Zealous for the House of God?

Good Morning!  In the word of God there is a passage that says, “zeal for your house has eaten me up”. In the New Testament, Jesus went into the temple and ran out the merchants. He not only ran them out but overthrew their tables! He was ZEALOUS for the house of God. It was certainly a time when you saw the lamb become a lion!

Today, I am wondering if you are zealous for what goes on in God’s house. In the past few years I have seen countless numbers of people trying to sell themselves or their merchandise in the church! I am not so aggravated by their trying to sell to the church as much as I am for their manipulation. Let’s face it: all of us want to earn a decent living… Many of us either have kids in college now or they will be attending in a few years. Most of us are looking to get ahead or just stay ahead whether in continuing our education or business opportunities but please, not at the expense or the integrity of the church!

Don’t try to flatter or manipulate God’s people just to make a sale... Don’t be a fake and try to develop relationships based on anything other than your sincerity! I have a great Idea... Let’s get more concerned about souls being saved! Let’s make disciples of Jesus’ followers and not customers! I know that this is a little more than blogging… But God’s church should be called a house of prayer. Who wants to come into a “market place atmosphere” where everyone is after you for a selfish reason or ulterior motive? Be real with me! I don’t care if you accept or reject me, just be real about it. We shouldn’t let people continue to manipulate the church for selfish gain.

My prayer is that the leaders in the local churches would take a stand against marketing in the church house. I personally could tell you of many situations of young converts being sought after and preyed upon by church members. I had to really hold my tongue as I watched a pastor and his wife manipulate a dear young friend of mine a few years back. I was so limited on what I could say because it was more of a gut feeling I had and I wasn’t sure of what I should say. They took her for close to fifteen hundred dollars for a “Business Opportunity”!

She never saw a dime of it back and she had small children to feed and buy diapers for. She trusted them because they were her leaders. Sometimes as women we want to be pleasing to those who are positioned over us. Do you know what I mean? We love the support and need the affirmation they offer. I call it an abuse of authority! I will also call it tacky when church members try to use the LOVE connection that Jesus gives us as a BUSINESS connection. I might make you mad today. I hope I make you mad enough to pray about it! I love all of God’s children but I will look after the weak and I pray that I will always be able to differentiate between good and evil. I pray that all of us as ministers will never stop being zealous for the HOUSE of GOD.

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

Who are you?

Hello friends!  A question for today:  Who are you?  Do you know that it has taken me 40 years to be able to answer this question.  The Holy Spirit led me back to "my Genesis" (when God created me) and strategically walked me back through every place I had been wounded.  We found pieces of me all over the place!  He has helped me understand that self-identity is at the root of every decision we make.  The choice of a spouse, career, religion and even simple things like clothing depict our identification of SELF.

Knowing who "you are" is critical to "your" success!  Acknowledging your weakness can help you be vigilant and wiser to guard that area.  Awareness of your abilities and strength will help give you the confidence to go into new territories.  Being mindful of your areas of sensitivity can help you pinpoint your motivation.  And of course, studying your heart's desire can help you understand your greatest need.

There are many situations in the Bible where someone, after being approached, asked the other "who are you?" (some examples:  Moses & God; Jacob & angel; S(P)aul & Jesus).  We understand their relationship wouldn't go any further until they identified who they were dealing with.  We tend to be the same whether in business, church or our personal lives.  We want to know the people before we enter a close relationship with them.  What I am saying though is that we will do better in all these areas if we really get to know SELF first!

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

The JOY of the Lord

Hello friends!  It is well, or is it well with your soul?  The Word of God teaches us that "the joy of the Lord is our strength".  Oh so many days I've had to rely on the joy of my salvation to get me through a miserable situation!  So many times, I've had to understand that I was working toward something greater than the task at hand and on my way to something better and brighter. As Christians, we learn to face "spiritual" fires and floods, and travel long journeys by relying on the joy of our salvation.

Our joy in the Lord is greater than any discouragement or hardship that we face.  I have learned from past experiences that the times when I lost my joy were times when I lost sight of what really mattered.  The Holy Spirit taught me that everything in life matters, but some things matter more and some things matter most.

If it IS well with your soul today then everything else in your life has to line up under your joy.  If it IS NOT well between you and God then your career, appearance (women care about these things), bank account, relationships and even your state of health are dependant upon some other source of happiness that will shift every time the seasons change!

When salvation matters most, joy is never lost and strength for endurance is easily regained through the right perspective.  As women, we should care about every matter involving our lives, but as women of God, we should be able prioritize them.  In life's journey, our joy will always be about where we are in the Lord instead of where we are on the map.

Loving U Like a Sister,

Regina

Mercy and Second Chances...

Hello friends!  Good Monday morning...  If you messed up last week, here's your opportunity to start all over again!  lol  Most of us have had to depend on a second chance once or twice in our lives...  But, the question would be, "how willing have we been to give them"?  Sometimes, it seems that we want mercy for us and judgment for our enemies without even thinking about how far off our mentality is from the Word of God.

A few years back, a woman would routinely seek me out for prayer.  She was always heavily burdened by her grown children's sinful behavior.  She had two children who were both addicted to drugs and alcohol and wanted the comfort of knowing someone would help her pray.  So, to me, out of what seemed to be a hemmed-in, no choice situation, I would routinely help this woman pray.

We prayed with tears of the utmost sincerity and declared the Word of God over her children's lives.  We refused to believe God for anything but mercy and second chances, especially for her son who was then facing criminal charges.  She believed God and He showed up with handfuls of mercy, not taking away the penalty but certainly softening the blow.  I know personally that her children have been given many second chances.  lol

One day this same woman asked me to help her pray about a situation involving her husband.  I couldn't help but notice that for her husband, she lacked that same desire for mercy that she had for her children.  She quickly passed up God's promise of help and went straight to ask Him for judgment and sentencing against her husband.  Not only did I notice it, I called her on it!   I reminded her of what Jesus said.  He had a lot to say about mercy and judgment.  God's Spirit was able to help her see the anger and fear in her prayer and she was able to readjust. 

Maybe there's someone in your life who doesn't deserve it, but needs mercy and a second chance...  One thing that we can all be reminded of today is that Jesus said when it comes to mercy and judgment, we can expect a return on what we have given.

Loving U like a Sister,

Regina

Miracles in the Local Church!

Hello friends!  Good Monday morning.  What a great day for a miracle to happen!  Do you believe in miracles?  Yes, probably most of us do.  Do you expect to see miracles?  Probably some of us do.  An older gentleman once told me that he didn't believe that the kind of miracles from the bible still happen today in our time.  Now, I was not this gentleman's teacher, so I remained quiet.  But of course, I do believe in modern day miracles.  As a matter of fact, I believe that the local churches are filled with them!

In our church alone we have the prodigal son who has now returned home, and a woman with an issue of blood dried up!  We now have many seeing people who were once blind, and many who were unclean that are now well!  We have groups of people who have travelled long journeys with God parting rivers and oceans of opposition so that they could pass through.  There are several prisoners who once had a life sentence and are now seated on the pew after receiving a pardon. There's a woman who was once bowed over who now stands up straight, and I have to point out that there are many, many of us who were once dead and now have been brought back to life! 

Now, to the believers, I know you remember the scripture where Jesus sent back John's (the Baptist), disciples to tell him what they saw...  The blind see and the lame walk;  the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.  And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.

In the local church, we see these miracles EVERY service.  Thank God for local churches and pastors who still believe in the miracles of Jesus Christ, our Lord.  If you don't believe that miracles still exist today in our time - maybe you better look again!

Loving U like a Sister,

Regina

HE sees better than me...

Hello friends!  How easy it is being on the outside looking in instead of being on the inside looking out!  Have you ever listened to someone speak and very quickly you recognized an area of their thinking that needed some adjustments?  We all have, most likely.  I was listening to a man talk last night when almost instantly, I percieved that his perception of a certain situation was a "little cloudy".  lol  Then later I thought to myself, "If only our self-perception was as keen as our perception of others!!" 

I say this because we really are the only one in our life that can make personal adjustments.  Do you know what I mean?  It's up to each of us as individuals to make corrections in our own thinking, character and behavior.  No matter how clearly others see that we need some adjustments, if we can't see it, it will never happen!

How wonderful though to have the Holy Spirit with us.  What illumination He is able to bring to every thought, word and action.  He doesn't miss a thing!  I was recently in prayer and the Holy Spirit corrected something that I had been saying for several months now without any idea that what I had been saying was offensive to God.  In reference to ministry, somehow I had gotten into the routine of saying, "My only qualification is that I care."  I am not sure how I even got started saying that but the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said, "Caring is not a qualification!  Lot's of people care.  Your qualification is the Spirit of the Lord is upon you because He has annointed you to preach the Gospel!" 

WOW!  Correction received and adjustment acknowledged.  Thank you God for not leaving us to figure all of this out on our own.  Thank you God that when self-perception fails, your Spirit is sharp!

Loving U like a Sister,

Regina

Real Purpose, Real Value, Real Important!

Hello friends!  As a pastor's wife, I am frequently approached by young women in the church that are eager to find their place in the Kingdom of God.  Someone, somewhere, told them that they were born with a purpose and they are enthusiastic to find it out!  Unfortunately, these women are looking up instead of down. 

As I look back over the years, I can't help but laugh at the times I argued with God over my purpose.  Oh, so many times, my focus was on high places that seem to offer a promise of value and importance.  But the Holy Spirit was always so good at leading me to look at the lower places instead.  I often tell people about the widow woman (she had no children) who God allowed me to serve for seven years.  Now, THAT was a great fulfillment of God's purpose for me.  Serving her gave me great value and importance because SHE was great, valuable and extremely important to God.

Today, if you are searching for greatness, or a great purpose in the Kingdom of God, don't ever look beyond the Scriptures.  Jesus said the servant shall be the greatest of all.  I've been asked by several people lately, "what will you do this summer?".  My reply has been, "I'm not sure who and where, but I am sure I will serve somebody!  lol

One thing that I've learned, you are never too young or too old to serve.  To me, "ministry" is all about life application.  The more we serve, the more we will learn and grow.  The more we learn, the more we can impart to the generation coming up behind us.  As long as we stay in line and in order, God will be pleased.  Are you looking for a great opportunity this summer?  The greatest opportunities are hidden in the lowest places where most people never go!

Loving U like a Sister,

Regina