Men... Who needs them???

It doesn’t take a genius to recognize that people are more confused today about their relationships than ever before.  Women are bombarded with information about love and sex but aren’t convinced that they are getting all the facts.  They seem to have caught on that magazines from the checkout aisle are lacking depth about these subjects and they are now more inclined to seek the truth which can only be found in the Word of God.  This is a good thing.  I mean, it’s great that women are coming back to the Bible for answers and help.  The world’s contradiction is very noticeable as it sends messages that blatantly disdain men (especially tv sitcoms where men are portrayed as incapable and useless) and at the same time, give women tips and suggestions on how to entice and captivate one!  A great relationship between women and men will only be built upon the high value that God places on both sexes.

To begin this teaching, we must understand God’s design for women:  a normal woman would want to be loved and desired by a man.  It was His plan and His design for women.  I have had women shamefully confess to me at the altar that they wanted a husband.  They drop their head as if they were seeking the most inappropriate, hideous thing.  It would be humorous to me if it weren’t so sad.  I find it interesting that "the world" has tried to convince women that they don’t need a man and now they feel guilty that they want one.  Another disheartening situation that I have frequently witnessed is women who feel that their marriage is a lifeless, loveless, even hopeless situation.  They are not convinced that God will change things.  They seem to think that He could care less or that He is just not concerned with that part of their life..….Oh but He is…..that is why the Song of Solomon was included in the word of God!

In Song of Solomon, we see a couple who had everything good that God ordained for marriage.  They seem to have had a fairy tale romance and marriage but God’s word is no fairy tale book at all -- it is The Book of Truth!  God wants women to know that He desires for them to have the same type of intimacy and friendship with their husband that the Shulamite woman had with King Solomon.  It was written to be proof that awesome relationships not only exist but they are worth praying, waiting and working for.  Just like anything else though, we each have a responsibility to learn what the Word of God says and apply it to our lives in a daily walk.  I tell women, "God’s Word works:  if you don’t have what is says you can have then it’s because you are not doing what it tells you to do!"  His Word is a system, and like any good system, you must learn how to work it to get results.

I have and I am a personal testimony that great relationships can be built.  It’s good to know that we have been given a way to build one because most of us will not inherit one. You too can build something so awesome between you and your husband that will make others jealous - just kidding!!  I mean it will be a light and offer hope to others in a lonely world where people are desperately seeking help and wanting something lasting and real.  Get out the Bible, go to the book of Song of Solomon, and read it this week and I will begin the teaching in a few days…….come on its only eight chapters!!  It will probably be the most interesting and steamiest thing you’ve read all summer!

Loving U Like a Sister,
 
Regina

Then I became in His eyes as one who found Peace

Starting next week, I will begin sharing some of the material from my teaching entitled:  "Then I Became in His eyes as one who found Peace".  The teaching comes solely from the book of Song of Solomon. The material is basically a teaching on women’s sexuality and the feminine role.  Some church people get nervous when we enter these waters and a few women especially don’t seem to amen this kind of teaching.  I have often asked them, “in the sixties, when the world was yelling loudly for sexual deviance and spreading filth about human sexuality, why didn’t someone stand up and teach the truth?”  I have checked to see what the CHURCH was teaching young women back then and I cannot find a single word.  It seems the world had a loud, obnoxious voice and the church had no voice at all!

Coming from a background of sexual abuse, I had so many questions and so many areas of defeat in my life when I entered the church.  Not right away, but when I felt safe enough to ask for help, I didn’t get any.  I once asked a pastor’s wife about a certain passage in the Bible, as it seemed to pertain to my situation, but she couldn’t answer me.  She really didn’t know how to help me.  I then went to God and found out that He had a lot to say to women regarding sexuality.  That is when my personal journey of getting out of Egypt began!  Those that call on the name of the Lord shall be delivered.

Through the years, I have come to realize that there are countless numbers of women who struggle in the most intimate areas of their lives.  You’ll be glad to know that I’ve never asked God anything that His Spirit couldn’t help me find the answer to.  God has never been offended at any of my questions.  He is only offended at our unbelief.  God wants women to be helped and to know the truth.  You, as women, have confirmed that you are interested in learning how to come into a place of peace in your relationship with men.

The Bible has a lot to say about romance, sexual desire, personal responsibility, and loyal love!  Don’t think these subjects are interesting?  I assure you some day, if not now, your daughter will!  She will want to be loved and desired (hopefully in that order).  She will want to be “happy” and have a wonderful, fulfilling relationship with a man but it’s hard for our daughters to inherit what we don’t have.  We will all leave some kind of inheritance to our children.  Why not invest now into understanding and be able to pass it along with the rest of your "valuables".  Not only is she worth the investment but you might be surprised at how much help this teaching can really be to you!  I always say, "God can fix a small dent but He also works well with broken pieces!"  I am living proof.  For I truly have "become in his eyes as one who found peace".

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

Whew!!! What a Situation!

So many times, we get into situations and wonder where God is.  We don’t feel like He has heard a word of our prayer and there are some of us who feel like he heard but refused to help us.  It really is times like these that develop faith in us.  I have noticed that it is easier to get people to read the word of God than to get them to trust it.  Unfortunately, reading the word of God alone will never develop faith in anyone.  I know women and men who have read the Bible regularly while in jail and prison (for a lack of anything else to read) and they never developed any faith.  Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  Therefore, we must all be granted a situation where we cannot see the evidence but our hope is in the fact that God said He would do it!

I don’t know what your IT is today, but I know God.  I know that if He allowed it to be in His word, you can trust it.  I know that He is a healing, delivering, restoring, saving God!  I didn’t just read that He was all these things but I went into a situation with Him where it was developed in me that He is all these things.  I had a sickness situation, a bondage situation, a bad marriage situation, and above all, a "badly needing saved" situation.  God came through!  He proved that He was everything that His word said that He was.  I found out that God was bigger than all of my situations!

If you are in a situation today, check and see what the word of God says about it.  Ask God to help you renew your hope in Him.  Remember, there is a difference between wishing and hoping.  Wishing for God to move is just waiting. Hoping in God is waiting with an expectation!  Be like King David in the Bible, he expected to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.  You may not believe me right now, but some day you will thank God for the situation.  Without IT you would never know God beyond what you’ve READ Him to be instead of whom you will KNOW Him to be.  Those of us in the ministry probably testify more than we preach that He is certainly worth getting to know.  HE IS GOD!

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

Regarding Both Sides...

So many times, I have been asked by others (usually pastors) what my talents and gifts are.  Now, I hope you know the truth about answering such a question too quickly with a pastor or church leader.  I have learned through the years that one of the greatest talents in a good leader is the ability to delegate certain tasks to another to help free his hands!  Lol!  So I try to be very cautious when answering...  I also find it humorous that they would even ask such a thing because it seems like a set up for someone to brag on their self.  Imagine the conversation of “I am so wonderful at this and I can do this and this and this and ……." - yuk!   My answer has always been the same:  My greatest talent or skill has been the ability to get on my face before God.

Not impressed with such an answer?  I don’t believe some of them were neither!  Most people aren’t impressed with other people’s desire to be closed in with God on a regular basis.  I have also noticed that it seems to make people nervous as if a woman was being lofty or even mystical about doing such an endeavor.  Another thing too, is there seems to be a lack of regard for the other side no matter which side you are on.  The busy bees certainly do not admire the 'closed in", "reading the Bible all day long" types………. and the "closed in with God" certainly don’t admire the busy bee type. Yet the Lord found it fitting and useful to call both!

If we compare what we are doing with what others are doing then we might not think what we are doing is fitting at all.  I am convinced that God knows exactly what fits you for this season in your life.  If you are wearing the busy bee jacket…..Get 'er done!  If you have on a priestly robe….get on your face!  I've learned that spending time in both places cultivates a high regard for both sides.

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

Ownership OR Stewardship?

Good afternoon to those of the faith and to those of whom we remain hopeful. We are always reminded of those who never lost hope in us. I have often told the story (usually at revivals) of how my sister spent the night pounding the floor with her fist, praying for God to save me.  That was over fifteen years ago and, of course, He not only answered her but He did exceedingly above all that she could have asked or even hoped for.   She saw me as a sinner:  a sinner in need of an outstretched hand to save me because I was just about to go under, if you know what I mean.  Back then, she had never even imagined that God had a call on my life.  She just wanted me to be rescued and spared, but God had a bigger plan in mind.  He was working out a plan of chosen and set apart for the building of His Kingdom.

How many times have we looked at someone on the outside of the kingdom hopeful that they would just be spared?  We pray for God to save them.  We want them to be brought into the Kingdom and placed under the safety of "our great ministry" that God has entrusted us with (Lol) and then sure enough, it happens!  We are very proud that God has used US to help save one that was perishing.  We love the feeling of being needed and helping the weak.  They look up to us and we are elated!  Yes, we are their teacher and their leader...  I mean, their dependency on our ministry makes us feel like we are SOMEBODY!  What would they do without us or where would they go without our leadership?  Besides, they wouldn’t even be saved if it wasn’t for our intercession for them.  Hmmm...

The question for today is: “why did God save them”?  Every one of us was saved on purpose for a purpose.  In the ministry we should want people to become disciples and to move ahead into their call.  Why would we want people to remain ignorant or dependent on us?  Why would any leader want someone to remain in the state of just RESCUED and SPARED instead of CHOSEN and SET APART?  We have to be mindful of the fact that God's Kingdom is so much bigger than our specific area we're currenlty working in right now.  Do you know what I mean?  His kingdom is certainly bigger than the local church. 

I have learned that it is a great honor for God to allow US to disciple or even safeguard His anointed for a season.  It is a privilege for HIM to allow us to cover His chosen vessels for a set time.  We can contrast our ministry with that of Pharaoh’s daughter… She was chosen to find and raise Moses, ensuring him a good foundation, but at some point she had to let him go, because after all the BABY didn’t belong to her. He belonged to God.  We must let God be the owner of all that belongs to Him and we be found faithful in the stewardship of it.

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina