Straight and narrow....which path will you follow?

For this blog I will discuss some of the major worldwide religions/practices.  My goal is to get a clear understanding of each practice, provide accurate information for each, and of course try, with all my ability, to lead any lost souls to Christ. Let’s get to it: 

ISLAM

Islam is Arabic (root word Salema) and means submission. Those of this religion are centered with their submission to Allah (also Arabic, translates to God, The One and Only Eternal God). The prophet Muhammad received revelations from Allah and recorded them in the sacred text of Islam, the Quran (or Koran). Those of the Islamic faith believe the world will be destroyed on the Last Day and Allah will raise all people and jinn (supernatural creatures) and all Allah’s creation will be judged. Those judged will either be granted entrance into Paradise or Hell (Jahannam). They agree all non-Muslims will be sentenced to hell. However, any Muslims sentenced to hell may or may not be rescued by Allah at some point. The sacred text of Islam, the Quran, both permits and forbids murder and violence, depending on the recipient: “Make war on them until idolatry is no more and Allah’s religion reigns supreme” (Koran 8:39), “It is not us who slay them but Allah…” (Koran 8:17). It also teaches that men have authority over women: “Good women are obedient…….whom you fear disobedience send them to beds apart and beat them” (Koran 4:34). There are 5 pillars (or obligations) of Islam that each Muslim must fulfill in his/her lifetime. Here are a few:  recite prayers 5 times daily while facing Mecca (the holiest city), fast (sexual intercourse, all food & drink, any tobacco substances) for one entire month per year, and making an annual trip to Mecca. 

Hinduism

Hinduism comes from the word “India” and is a wide variety of religious traditions and philosophies developed over thousands of years. What’s interesting to me is this practice has no known founder. It is a culture based out of India, which later took a form of religion. Hindus believe in one Supreme Being who is both immanent and transcendent. They believe the universe goes through countless cycles of creation, preservation and dissolution. Our thoughts and attitudes about life direct our actions; our actions then determine our destiny. When a person dies, their soul reincarnates, evolving through many births until all karma (the law of cause and effect) has been resolved. Hindus believe that all religions, faiths, paths, etc., are facets of God’s light, deserving tolerance and understanding. Their sacred text, Sanatana Dharma (the eternal law), is their codes of ethics, how one receives enlightenment.
   

Buddhism

The word Buddhism comes from ‘Budhi’ and means to enlighten. It originated when the Buddha, Siddhartha Guatama was awakened, or enlightened. Siddhartha Guatama was born into a royal family. While in his twenties he realized wealth and luxury did not guarantee happiness, so he spent 6 years exploring different religions/teachings of his day. He then found the “middle path” and was enlightened. He spent his remaining years walking the earth teaching what is now known as Buddhism. Three basic principles of this practice can be summed up as: 1) to lead a moral life, 2) to be mindful and aware of thoughts/actions, and 3) to develop wisdom and understanding. After death a person is either reborn into another body (reincarnation) or enters Nirvana (transcendent state in which there is neither suffering, desire, nor sense of self, and the subject is released from the effects of karma and the cycle of death and rebirth).

Jehovah’s Witness

Jehovah’s witnesses were founded by Charles Taze Russell. His own study of the bible led him to deny the existence of hell and doctrine of the Holy Trinity. People who follow him believe in the only “true God” whose name is Jehovah, though they deny the Holy Trinity (God as the Father, Holy Spirit, and Son Jesus Christ). They believe Jesus was God’s first creation, is an immortal spirit being, and inferior to Jehovah; and the Holy Spirit is merely a force of Jehovah. Their text is the bible, not in its entirety but specific translations. Each witness is to evangelize or convert others to become witnesses. To them, heaven is another worldly kingdom where Jehovah dwells; while hell is mankind’s “common grave”, not a place of torment. They believe only 144,000 people will go to heaven (Rev. 7:14), the saved others will live on a new and restored earth forever.

Judaism

The people we now call Jews were Hebrews. The word “Jew” came from Judah, one of Jacob’s (son of Isaac and Rebekah, Abraham’s grandson) sons. “Judaism” literally means “Judah-ism” or the religion of Yehudim (Jews). They believe there is only one God. This God is beyond our comprehension and every person’s relationship with God varies. Judaism teaches that every human being was created “in the image of God”. The Torah is the text of Judaism which includes the 10 commandments in addition to 613 commandments or mitzvoth. The 10 commandments are considered most important in the text. They believe God will send a Messiah who will bring peace and unity to the world. While traditional Judaism believes that death is not the end of human existence, the belief of heaven/hell, reincarnation, or any afterlife also varies. The Judaism practice focuses on life and how to live it best, rather than on the afterlife.

Atheism

The word atheism means “no god” (root word theos – god, a – no). Atheism is the lack of belief in a god or the belief that there is no god. It’s history dates back as far as the 16^th century; Epicurus, Democritus, and Lucretius are considered the first atheists writers. There is no known universal atheist organization; one atheist’s beliefs, or lack thereof, can very well differ from another’s. There are atheists who will outright say “there is no god” and the idea that there is a god is illogical. There are also others who deny God’s existence based on lack of evidence. The supernatural world does not exist; when a person dies, their soul dies also (the human soul is merely functions of the brain and when a person dies their brain ceases to function). A quote from gotatheism.com website “do you remember what you felt like before you were born? Of course not... you had no brain function. Death is exactly like that.”

Christianity

Greek word Christianos means “follower of Christ”. Those of this faith believe the man called Jesus was, and is, the Son of the Living God, Creator of all things seen and unseen. He and His Father are one and by faith in Him, and faith alone, will any soul be granted eternal life in His presence. Those who have not accepted the name of Christ will have sentenced themselves into eternal punishment, separated from their Creator forever. What makes Jesus Christ so important? Why He’s God in the flesh of course! Here are a few examples of Him revealing His deity or "Godness":

·         He prophesied his own death-Matthew 12:40 “For just as Jonah was 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be 3 days and 3 nights in the heart of the earth”

·         After being dead for 3 days, He resurrected-John 20:27 “Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe”

·         He forgives sins-Mark 2:5 “And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son your sins are forgiven”

·         He is omniscient or all-knowing-John 16:30 “Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God”

·         He is omnipresent or everywhere at all times-Matthew 28:20 “…And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age” and 18:20 “For where 2 or 3 are gathered in my name, there I am among them”

·        He is omnipotent or having all power-Matthew 28:18 “And Jesus came and said to them, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.’

·         He is unchanging-Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever”

·         He accepted worship-Matthew 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him”

·         Jesus Christ will judge all humanity-Matthew 25:31-32, 34, 41 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats…Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world’…Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels’ “

·         Our eternal destinies depends on our response to him-Mark 8:35 “For whoever would save his life will lose it but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it” 8:38 “For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed  when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels”

The very fact that Jesus is God/Lord of all/the Creator/Messiah makes Christianity what it is. Without Christ, there’d be no Christianity. It’s a good thing to follow a man of God, a man who has heard directly from his Creator. The Old Testament told of such blessed men: Adam, Abraham, Moses, and Noah to name a few. The thing is, and I want you to read this carefully, this was BEFORE the Lord revealed the path of salvation. Of all the ways in which Christ revealed his deity, the most important by far is His resurrection. The people who may or may not have founded the religions above are all long gone by now. They’re dead. And there’s no way for them to come back and confirm what religion they’ve organized.

Historians, theologians, and even non-Christians agree a man named Jesus lived and walked the earth. Bart D. Ehrman and John Dominic Crossman are New Testament scholars, who have a reputation for attacking Christianity. However, both are “certain” of Jesus’ existence.  History doesn’t lie about Jesus’ existence. The question, and what has been debated since His time on earth, is whether He truly was/is the son of the living God. Interestingly enough, history points to His existence and it’s been over two thousand years since he’s been here; yet there is no burial ground for Jesus. Muhammad, Buddha, Confucius, Barnabas, etc. were buried upon death and stayed there. Jesus died, but where is His body? There is no burial ground for Jesus because His body is not here.

All religions/faiths/practices have one thing in common; they all agree that at the root of every human being there is something wrong.  That we all are inherently bad and our very nature is wicked. To fix this problem, all belief systems (outside of Christianity) have a list of works or obligations for one’s faith, as described above. Whether five or 100; there are do’s and don’ts for the world’s religions; i.e. praying 5 times a day, thinking positively, doing good deeds, etc. Things we must or can do to help cleanse us, make up for what humanity lacks, and help us to appear righteous in the next life. The goal for religion is to have peace and not suffer when we die.  Christianity picks up what every other religion lacks. Works are dead; there isn’t ANYTHING any one can do to make up for their sins or the evil in humanity. It is only by accepting and believing in Jesus Christ that a person can become righteous in God’s eyes. Once a person sincerely accepts Jesus as their Lord and Savior their slate is wiped clean. Even as a Christian I sin against God daily and do things I know that are contrary to His will. And THIS is why any works are void, because they will always be infected with our transgressions. How can I possibly say enough prayers, do enough good deeds and think enough positive thoughts to make up for all the bad I do and/or think?  My bad deeds still need to be punished right?  Jesus Christ took OUR punishment for us on the cross and through his death and resurrection we are redeemed.  For this reason and this reason alone do Christians serve and worship Him.

Matthew 7:13-14 says “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few”. There are countless ways (or roads) this world has people thinking will lead to peace, eternal bliss, to God and/or to heaven. The way, however, is narrow because there’s only one way to the Lord; through Christ Jesus. Why not take God at his word?

"Ye that work iniquity"

Before God created man and earth, He created angels. There was one very popular angel, the one angel all the others looked up to, called Lucifer. The Latin name Lucifer means ‘bringing light’ or ‘morning star’. He was the brightest of all angels and the most powerful; the “anointed cherub” (Ezekiel 28:14), covered in every precious jewel in God’s creation (Ezekiel 28:13), and a model of perfection (Ezekiel 28:12b). Here we have God Almighty and His angels, who worship Him day and night, crying out “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty…” (Revelation 4:8). Pretty soon though, Lucifer became jealous and wanted praise for himself. He actually wants to take God’s place! So God kicked him out of heaven (Luke 10:18), along with one third of the angels whom he succeeded in persuading to go against God (Revelation 12:4 and Jude 1:6).  And this, my friend, is why we have sin.  

God created us to be good and without a sinful nature; “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness…God created man in His own image…” (Genesis 1:26-27). God’s plan when He created man in ‘His own image’ was for us TO BE LIKE HIM. When Lucifer, now Satan (the Hebrew word for ‘adversary’), tempted Eve in the garden (Genesis 3:1-7), is when sin entered into God’s creation, embedded into any person born of human parents. From that point on the bond that was there between God and man, Creator and creation, Potter and clay, was spiritually and supernaturally broken. Sin is the reason the world is the way it is. Child molesters and abusers, rapists, murderers, alcoholics, terrorists, thieves, etc. show how sick and evil we ALL are. Jeremiah 17:9 says the heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; John 3:19 says the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. It’s speaking of all mankind and our very root of evil and loving darkness. The light that came into the world is our Creator, the Holy One, God Almighty, as Jesus, the only one that can mend our spirits back to its source; Him.

Take children for instance; the parents or guardian of a child will teach them to eat, walk, to dress and bathe themselves, how to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank You’, etc. If you say to a child “Don’t eat any cookies until you’ve eaten dinner” and turned your back, what is it that makes that child know it’s the perfect opportunity to sneak and eat the cookie while your back is turned? And even lie and say they didn’t eat the cookie when asked if they did? My nephew is almost 19 months old. When he goes for anything I know he could possibly break or mistreat, I take it away from him. He then gets mad and swings at me with his fist hitting my thighs and/or face. He may not actually know what he’s doing, but it’s almost a reflex. It just comes naturally for him to be selfish and try to hurt me for taking someone away from him. It’s up to me as an aunt and anyone else watching him to show him that behavior is not appropriate. What is that though that makes him do that? The answer is simple for all three questions: SIN. We are guilty of it, starting from conception. No one teaches their child to lie, or steal, or talk back, or throw tantrums, etc. (at least I hope not), they simply know how because it’s built in us. Obviously there are greater sins than others, but we’re ALL sinful creatures nonetheless.  

Obviously sin is still present, which means the forefather of sin is still free. Day and night Satan walks the earth, waiting, searching for more souls (Job 1:7) to suffer as he. Misery does indeed love company! His motto: steal, kill and destroy (John 10:10). He knows exactly who to send into your life and what situations to place you in that will continue to distract you from wanting God, keeping you more comfortable with your sin. It can be an obsession with keeping your body healthy and fit, with working and not having a life outside of your employment, always wanting comfort and attention from lovers or friends, getting high, tipsy or drunk, and especially putting all your time and energy in making more money. He will use absolutely ANYTHING he can to keep your mind and attention away from thoughts of God and eternity. 

For those of you that haven’t accepted Jesus Christ as Savior and doesn’t believe He is Lord of all, he’s probably tempted you with lies like these: There is no God, God doesn’t love you, you have time to get your life together but now’s the time to have fun, you’re a good person-you’ll get welcomed to heaven definitely. Yeah, Satan’s good at what he does. I mean, he is the father of lies (John 8:44)! Every temptation has been God allowing Satan to test you (Job 1:12), and you’ve failed miserably. Then, there’re times when something tells you to go to church, pray, read the Word, or reach out to someone who knows God’s word, but you ignore it. Those are the times God is trying to get your attention, but you keep slapping Him in the face. You’re choosing things of this world over God. Think of it this way: right now you’re life is like a ticking time bomb; every day, hour, and second that passes could be the end of you. Any moment now, you could come face to face with the Creator. This is the case for anyone walking this earth. Death is definitely a guarantee for us all! Whether a person lives to be one day old or 150 years old, their body will still perish. What it comes down to is that moment; when you take your last breath and stand in front of God’s holy throne. For those of you that don’t believe Christ is King of King and Lord of Lords (Revelation 19:16) you’ll be in for quite a surprise. 

 

 

At that moment, do you know what God would say to you? He’d say “I never knew ye; depart from me, ye that work iniquity” (Matthew 7:23) or get away from me, you who break God’s laws/workers of lawlessness. Iniquity means immoral or grossly unfair behavior.  He pretty much wouldn’t want anything to do with you! The instant the words ‘depart from me’ would exit His lips your very soul would begin to be thrown from His presence. You’ve spent your life ignoring Him, not believing in Him, going to church to show your face or giving offering only wanting something in return, spending most of your days continually doing things He’s made clear in His word NOT to do. Why would He, the most Holy and Righteous God, want to be around you? If someone you’ve never seen knocked on your door, would you let them in? I know I wouldn’t especially where I live! It’s the same concept. The thing is, He created you, gave you chance after chance to be reconciled back to Him, but you chose otherwise. You would be a stranger to Him.  

And do you know where you’d be departing to? Matthew 13:42 says ‘and the angels will throw them into the furnace of fire; in that place there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth’. The very angels the Lord created before us will be the same ones who will literally throw your soul into hell, into the furnace of fire. I scream when I burn my hand while cooking, ok. To just sit in fire while burning forever! And gnashing of teeth! Think of a ferocious lion. Personally, lions are my favorite animal, but that doesn’t mean I’d like to go to the zoo and walk inside their cages. Not only will you burn for an eternity, but have to deal with Satan and his demons. They are like lions, itching to sink their teeth into you (and who knows what else they’d like to do); only for you there will be no escape by death, because you’ll already be dead. Do you get the picture now?!?

 

“There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out” (Luke 13:28). Of course there will be weeping, tears flowing constantly! What else can you do in a place such as that?! And you will most certainly be thrown from the very presence of the Holy One “…into the eternal fire which has been prepared for the devil and his angels” (Matthew 25:41).  A million years would pass and that’d be NO COMPARISON to the eternity you’d have ahead of you. There’d be no way of escape, no break, no hope for you. “The Lord will come with fire/Sudden destruction cometh upon them; they shall not escape/Will I also deal in fury, neither will I have pity/and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever….” (Isaiah 66:15, 1 Thessalonians 5:3, Ezekiel 8:18, and Revelation 20:10 respectively). God will not have pity on you; He will show you no mercy. 

Now this may seem harsh, but quite frankly it’s what you deserve. It’s what we all deserve! We are all given a choice, live for God Almighty or of this world. You may have thoughts about surrendering to God, the Spirit of God may be speaking to you now, but with every opportunity that you pass or ignore, you continue to reject Him. That is the choice you consciously make, rejecting God, as Satan did. Jesus said “He that is not with me is against me” (Luke 11:23) and “He that does not believe is condemned…” (John 3:18). Either choose to live for the one and only Christ Jesus or you are claiming to be the enemy of God, His adversary, just as Satan. Therefore, you will endure the same fate as he. You are condemning yourself to hell by rejecting Christ.  

Who knows how much time you have left? You have not a clue, but God does! He’s omniscient. You think you have your entire life ahead of you and that’s exactly what Satan wants you to think. Even if you don’t care how long you have on this earth, you definitely should care about what happens to you once you’re gone. God is NOT PLAYING WITH YOU! The fact you’re reading this now, shows His mercy and grace for allowing your eyes to read the truth, and giving you yet another breath to accept Him. Yesterday, this morning, an hour ago was someone’s last time and they didn’t take the opportunity to accept the Savior. Every soul burning in hell right now will NEVER get out! There is NO HOPE for the condemned. “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might”, (2 Thessalonians 1:9). Your mind couldn’t possibly fathom what God’s wrath will be, even after reading those verses! All because you’re hard-headed and want to be accepted by this world. You are DUST (Psalm 103:14) and like GRASSHOPPERS (Isaiah 40:22) to the Almighty THAT SITS HIGH AND LOOKS LOW. The dirt that’s caked on the fans you have going in the summer time, or the dust that sits on your TV set. That is what you are to the Lord, what He made you from. Do you really think its ok to ignore Him now??!?!? 

He’s not asking you to change, give up something, or commit to follow some rules. He knows you can’t! All God is asking for is YOU. He wants YOU. He doesn’t like when you pray or call on Him only when you need something. He wants your heart! He wants all of you! Why? Because He made you. You were not a mistake. Psalm 139:13 says You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb. Every single detail about you, the way you look, what drives your emotions, the way you think, the things you’re insecure about; EVERYTHING ABOUT YOU, THE CREATOR DESIGNED ON PURPOSE! And He wants His child back, not by force, but willingly. If God forced you to obey Him you’d just be a robot, no sincerity.  

So again, you have a choice. What is your heart saying? Is there any part of you, and I don’t care how small it may be, that has any questions, curiosities, or doubts? Talk to Him! He knows any and everything you could ever possibly think, do, and say so you can’t hide anything from Him. Are you angry with God for something that happened to you? Tell Him! Do you doubt His existence? Tell Him! You still don’t understand why a God would send you to hell? Tell Him! Call on God and confess every single thing that’s on your mind and heart right now! The things He can reveal to you, to show you He’s there will be mind-blowing! 

 

He is God of all. He not only wants your all, your worship, your praise, to be the head of your life, but He DESERVES it! There is no one like Him; He is the Creator of time, skin, blood, and bones; He was there first and will be the last (Isaiah 46:9-10). Stop worrying about the things of this world and fear the One that can cast your soul into hell (Luke 12:45). All you have to do is call on Jesus right now and He will take care of the rest. “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” (John 3:36). 

*Belief in Him is not enough. Satan and his demons believe in God (James2:19). They’ve seen Him! Even with their belief Satan and his demons will still be cast away from the Holy One! But if you don’t ACCEPT Jesus as Savior, ALLOWING God to be in ultimate control, direction, and guide your life, your belief will be in vain and have no purpose. Faith without works is dead (James 2:17). It must be a daily decision; your thoughts, things you say, your actions, everything you put out into this world is representing Christ in the best way possible. Can a person actually do everything perfect? Absolutely not! But that’s where dependence on Christ comes in. You are to strive and have the mindset to be perfect, holy, and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). Sacrifice your own desires of what your flesh wants and allow the will of God to take place in your life, strengthening your spiritual walk with Him.*

 

With Love,

 

Karen

Let's Talk About SEX....Baby!

You meet someone. There’s an attraction. Phone numbers are exchanged, time is spent, and things evolve. Feelings have developed for a while now. All that’s left to do is…have sex right? Show him/her how much you like them? Or maybe it’s just been awhile and you need a little “sexual healing”.  WRONG! Let me explain why…

                 God said to wait til marriage. Period! Remember as a kid your parents would tell you to do something? If you were bold enough to ask why, unlike myself, they’d respond something like “Because I said so!” As harsh as that statement is, it’s almost the same thing with God. He’s not a dictator god in heaven with an iron fist “Do as I say or else!” On the contrary He’s more loving than we’ll ever know. You see, even now you can look back at what your parents said and realize they kept you from certain things all in your best interest. They knew what was best for you at the time, whether the knowledge came from life’s lessons or being older and smarter than you. We all were created by the Almighty Most Holy God, it’s safe to trust Him if He said to wait. For most people, unfortunately this reasoning isn’t good enough.

So what’s the big deal? Why can’t sex be just that? When a man and woman come together physically, they experience intimacy on a level that no other human relationship can match. Think of the person you’re possibly sleeping with right now, or the last person you slept with. That bond you have with that person is nothing like how you feel about anyone else; friends, siblings, and even parents. Genesis 2:24 says “A man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh” This was the first marriage known to man. There was no ceremony and no proposal, only the physical act of the two, man and woman, becoming “one flesh”. People are so quick to say marriage is only a piece of paper and while that is important, it’s not what binds a marriage in God’s eyes. Every single person you’ve every laid down with, let fondle you, or had oral sex with is an act of marriage. 1 Corinthians 7:1-2 says “…It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with (or touch) a woman. But because of the temptation to sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife and each woman her own husband”. It is better for you to marry and have sex in the will of God, than to have casual sex. Would you be happy if you had to marry the last person you slept with? When the Lord said “they shall become one flesh” that’s literally what happens! The man enters the woman’s body becoming ONE FLESH! There’s just no bond like it. You are united with that person, forever, in every way humanly possible.

Sex isn’t only physical. All mankind were created differently than every other animal and beast on the planet. We were created in God’s image and likeness, tripartite, or having 3 parts, while still being one person: a body, spirit, and soul (“…may your spirit, soul, and body be kept intact and blameless at our Lord Jesus Christ’s coming” 1 Thessalonians 5:8). Because we’re all composed of a spirit and soul, physical intercourse cannot occur with our flesh without involving these two components.

Let me give a brief description of each. Your soul is composed of your mind (Lam. 3:20), your emotions (Song of Solomon 1:7), and your will (Job 7:15, 6:7). To put it simple your soul is you, without your physical body. Your spirit is the God-breathed eternal essence within you (Genesis 2:7). It’s the intangible part of you. It is your spirit that connects you with God. Some may be spiritually dead, if he/she hasn’t accepted Christ into their lives (Colossians 2:13): “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses,”.  For clearer understanding, I may have to write an entire blog regarding that verse. Just know regardless if you’re spiritually dead or alive, you still have one. It is made up of your conscience, fellowship, and intuition.


If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. – 1 Cor 15:44

When two bodies are joined in flesh, they are joined in spirit, as well as the soul. As stated above, it is the spirit that connects us to God. Picture this; you are having sex in a church pulpit. The place where the Pastor preaches the Word and not everyone is allowed to sit. Try to imagine yourself getting it on right there in the sanctuary. I don’t know about you but that’s an image I’d rather not think about. In God’s eyes that’s what occurs every single time you have any sexual contact with a person you have not married (officially). Sex is how two married people commune with one another and God at the same time. Granted your spirit isn’t in an actual church, but because our bodies are “God’s temple and His Spirit lives in us” 1 Corinthians 3: 16, makes the thought even more unbearable. Our bodies, both physical and spiritual, are not ours to do whatever pleases us at any given moment. We were created in God’s image and will return back to Him. We are not our own. Erwin Lutzer, senior Pastor of Moody Church, explains in his book Putting Your Past Behind You: "Sex creates a soul tie between two people, forming the most intimate of all human relationships...Once a man and woman have had sex together, nothing can be the same between them ever again."

                Intercourse has a God-given purpose, at the right time with the right person. Think logically for a second. Would that break-up have been so devastating if there was no sex involved?  God designed sex just for marriage so the unmarried folk wouldn’t have to deal with the pain or complications sex can bring into our lives. He knows and fully understands our desire for physical pleasure. He also knows the connection it brings and damage it can cause if done outside His will, “Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body” 1 Corinthians 6:18.

                My mom gave me a book called “60 Things God said about Sex” by Lester Sumrall when I left for college. There was one particular story my mind tends to go back to. He discusses how even the earliest societies, who’ve never heard the gospel of Christ have some form of sexual restrictions; showing we as a creation know, even if only on the smallest level, that sex is a serious and committed experience. While visiting Paraguay he attended a jungle wedding. It was a very simple wedding to say the least, but the country’s custom is what was interesting. The boy was not permitted to touch any girl, except the one he would marry. Sumrall goes on to discuss Muslim women, and how they must conceal their beauty from any man but her husband. And in China the parents of a small boy chose his bride while he was still a child, but he was not permitted to see her until their wedding day. Each village understands the charms of a woman are such a privilege, that only her husband should be the one to enjoy them.

                The Lord is powerful enough to control us, but gracious enough to grant us free will. It is your free will to choose to do with your body as you please. I can only pray you’ll come to understand the significance of choosing to become celibate. Or stay pure if you’ve never had any sexual contact. The sexual appetite is extremely powerful and difficult to overcome. Almost every person, male or female, who engages in sex very often with multiple partners are trying to fill a void. The void could be love, loneliness, depression, hurt, anger, or just plain hormones. If by now you haven’t received any gratification, I can assure you it will never happen. That void can only be filled by God. I urge you to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 1 Corinthians 6:13 says “‘Food is meant for the stomach and the stomach for food’ —and God will destroy both one and the other. The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.” God has called us to honor our bodies that He Himself dwells in.

as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ²¹ For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. - Philippians 1:20-21 

 

With Love,

Karen

Welcome to my mind: Testimony time

I first got saved, or gave my life to Christ, right after my 12^th birthday. One Sunday after morning worship my mom and I were on our way to my granny’s house for dinner. My mom pointed out to me the sinner’s prayer posted in the church bulletin. She told me if I didn’t say that prayer, I would go to hell. Something about the ‘age of accountability’. When we arrived at my granny’s house, I was overcome with the feeling that Satan and his demons were surrounding me just waiting for permission to take me away to hell. Obviously at such a young age, someone telling you you’re going to hell doesn’t sit quite well, LOL. Anyway, eventually I listened to my instincts, which I now know was the Spirit of God, went upstairs, got on my knees and asked Jesus to come into my life. Once I stood up it felt like a great weight was lifted from my shoulders.

Immediately after that moment all I wanted to do was go to church. I couldn’t get enough. From the ages of 12-18 years old, my life consisted of school and church. One particular Sunday during worship service, my Pastor spoke about marriage and how God said to wait until you are married to be intimate in any way. I decided I would do just that! I had no problem telling any guy that tried to date me or was attracted to me, “I’m a virgin and I’m waiting until I’m married to have sex”.  I’ve ALWAYS had the desire to be a wife and mother. In my mind God said to wait for marriage and that’s what I had to do to get what I wanted.

On the exterior, everything seemed fine. Monday through Friday I was in school. Always on honor roll, receiving awards for my academics, straight A student. Saturday and Sunday I was in church. I didn’t like to party, go to the mall, or any of the things most kids in high school were doing. I’d much rather read a Dean Koontz novel than sit in front of a TV all day.

Internally, I was extremely depressed and insecure. I felt very alone. All four years of high school I’d had 2 true friends, 1 of which I remain friends with today.

Sonya on the left, myself on the right

During lunch I’d sit alone and read; I refused to talk to anyone. The only time anyone ever did talk to me was if they wanted to copy my school work. I wasn’t stupid; I knew I was being used. But it made me feel superior to them. They needed me, but I didn’t need them.

I constantly compared myself to other girls thinking all of them were prettier than me. All the guys at my high school never paid me any attention and it made me frustrated. Sure there were a few who spoke to me and even asked for my phone number. But after one conversation, which I presumed was pleasant, it never went any further. I never really understood dating. Senior year a female classmate was going on and on about her boyfriend cheating on her. She said something along the lines of ‘The only thing he can do right is when he’s on top of me. And even then it’s bad because it only lasts 5 minutes.” This she said loud enough for everyone to hear! Of course I could understand her pain and anger, my heart’s been broken too. But the fact I saw her that very same day holding hands with that dude, smiling from ear to ear, as if she never said any of those things!!!!! I thought ‘How stupid are you?!?!!? He’s not hiding the fact that he’s playing you, he’s CLEARLY not pleasing you either, and you take him back?!?!’ UGH! Dating was stupid. Boys were stupid. My taste, were older men.



My dad raised my brothers and I. I was about 10 years old when I asked him when I would be able to have a boyfriend and he asked why I wanted one. I said ‘I don’t know. So I can go out and have someone to kiss.’ (Yes I actually said that). My dad then explained to me guys only wanted one thing from me and they’d do or say anything to get it. He’d tell me lines he used back in the day, and as I got older I realized guys were using the same lines! My dad said that most guys would want to date me for sex. In return they’d take me out, buy me things and I would be called their girlfriend. If I told them I was waiting for marriage to have sex, more than likely they wouldn’t want to date me or call me their girlfriend. Of course they wouldn’t spend any money on me either. He said being the type of woman I am, men should consider it a privilege, an honor, to spend any time with me.  It should be a man’s pleasure to take me (or any virtuous woman, Proverbs 31) out and be part of their lives in any way, to enhance it. The sex shouldn’t matter. He said (and I’ve heard this from various guys) I’m the type of woman a man marries, not have as a girlfriend. Hearing that made me excited. I mean, that’s what most girls want right? To be married; for her prince to come rescue her, horse and carriage, the whole nine yards. Yeah, well this is the real world, not a fairytale. Then again, wouldn’t I have to be someone’s girlfriend and then become their wife?! Ugh, dating is just not for me!

August 2003 I started my undergrad at Illinois State University in Bloomington-Normal. I was officially on my own. My dad would be sure and call me Friday through Sunday nights and check on me. He thought I’d be out partying and getting drunk, and some nights I did. But, like I said before, I’m not a party person. When we were younger on Friday nights my dad would order pizza and we’d watch movies as a family. That tradition stuck with me. While my entire dorm was empty and really quiet, it was the perfect time to rent a movie and order Pizza Hut.

Two years goes by and I sign my first lease for my first apartment. Although I’d been on my own for some time, it still felt weird not having any parent to answer to. If someone invited me out or a guy wanted to come to my place, my dad was no longer in authority. It was my decision. I had to use what he’d taught me, how he raised me, and my faith in the Lord to determine how I would respond to the world as an adult.

I’d been strong my entire life; standing firm with my beliefs. And then……it happened. I gave into temptation. I’d spent years saying no, but didn’t really know what I was saying no to. When it came to sex my dad just said ‘Don’t do it!’ and my mom always broke out a scripture. I was a woman in her mid-Twenties who still didn’t know what sex was and how to do it. Talking to friends (male and female) made me extremely curious, but it still didn't answer the questions in my head. So I turned to porn. Watching porn helped me learn what sex was, female/male parts, etc. My curiosity only grew deeper, wanting to know what it felt like to be with a man. As the saying goes, 'Curiosity killed the cat'.
One guy was accepting of my virginity and only ‘wanted to please me’. The thought of anyone performing oral sex grossed me out, but I’d always here females say how great it felt. I caved. And they were right; it felt great! I was now open to something I never had, and became a slave to it. LITERALLY! It was all I could think about, during work, during school, watching TV, reading, eating, even during church. I WANTED IT ALL THE TIME! The appetite I had could NOT be satisfied. Looking back now I see how anyone can be in sexual bondage. I knew exactly what to say, ‘Just so you know I’m a virgin so nothing is happening…’, to make guys want to perform oral sex on me even more. I began to use them, just as my dad warned me about being used.

There were some occasions I’d made up my mind to go all the way. I said ‘Screw it! I’ve come this far, might as well go all the way.’ The fact I was in my twenties and hadn’t had intercourse bothered me. I wanted to be like my friends who had boyfriends and went out on dates. I figured if I gave him my body he’d be with me. The night I made the decision, I prepared dinner, and waited. Hours went by, no call no show. I later found out he was in a car accident. Another time following that one he was arrested (great choice right?!? Thank God it didn’t happen). Both times I knew without a doubt, God was saving me. But it made me angry and more adamant on doing it. I was determined to make it happen and join the club of having casual sex everyone I knew was part of. I didn’t listen to God. I pushed Him away and continued to do my own thing.



My Porter men and I

 

More years go by. The bitterness and anger towards God is overwhelming. I am still a virgin, and by that I mean not experiencing intercourse, but He hadn’t given me a husband yet. I waited like I was told to do, but every guy that entered my life was removed just as quick. By now I’m over 25 years old, way past my marriage deadline. Doesn’t God understand I don’t want to be in my thirties when I have my own children?!? Yeah….I had some nerve. The audacity to think God doesn’t know what He’s doing. He controls this entire universe, which has been around way longer than I have. That anger I held onto had me thinking my Creator was keeping something good from me.  I thank God for opening my eyes and being patient with me.

Mr. Eye-opener was in my life for about 2+ years. I won’t bore you with all the details. We started out as friends but it grew into more. I was so fond of him I knew I wanted him in my life even if we never got married (we discussed the future a lot!). Well, turns out he was not a nice person. Many people warned me about him, people that knew him a lot longer than I did, but I didn’t listen. Funny things is, I don’t blame him at all. I truly believe people attract who they are. We both were insecure and desperate for someone to love us. I also believe with every fiber of my existence what happened between us was for a reason. Was I hurt? Of course I was. I cried myself to sleep for almost 5 months! I’d spend the entire day thinking about him and wondering why it didn’t work when I tried so hard to force it. I wanted him and only him. Any man who was cuter or had more money just didn’t interest me. I wanted Mr. Eye-opener!!!

Well, I’ll tell you what, if it wasn’t for my experience with him, I would still have the mindset I had then. I had never felt that much hatred and anger in my life! It took what seems like years to come at peace with what happened. God had used that situation to completely break me down, tears and all, to come back to Him. I knew I never wanted to feel those things again, even if it meant being single for life.

I gave Mr. Eye-opener an ultimatum, either come clean or I didn’t want anything else to do with him. He chose the latter. Months later I ended up moving back to my home town, Chicago. Back home, the Spirit of God was begging and pleading with me to let Him in, but I was still hurt. I hadn’t healed yet. I went to church when I felt like it, not because I wanted to hear a word from God. I prayed, not because I completely depended on God, but because I wanted Him to bring my love back to me.

The more time passed the more I found myself slowly forgetting about the guy that changed my life. I began talking and spending time with God, this time because I wanted to. I’d wake up at 3am and talk for hours. My core didn’t feel so hot anymore; the hole in my heart was starting to fill up!
There were even Christian guys I became attracted to, no longer attracting the type of person I used to be. I thought this particular guy was kind of cute, but again wasn't so eager to date him. We spoke when we passed; eventually we began texting. I found myself smiling when he'd call me. One morning he asked me to dinner. Immediately I was excited. Here's a guy who knows Jesus, and by that I don't mean just have bible verses tatted on his arm, I mean really living for God, handsome, with a great future ahead of him. Before responding 'yes' or 'no' I prayed first. I was honest with God and said I do feel something for this guy, but if he is not who You've (God) chosen to be my husband I don't want to waste his or my time. If he wasn't going to be my husband I didn't see the point in going out with him. I asked for the Lord's will. Guess what? After that I never heard from that guy again. I mean he literally disappeared. Obviously God was telling me he's not my husband. What's great is that I didn't feel any pain or hurt; we never went out so my feelings didn't have a chance to really develop. It was more like 'oh well' with absolutely no hard feelings.

 

 

You see, my life’s biggest lesson is, always, ALWAYS keep God first.  It may sound cliché, but it’s so true. The reason God hadn’t provided me a husband when I wanted one, the reason my life became even more chaotic when I put everything I had into something or someone, the reason I went through the most devastating pain I’ve ever felt is all because I was disobeying God. When you place pleasing God as your first priority, everything in your life will fall where it should. For years I believed once I got marriage and had a family of my own, my life would be complete or fulfilled in a way. Now I KNOW Jesus is the only one that can complete me. He filled the void I was trying to fill with things and people of this world. In spite of my singleness, I am at peace. I feel joy. Every obstacle I went through was to get me back to the source of all existence: GOD. Just thinking about how God would allow those things to happen, just so I could be realigned with Him is AMAZING. That’s how great His love is. He wasn’t holding me back from being married and He didn’t take those men away from me because He wanted me to be miserable. The essence of God is good. He can’t do anything with evil intent. He was showing mercy upon me, even when I didn’t recognize it. Marriage may be in His plan for me, just not right now; or it very well could be His will that I remain single for the rest of my life. It took an ocean of tears for me to realize; God’s will is all that matters. 

 

 

 

 

Jesus is Lord!

Hi there. My name is Karen *waves hi*. The Lord just blessed me with 28 years on the earth this past December. Born and raised on the south side of Chicago. I attended Illinois State University in Normal, IL for some time, lol. That lol is for those that know I never graduated. Eh….let’s just say I left for college with no clue on what I wanted to do and changed my major A LOT! Anyways, I lived down there almost 10 years and moved back a little over a year ago with the strongest desire to pursue my love of food. I love to cook and bake. Anything that has to do with being in a kitchen, I’m down. Don’t worry, you’ll soon hear of me in that areaJ. Along with that, the Lord had placed on my heart a stronger desire of Him.

That’s where this blog comes into play. You know how you get the best news you’ve ever heard and want to scream from a rooftop, partly from excitement but mostly to share with any and every one? Exactly how I feel. I can say I’ve known Jesus all my life, but I’d rather not claim that, now I have a better understanding of what it means to be a born again Christian. I’ll give you more details and my testimony later. Let’s cut to the chase; the first thing I’d like to share with you is best news you can ever hear.  Your reaction and the decision you make upon reading this message will determine your future. Not like in the next month, or a few years from now. I mean the most important future, something we’re all guaranteed, and that’s the future of your soul in eternity.

All I’d like to say is this: Jesus is Lord. Did you get that? Let me just reiterate: JESUS IS LORD! There’re quite a few responses to that statement. For now, let’s put them into two categories; wise and unwise. The wise responses would agree that Jesus is, in fact, Lord of all. On the other hand, those who either don’t believe that statement and/or those that don’t care would fall into the unwise category.

I will start with the wise category first. For as long as I remember being able to think for myself, I’ve always believed in God. Again I believed in God, not so much Jesus. I believed in heaven, but not hell. As a kid I’d sit on the porch and just stare at the sky for hours looking at the stars. I just knew there had to be something more to this life, something bigger and better than earth, and that death isn’t an eternal sleep.

I’d say the person I used to be is the general way people think. As long as you’re a ‘good person’, pray sometimes, and even attend church when you feel like it, heaven is pretty much a guarantee. That’s where WE ALL are wrong. We, the human race, have one thing in common; we’re just that, HUMAN. A mass murderer and single mother both are born of man and woman’s conception, blood running through their veins, heart rate 60-80 beats per minute, eat, sleep, and both breathe that good ol’ God given oxygen.

Let’s take that mass murderer and single mother into consideration for a moment. The mass murderer kills countless people, arrested and convicted to a lifetime in prison. While in prison, he happens to come upon a bible, starts reading it, and eventually accepts Jesus as his personal Savior. The single mother is now divorced from a man that used to abuse her. Overprotective with love for her children she is now celibate and helps women who suffer in the same circumstances she once did. She watches her children grow up, eventually is blessed with grandchildren and dies an old woman. She, however, never accepts Jesus into her heart. Of these two individuals, we would conclude the single mother would go to heaven and the murderer to hell, based on their lives.

As I stated earlier, we are all wrong. The murderer would indeed be welcomed into heaven. The mother unfortunately would spend eternity apart from God. Romans 3:10-12, “There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. All have turned away; they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Of course in our eyes, we see good people, bad people. We’ve categorized everyone according to how they treat us and what they portray themselves as. But God’s eyes are not as our eyes (Praise God!). What you must understand is that God is HOLY, perfection at its purest, knows all, sees all, and has all power within heaven, earth and everything in between. It was Him that gathered dust in His hand, breathed into the dust to form man, a living soul (Genesis 2:7). God is so holy in fact, He CANNOT be in the presence of anything unholy, “….Holy, holy, holy, is the name of the Lord of hosts…” (Isaiah 6:3). It’s IMPOSSIBLE for Him to be. So, the single mother, in God’s eyes is not holy, and would not be welcomed into His heavenly kingdom. Everything we do, whether good or bad, are tainted in a sense, because we all are sinners, “…all our righteous acts are like filthy rags…” (Isaiah 64:6). It’s in our nature to sin, to want to be apart from God. We’re so sinful in fact; you can sin and not even know it! That’s how natural it is. Things you do, say, and even think are unholy.

It all starts with Jesus. Jesus is God; the second of the Holy Trinity after God the Father. He’s the glue that binds us back to God our Father, the middle man, the mediator, the messenger. And without Him, there’d be no way for anyone to have access to God the Father - John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me’ “. And Romans 3:22-25 “This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile (male or female, black or white, young or old, etc.,), for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.” 

Now the reason why Mr. Murder would be welcomed into heaven is simply because he was made whole, or made holy, by God. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun”. In that one moment, everything changes. God grants us the choice to live for Him and accept Him into our lives. The ex-killer’s sin and all unrighteousness in that moment was nailed to the cross, as was Jesus. Through His resurrection is a new life given, by faith alone. Only Jesus, in all His perfection can make the unrighteous righteous. Does that make any sense? Wait. Let me try again. We’re born in sin. God sent Himself as Jesus, 100% God and 100% human; He became flesh like us, while still remaining to be God. When He gave His life on the cross, the sin and unrighteousness of ALL mankind, (that means from Adam and Eve until Christ’s return, the sins you did yesterday and will do 10 years from now) was put onto Him. The wrath of God that we so rightfully deserve was placed on God Himself through Jesus. It was in His resurrection that death was defeated so any man that just believes in Jesus and confesses that to Him will live forever with Him in all His Glory and Majesty.

Yeah, it’s really that simple. Is it sinking in yet? There is no one righteous, NO ONE; not you, me, a nun, the pope, the president, richest man in the world, the sweetest person in the world, your son or daughter, not your parents or grandparents, or your best friend.  The only thing that can make you righteous to spend eternity with the Creator is your own personal faith through Jesus Christ.

My prayer is that upon reading this message the Holy Spirit will touch your heart, and from there your curiosity will grow so that you eventually will come to know the one and only true God like I know Him today.

 

With Love,

Karen