Life After Death

Heaven. When most people think about heaven we envision his wonderful place in the sky with streets paved with gold and wearing whote robes. But what is heaven and do we have to die before we can experience it?
Most times we think about dying only in the physical sense. but if we truly want to understand God, we must think on the level which He is- a spiritual level. Although we can never know all that He knows, His Holy Spirit allows us to see hings in a different light, perspective.
People often ask the question "Is there life after death?" the answer is simply "yes"! When we give our lives to Christ, we "die" and a "new life" begins for us. Thus, there is "life after death"! The real question is: do we want ot experience life now or later or if we want to experience it at all? Life does not truly begin until you surrender your old self to christ allowing life as you know it to "die". You do not have to wait until you physically die to experience Heaven. Heaven is at hand now. We only have to be open to a relationship with God and He will hand us the key to Heaven just as He promised in His Word. Am i making any sense ? I'm sure that i am making sense to those who are experiencing their own little peace of Heaven right now as they walk in the newness of God! Thank You, Lord!
Just as Nicodemus was confused about the "new birth" concept (John 3), there are those who are confused about the afterlife. Sure, you can wait until you physically stop living to "see" if there is life after we die or you can "die" now and live in the spirit andnot have to worry about whether you will have eternal life without any doubts! You can have Heaven now! Seek God and His righteousnes and all things shall be added unto you(Matthew 6:33)! Embrace a new life now!

Busy!Busy!Busy!

i know i haven't posted in a while. My classes and preparing for this book has really had me BUSY!BUSY!BUSY! but i will be blogging on a regular basis very soon. I hope that i can get some feed back on my book ideas. i finally stop allowing fear to control my life and i have stepped out with the spirit of power, love and a sound mind (2 Tim. 1:7). I am enjoying my classes and i'm getting more involved in my major. Truly God has set me in this place and time for a reason. So i follow His lead. I'll keep everyone posted on how things are going with the book.

What's my motivation?

i am a journalism major- news print, but i have yet to find the passion for news within myself. i have prayed and prayed about this. Should i change my major? How can i use my education to do the work God has called me to do? I am very opinionated and the objectivity of journalism is a challenge for me! But i enjoy interviewing (now that i have rid myself of the shyness) and listening to what others have to say about certain issues. i think i'm leaning more towards magazine and feature writing more than news. i read the news to be up to date and informed about what's going on in the world around me so that i can be a conversation chameleon of sorts and form intelligent opinions. i do enjoy editing! i love proofreading and editing symbols and such! But a copy editor's job seems quite introverted and i like interacting with people. i just need to make it through my Intro to News reporting class and i can breathe a sigh of relief! pray for me! Thanks for listening!

Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice!

And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices,
as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and t ohearken thn the fat of the rams.
For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry.
Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, He hath rejected thee from being king.
1 Samuel 15:22,23

Just to give you a little background information on 1 Samuel 15, Samuel gave King Saul a word from the Lord to go and destroy the Amaleks. He and his people were instructed to kill every man, woman, child and animal. Instead, Saul and the people were disobedient and they spared the Amalek king, Agag, and the best of their sheep, oxen and lambs. When Samuel questioned Saul about the sparing of the animals, Saul replied that he and the people kept the best of the livestock to sacrifice to the Lord. The Scripture above was Samuel's reply given by the Lord.

Many of us believe that spending a Sunday or Wednesday in praise, prayer, worship, and Bible study is suffice enough in pleasing God.Many of us are sadly mistaken. i consider those who "do" only these things in "routine and ritual" are so far from God. To obey is defined as to carry into effect, execute, as a command. Saul thought that sacrifices of the Amaleks' best livestock would be more pleasing to God than being obedient to His commandments given to the king by Samuel. Many Christians are so secure in the routines and rituals performed inside the four walls of their churches that we fail in obedience. We go to church and we listen, hear, and even learn God's word, but we fail to be doers, thus being disobedient- not carrying out and executing God's Word, when we leave the confines of the sanctuary. Do not misunderstand! Yes, prayer, praise,worship, and Bible studies are all a part of our walk with God. But what does the world profit from it if we only "participate" in Christianity on certain days of the week within the buildings we call "the church?"Nothing. Too many Christians get caught up in "show" instead of letting our everyday lives speak for the goodness and graciousness of God. We don't pick up our Bibles until Sunday and/or Wednesday and we sing and shout and dance all during the service, but when the sun goes down and the services end, we 'show' no signs of Christlike-ness. And we wonder why people don't respect our faith! God wants and requires the obedience of His people! He wants those who are not only readers and hearers of His word, but those who carry out and execute His commandments in reverence and love for Him! Routines and rituals are dead without sincerity in spirit and truth! Singing, praying and even paying tithes seem irrelevant if we are not walking the walk and talking the talk! Obedience is better than sacrifice!

God is Still In Control!!!

It's been a while since i've written. So much going on! Classes started last week, but there was a shooting on campus! Can you believe it! i know the guy who got shot. Thankfully he's recovering! My prayers are with him.
Now, we face another disaster and pure chaos! i live in central Mississippi. We are very blessed and thankful! A few trees and debris fell all around us and our lights were out for 2hours max, but we came through it unharmed! (Thank You, Lord!) Unfortunately, my mom has not been able to contact any of the members of the church she pastors in Jones County, Miss, where 1000 homes were destroyed and 6 were reported dead. Morning Star, we're praying for you! We love you! Keep the faith! it's almost like a war zone in south Miss,Alabama, and New Orleans. i sit here watching the news 24/7 since Sunday night. And its like the end of the world, even as far north as we are! Fights and craziness at the pumps! Most of the gas stations here are out of gas or have no electricity! The shelters are up and running, but some have no water, ice, and AC! It's rough, but we are so blessed! We're 20 miles from the capital, Jackson, where a lot of people are still without power! Cell phones are nearly impossible to use. Pray for the people who have lost their homes and loved ones.
We're blessed! We have utilities and food and our homes are still standing, but if you take an hour and a half drive south, you can't even get to Hattiesburg and it's about 90 miles from the coast!
But what upsets me is the people who are looting and using unnecessary force! They're raiding hospitals and nursing homes and residents! They're raiding department stores, grabbing electronics and jewelry! Where are you taking these things when you have no homes? No power! It's pure chaos! Now, is the time for the saints to band together in prayer, love and fellowship!

GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL! IT'S TIME TO TURN BACK TO HIM AND THROW OURSELVES AT HIS THRONE OF MERCY, NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE! NO MATTER WHERE YOU LIVE! WHEREVER WE ARE IN THE WORLD, IT'S TIME TO SEEK GOD WHILE HE CAN STILL BE FOUND!

They shall turn back, they shall be greatly ashamed, that trust in graven images, that say to he molten images, Ye are our gods. Isaiah 42:17

We have made too many things our gods! It's time to turn back to the One Truine God!

Pray for our country! Pray for God's mercy and Peace! My thoughts and prayers go out to all the families on the Gulf coast and everyone who's been been affected by this tragedy, but please remember that God is in control! Hold on to your faith!

An Aha Moment!!!

i had an Aha! moment last night. i realize that for the past 9 years i have been dating. Since i was 15, i've been someone's girlfriend, close friend or i've wanted to be someone's girlfriend. If i wasn't in a relationship, i was searching for the next one or i was casually dating until the next one came along. And when i wasn't dating, i was longing for someone. Nine years of my life and i spent most of the time chasing guys! i fell to my knees last night and i asked God for forgiveness! All those years i spent chasing guys, i should have been chasing God. i should have been building a foundation with Him! i was so blinded! Trying to be the person the world said i should be! i'm tired now! The Spirit has led me to this place. i need to rest a while. i need to just take this time to strengthen my relationship with God. No dating! No boyfriend! Just me and Him! That's all i need right now! my focus is on putting God first in my life! and when He's ready,He'll send that special person to me and i'll be ready for a relationship. It's God's time!
Besides, with classes and the book and all the other things i need to be doing, when will i have time for a reationship?
As for the lover-turned- friend situation, we're friends and he understands what i'm trying to do and he's supportive. He's always been a good friend and i'm grateful for that! :-)

Can Old Lovers be Just Friends?

Hey! It's me again. I've been busy researching for my book. It's so many angles to take that i don't know which one to go. Pray that I open my eyes and my heart to what God wants me to write.
The research for my book has also been teaching me a lot of things about myself. I've been dating the same guy off and on for the past three years. We've had some ups and downs and he's been very supportive of me since I decided to give my heart to Christ. I still have major feelings for him, but he's not saved. He's seeking, but he's just hasn't taken that one leap of faith. So, after a lot of soul searching and talking (to God and him), we decided to be friends. He asked me to go out with him next weekend and i said i didn't know if we should because its too soonand i still love him. i prayed about it and discussed it with friends. Some of them were helpful. Others gave superficial advice. Then i decided to go because after all we've been through together( and we've been to hell and back- literally life and death) i do value him as a best friend. And maybe i can lead by example. But my question to you all is: CAN OLD LOVERS BE FRIENDS?
All comments are welcome, but i would prefer Christian perspectives.

What did i learn about myself while researching for my book? That i wrestle with God for control and i struggle everyday to submit my ways to His will. Any advice.