Sex for a roof over your head?

She called and said "yes, I am still coming". Waiting patiently I prayed she would come. I really want her to get some new friends. She was late but she came. 

We asked her if she was hungry.  Her response was she really hadn't eaten in a few days, because her stomach was not setting just right.  By the way that is code word for "I need to keep what little money I have for gas in my car, not food in my stomach". 

We took her to lunch our treat. The conversation was light and superficial. It covered topics about how's the new job? How many hours are you getting? 

After dinner was done, she gave me a big hug and said "thank you". 

We all ran for our vehicles as the weather was changing. Settling into ours, my husband said "where is she living"?

With a friend I answered.  He knew by my tone there was more to it than that. "What kind of friend?  And what kind of arrangement?"

I tried to avoid the question because I knew he was not going to like the answer. "She told me the other day that it's an old friend, and she had no where to turn.  He is letting her stay with him, but it's not a good situation and she needs to get out."

"What do you mean it's not a good situation? Does he expect payment?" 

I guess the look on my face told my husband the payment was not of a monetary kind. 

Why do I tell you this story? This happens more than we want to admit. Women get between a rock and a hard place and they finally want to get off the roller coaster....the challenge comes when they try. 

People fail people.  When "Christians" say they want to help...they expect all the behaviors of the past in these women to go away immediately. Reality is, you cannot rid yourself of years of baggage, low self-esteem, low self-confidence,abuse or addictions in a matter of minutes because you have changed the environment. 

Changing the environment is a start, but showing unconditional love through real authentic relationships is long lasting and the hardest to do. 

Most of the women we work with will hurt you, it is a coping mechanism. They will hurt you before you hurt them.  They are used to disappointment and hurt as part of their normal life. 

Also when "Christians" want to help, it's usually on the "Christians" terms.  They don't say it but through actions they are telling the women: "I'm not the one who got myself into this mess, so if you will just do what I say your life will be better." You are correct "Christian" you may not be as bad off:  having to have sex just to pay a bill so your children have food on the table, electricity or a roof over their head... but you have junk in your life just like they do.

It is now February and Christmas is long gone.  This is what trash cans looked like after the "Christians" came to the "rescue" so the child had a very "materialistic" Christmas 

 Where are you today? Do you know where the mom and kids are today that you bestowed all these gifts upon not even 60 days ago? 

I know it's not Christmas and most people have gotten caught back up into the routine of their own life but what about the families you bought gifts for less than 60 days ago? 

What these families need most are "relationships".  Not relationships that bail them out, but relationships that empower them to DESIRE to change so they can one day be a giver not a receiver. 

Let us know if you want to be a change maker? 

Benedict Arnold to Billy Graham in 7.0 weeks

As I was planning on studying the Holy Spirit this week....the Holy Spirit has guided me to yet another Ah Ha moment.

  

Two weeks ago I was at a dinner and one of the speakers spoke of verses that were about the Holy Spirit.  I had messaged her and asked her if she would send me the references, she did and for the past 2 days I have written out the references and the scriptures.  BUT just like God..He takes me elsewhere. 

Acts 10:38 was one of the verses: 

 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

 

I wanted to find out the context of this verse so I started my research of Gods word.  I went up a few verses to 34....

 Then Peter replied, “I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.  In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. 

So I now found out that Peter was speaking. Ok but why did Peter say, "God shows no favoritism"? 

Let's go up even further. 

Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon,  and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners.  In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds.  Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean."But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”  The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean?

As I continued to read down back toward vs 38 

They arrived in Caesarea the following day. Cornelius was waiting for them and had called together his relatives and close friends.  As Peter entered his home, Cornelius fell at his feet and worshiped him.  But Peter pulled him up and said, “Stand up! I’m a human being just like you!”  So they talked together and went inside, where many others were assembled. Peter told them, “You know it is against our laws for a Jewish man to enter a Gentile home like this or to associate with you. BUT GOD has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean". 

So what were my Ah Ha moments: 

Peter pulled Cornelius up as he fell at Peters feet and worshiped him...."stand up I am just a HUMAN just like you". Back in the day Peter would have been over Cornelius because as you see later in that verse Peter was a Jew and Cornelius was a Gentile. They did not associate. The Jews in their prideful behavior, were like the upper-class of today whose poop did not stink.  And the Gentiles were considered a lower class citizen.  

So why did Peter have the heart change? The vision....God clearly told Peter that "Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean".  Then Peter goes on to say "BUT GOD has shown me that I should no longer think of anyone as impure or unclean". 

The verses then go on to say: I see very clearly that God shows no favoritism.  In every nation He accepts those who fear Him and do what is right. 

Now why is this an Ah Ha moment because Peter denied Jesus 3 times right before Jesus was hung on a cross to die. Matthew 26

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, Peter—this very night, before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” “No!” Peter insisted. “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you!” And all the other disciples vowed the same.

 Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant girl came over and said to him, “You were one of those with Jesus the Galilean.”But Peter denied it in front of everyone. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. Later, out by the gate, another servant girl noticed him and said to those standing around, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” Again Peter denied it, this time with an oath. “I don’t even know the man,” he said. A little later some of the other bystanders came over to Peter and said, “You must be one of them; we can tell by your Galilean accent.” Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed.

Jesus has now died and resurrected and is walking among the people.

Jesus is here for 40 days. After the ascension they are talking about who should become the 12th disciple.  And Peter (our Benedict Arnold) stands up among the believers Acts1

During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 

Then Acts 2 

Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this.

And it continues and Peter becomes Billy Graham in about 7 weeks...preaching and preaching and preaching the Good News of Jesus. 

If God will use Peter a man who denies Jesus 3 times while walking with Him as His disciple...that gives me so much hope that God could use an "impure, unclean (Greek translation common and unclean) and the other word for common: ORDINARY.... God takes the ordinary and allows them to do the extraordinary by His power of the Holy Spirit living in them. 

Are you running the correct race?

As I started today I realized there was much more I wanted to say than could fit in a Facebook status. 

My Faith verse was Hebrews 12:2 but as my eyes wandered up the page I read the word PERSEVERANCE again which was the word that caught my attention yesterday also.  

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. 

As I read those verses it hit me that as Christ followers we are mandated to follow an example of witnesses that have come and gone. And I know for a fact that we can follow "witnesses" good or bad because we do it all day....the "witnesses" are just called "stars".  

So my first question is who is the "witness" you are following? 

As I read on it says " throw off EVERYTHING that hinders us.  So what is it that hinders you? 

A career?

Friends?

A group you are a member of?

Is it TV, movies, music?

Is it an attitude that your "poop" don't stink so what do I need to fix? 

Is it prestige?

And the list can go on and on.....

But the verse also says "the sin that so easily entangles".... Galatians 5 says: 

The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery;  idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

How much of these things fit into our daily life? Be honest. If we are a Christ follower then we need to be working on NOT doing these things daily.  But if these things are your LIFESTYLE  then you may need to revisit your relationship as a Christ follower. 

 

Then the verse goes on to say: "let's us run with PERSEVERANCE    that race marked out for us"...

Perseverance is keep on keepin' on even when circumstances tell you otherwise until that time when God tells you to stop. And if you are running the "rat"race....you need to stop and ask God to get you on the right path for the right race because Ephesians 2 says: 

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

And as you run the race God has set for you "fix your eyes on Jesus the source and perfecter of your faith." 

So to end if your faith is NOT on the source and perfecter you are running the wrong race and you will NOT like the outcome. 

So stop and start over today:  

Lamentations 3 

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

24