doing something else. If the phone rang, I answered it. If someone was at the door, I saw to it. I figured that I was getting things done and that should please God. Well, that was my reasoning and not godly thinking.

In my studies on the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22 AMP), I came upon longsuffering and was stumped. The term in of itself seemed to contradict what I thought Jesus came to rid believers from. How can we suffer when He said He would not leave us without comfort (comfortless). Doesn't comfort and suffer oppose one another? And one must endure with suffering and periods of length (long)? I refused to receive that understanding of the Word. I had to be getting that wrong. I studied and defined that word and still I just didn't like what I got. So I casted the care on the Lord (1 Peter 5:7 AMP) and continued with my faith the way I understood and liked.

I cannot explain the strange things that has happened to me over the years. The battles of anxiety and frustrating issues are to numerable to mention. I prayed and prayed. I called prayer lines to have them pray for me too. I woke family members in the middle of the night to pray. Peace within my soul needed to be still. I read scriptures and I was quieted for a time, but then I was back on the prayer lines and waking folks up again. I didn't know what else to do. So I talked with God and asked where was I disobedient to receive this chastisement? I didn't hear anything for many days but I did gradually receive Peace again.

My multi-tasking prayer life continued the way it was. Sometimes I realized that when I kept still and focused on the specific prayer, the answer came sooner. I also noticed when I stayed still the release of the prayer wasn't an all day project.

Eventually, God brought me back to the longsuffering question. I believed when Jesus came and willingly allowed Himself to be beaten, tortured, and ridiculed for the sins of the world, true believers didn't need to go through that. Jesus was crucified on the cross unjustly. He had done nothing wrong; and still He went through the pain and suffering because He loved us so much. He did this so we wouldn't have to. He broke the laws of sin and death. We believe and so we receive ever lasting life. No pain. No suffering. It makes sense. It is a reason to rejoice. Thank you Jesus - right?

Then Paul went and wrote because Jesus suffered so do we. If we don't suffer, we aren't His (Romans 8:14-17 AMP). What?!!! Why does he write stuff like this? I tried to make sense of it and couldn't. Pain wasn't something I was willing to receive not after believing my latter will be greater and anticipating (Haggai 2:9 KJV) the abundant life Jesus said is mine.

So where is the clearing of this path? What is going to move this mountain (Mark 11:23 KJV)? Jesus didn't leave believers comfortless. We have the Holy Spirit and the maintenance of the Spirit of God is developing and cultivating the fruit thereof. Having been born in an evil nature (Romans 13:13 AMP) before receiving Christ, we developed many habits that needed to change. Some were easier than others. Some took diligence and with the decision to not to return in that mess, came the reward. The renewing of the mind (Romans 12:2 KJV) by faith is instantaneous. Walking in love in all you do must be taught for the willingness to do so can be easy. Waking up in the wee hours of the morning can give reason to be grouchy but understanding that someone did it for you makes the adjustment much easier.

Longsuffering is fruit that no one initially would like to cultivate. It sounds painful. Bowing at the knees to pray for as long as it takes with the tingling in the feet, creaking of the back, feeling like the circulation stopped in the arms and the occasional snooze in between to start the prayer all over again is a pittance compared to those who would not get up early to do so therefore; suffered through financially. Or those who complained about praying so long and went through a lost deal, having no transportation, fired from a job that was guaranteed, a failed marriage, peace of mind is troubled, or whatever you could be facing now.

No, we don't have to do what Jesus did. His ministry is unique of its own. Paul wrote the truth and none of that fruit from each of us is the harvest God looks for. Seriously, in comparison with what Jesus did, does your knees really hurt?