PURITY- What is this thing ALL about???

I wanted to share with you all a testimony of God's Faithfulness; I'm not a virgin. I did not wait until marriage to have sex for the first time. Even when I made a decision to be abstinent, I was not sexually pure (there is a huge difference). God was and STILL IS doing a work in me. I can't change that part of my life, it happened and it's real. BUT GOD. I'm not sharing this to spill my business out on the streets. It's just that I know and have seen first hand God's transformation power in an area that I used to feel very casual about. Now, I was not always comfortable sharing this area of my life, but thank God for showing me that He has blessed me so that I can be a blessing to others!

In my late teens/ early 20s is where God began to tug on my heart regarding purity. I don't even know if I knew it was Him doing the tugging. It just began to tug in my heart, that there was more. At this time, I really did not have much of a relationship with the Lord even though I was brought up in a traditional church. I would go to church and be in intimate with the person I was dating, with little conviction. Everyone around me was doing the same and so; I just thought it was the norm.

After going through a horrible break up (it literally wrecked me for about a year), that's when the pages began to turn in my life. I don't even know if I had heard about purity before this. If I did, I probably thought it was something for people back in the 19th century and not me. "You mean to tell me, you expect for me to wait to have sex until marriage and give my life to You, surrender my body and I'm an African American young women who likes hip hop, clubbing and following my friends"?! Yes.

There is a difference between religion and relationship. God wants the latter and it's much higher to have relationship with Him. He desires for us to desire an intimate and personal relationship with Him! THIS and this alone is what changed me; my relationship with Him.
"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8

It was not until, I began to have a personal love relationship with the Lord, that I GOT IT. Honestly this year, I was having a conversation with the Lord and I told Him I finally understand why He has required His sons and daughters to walk in purity (it's more than just not have sex). I have and still am going through deliverance in areas of my life because of my disobedience. It's not anything spooky, we need to be delivered as we continue in this walk with the father. He does not want us bound or chained up with strongholds and struggles.

My prayer for you and for all of us is that we will pursue holiness. It is possible with God and remember it's a process. Just please don't give up and know that you are not alone. He is with you and He is your help. Thank you Lord!

*** Some Praise and Worship videos/blogs are coming soon. I believe purity is the foundation of true Praise and Worship!

What will you have to offer once Found? (Worth the Wait)

 

I saw something on facebook posted by one of my mentors Cee Cee Michaela the other day that changed my way of thinking in the area of Love, Marriage and Sexual Purity. Basically, it was challenging singles to ask the question: "What will you give your future spouse when you are FOUND"? We often talk or hear about being a Virtuous Woman or a Mighty Man of Valor, we are told not to settle, but don't be too picky, put your self out there, be sociable, get in the word, become the woman or man that you would want that other person to have, the list could go on. This can be great advice and encouragement; but we want to make sure that we are not putting the focus on us and getting that ring on our finger just so that we can finally say: "I's married naw" .

Proverbs 4:7 "Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Can we be honest and real with each other, when you think about your honeymoon night or being with your mate, what do you think? Honestly, a lot of times I would think about sex (of course). It would be perfect; I will make him feel good and he would make me feel good! We will experience pleasures like never before, he would be "sprung" and so in love with me all the more! It would be perfect, right? God shared a revelation with me the other day; "Anyone can make someone feel good, many people can give someone else lots of sexual pleasure, that's really not much to give and that is not all that you should want to give your mate on your wedding night". You know what the most beautiful gift you could give your mate on your wedding night/honeymoon? Give them GOD, His Spirit living on the inside of you. For my sisters, we want to give him, HIM. When I saw that facebook post, it really hit me to the core, because this takes the focus off us or another person and put it on Christ. So instead of just saying that "We are Worth the Wait" (which is true), take it even further and much higher and confess "Lord, YOU are Worth the Wait". Ultimately, that's really what we are waiting for! Instead of my husband being "sprung" on me, I want Him to be SOLD OUT for the Lord!!! I and you have a part to play in that as we become one with our mate.

So this is what we do: Let's fill ourselves up SO much of God that we are consumed with HIM. Let Him cleanse us from past hurts, pains and sins. Let Him do a work in us, heal us and deliver us so that He can use us for His glory, not just in marriage but in ALL He has called us to do! So I charge you brothers and sisters, let's get past just waiting for our desires to manifest but let's fill ourselves so much with our Heavenly Father, that every person we come in contact with will leave having encountered the true and living God and not us! I believe this applies to both singles and marrieds.

***I want to share some beautiful pictures with you from the Worth the Wait Gala, it was Awesome! Men and Women, Youth, Young Adults and children on Fire for the Lord and walking in Sexual Purity or having the desire to do so! www.iamworththewait.com

A family that is PURE together, can BREAK Yokes together!

 

Me, Cousin Cammie, Sister Tondalaya

 

Beautiful Leslie and I. God has wonderful plans for Leslie! Whoop Whoop!

 

 

My Church Fam and Friends! Don't they look great! #Purity Rocks

 

 

Co-workers and Friends Latanya, James and Myself 2012 Gala!

We are worth the wait! God is worth the wait!

 

 

Peaches Howard and I; my sista from the same Mista; God!

God bless you!

Worship and Witness- Who is He to you?

As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon possessed begged to go with him. But Jesus said, "No. go home to your family, and tell them everything the Lord has done for you and how merciful he has been." Mark 5:18-19

Has something that was familiar to you before, suddenly become something NEW to you? Something that you have seen or heard before, but suddenly you had an understanding of it unlike before? That's how I feel about this scripture!

You may or may not be familiar with this story, when Jesus cast demons out of a man who was possessed by thousands of demons. This man was literally tortured by these demons and he lived among the burial caves, because nobody new how to deal with him. He was literally out of control! (I would really encourage you to read Mark 5:1-20 when you get a chance).

Well the reason I am even writing about this is because I was asked to be the guest of a friends' class. The class that she is teaching at church is a 13 week class on "Growing in Christ", where foundational scriptures of the Christian Faith are learned. This was their last class before the final exam! This week they were discussing Mark 5:19 the scripture above. I was asked to minister this scripture through dance.

Just today, the day of the class I was lead to read the whole chapter Mark to read the story leading up to the main scripture (Mark 5:19). I was and AM amazed at the new revelation that God blessed me with! You see earlier today, as I was seeking the Lord about the song He wanted me to minister this scripture through, He lead me to a Worship song. In my mind I was like, "Lord this scripture is about witnessing, why would you want me to do a Worship song instead of a Witness song". WELL, after reading the chapter of Mark He made it quite clear to me. Hallelujah!

So we see in this text, this was a man that many where scared of and did not dare to go near. Mark even talks about how this man would wander day and night howling and cutting himself with sharp stones. See, these demons were controlling and ruling this man's body; BUT GOD! Jesus cast those evil spirits out of that man (mind you there were thousands, can you imagine!)! 

The reason this has everything to do with witnessing is because in verse 19 after the man was set free from those demons and he was perfectly sane, Jesus told Him to go home to his family and tell them everything the Lord had done for Him. You see this man's Witness was effective now because he himself had a personal understanding of WHO CHRIST WAS AND IS (this is Worship)! He was not witnessing because of momma and em's testimony or because of grandpappa's sermon; but He had his own personal understanding from his own personal experience with Christ!

We can learn a whole lot from this true story and event that actually happened: The Lord gives us our own experiences to share with other's so that they may be drawn to Him! After Jesus told him to go home and share; he went to ten town's and began to proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed at what he told them!

I don't know about you, but at times I have struggled with witnessing and evangelism because I tried to do it in a way that other's told me to do it. I have learned that it is much more genuine when I start off with my testimony, then others are drawn to Jesus and I can share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ! Worship and Witness should go hand and hand. He has promised in His word that when HE is lifted up HE will draw all men unto HIM (John 12:32).

So my friend I ask you today, Who is He to you? What is your personal understanding of Him? Whom do you know Him to be? Has He healed you, set you free, comforted you? Think about it and let's make it A POINT to share it with others to open the door to witness, God will lead you if you let Him!

(These ribbons were used during the dance I ministered at the class tonight, God laid it on my heart to lay these ribbons around the ladies during the dance because each one meant something special for each of them).

Worship Warfare!

It is time! It is time to Worship, it is time to take our Worship to another level!!! Did you know that Worshiping the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords is a weapon of warfare? Oh yes it is!!!

It’s easy to go through everything else before we finally decide to put our concerns and worries and questions to the side and just worship the Lord. Praise and worship is so much more than singing a fast or a slow song. I admire David so much because he is known to be a worshipper, but what is he known as in the bible even more: a man after God’s own HEART! You wanna send the devil fleeing? Resist him by praising and worship the Lord! To worship God we have to have His heart, to have His heart we have to know Him.

Sing, Dance, cry out, shout praises, tell God who He is to you, speak His word back to Him, use that sword and activate the FULL ARMOR (Ephesians 6:10-18), give Him thanksgiving and praise, rejoice in Him, intercede for others, lift up your head oh ye gates!

I don’t know who said that the devil is dumb or stupid, but it’s simply not true. I’ll tell you what he is, he’s sneaky, he’s evil and is seeking to see whom he may devour:

1 Peter 5:8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour”

Notice Peter tells us to be self-controlled and alert first, so this means we have to be proactive. We have to go and be on watch for our families, communities and nation. That’s really why we have to make it a point to spend time in praise and worship unto the Father, so that we will know what to pray for, where His heart is and how to intercede for others. That's why David won so many battles, He was a man after God's own HEART.

When we worship the Lord it is SO POWERFUL! Shackles fall off, curses are broken, healing and deliverance take place. Worshipping God is so powerful I believe it will restore our children's’ innocence, mend broken marriages, allow the lonely to receive love and give love, end sexual immorality and restore purity in our nations, end the laws from being passed in New York, California, D.C. and wherever else and restore GOD’S institution of marriage, bring men and women out of the crack house, children will leave gangs and walk into the arms of Jesus, leaders and pastors will return to holiness and have a heart for the things of God. Hallelujah! I believe it!

My brothers and sisters now is the time!!!