The best defense against offense!

Ever been hurt or offended? We all have. And everyone who has ever lived on earth have been offended and have offended someone, knowingly or unknowingly...And if I can be honest, even Jesus said offenses will certainly come, but sadly we are not taught how to handle such situations. 
 
Here is what happened.

After five months of being off Facebook, it was today I decided to reactivate my account. After scrolling down the newsfeed, I see a status update that was directed towards me. Not only that, but shortly thereafter I noticed I was unfriended. Now, while offensive comments and lack of knowledge about a person are reasons people unfriend on Facebook, this was not the case. Though no one likes to lose a friend due to conflict resulting from misunderstandings, it happens. Let me ask this, how do you handle offenses when it arises? Do you overlook it? Do you tell about it in your Facebook status update? Do you tweet about it? Or do you gossip behind their backs? No, we are to handle it in a biblical way. Lets consider what Matthew 18:15-17 says...

"If your brother sins against you, go and show him his fault, just between the two of you. If he listens to you, you have won your brother over. 16 But if he will not listen, take one or two others along, so that 'every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.' 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector.

Here we see in the eighteenth chapter of Matthew, Jesus tells us how to deal with hurts and offenses, and pursue peace with others. Romans 12:18 also says “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”.  Let's look at the steps Jesus gives us to take when we are in conflict with each other. Before I begin, its to be noted that these steps are to be followed between believers.

 

Step 1: "Go and show him his fault, JUST BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU"... This step is a one-on-one, face to face moment. Notice I didn't say Face to Facebook. We are not to announce the offense to other people. We are to go directly to that person and talk to them... not being critical and judgemental, arrogant, proud, or self-seeking. We are to go to them in love. At this point everyone does not have to know. Hopefully the matter is resolved at two people level. 

 

Step 2: " If he will not listen, take one or two others along."  It is here when we are to take one or two others along if the person will not listen to you. 

 

Step 3: " If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, treat him as you would a pagan or a tax collector, ie., a non believer. NOTE! This step can only be taken once steps one and two have been done - not before.

 

While Jesus tells us how offenses are to be handled between two people, such is not the case. Instead, we go to everyone else and publish it to the world, which is the exact opposite of what He says. As believers, it is our responsibility to go to our Christian brothers and sisters and show them their fault. Example: I recall a time when someone came to me directly and asked if she had done anything to offend me. Her reason for asking is because she was going to write me, but after noticing I wasn't on her friend list anymore, she thought I had defriended her. However, after informing her that I had deactivated my account we realized there wasn't an issue. 

 

Conclusion,

 

We must handle offenses, but we must handle them in the manner that pleases Jesus. Not only that, Jesus warns us of offenses. In Luke 17:1, Jesus said "it is impossible that no offenses should come... That being said, when someone does or says something that hurts or offends us, we must be ready to forgive. Also keep in mind that in some cases, we will not realize that we have offended someone, but when we learn that we have, we should ask for forgiveness. Matthew 18:21-22 says,  Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.

 

"If your brother or sister sins against you, rebuke them; and if they repent, forgive them." Luke 17:3

“Love… it keeps no record of wrongs.”

Have you ever wondered if someone had a recorded list of all the things you ever done? Believe it or not, they do...and as for me, I have a perfect memory when I think about wrongs done to me. It was today my boyfriend and I were in the car leaving church service... we were having a conversation and in light of the conversation I brought up something that happened months ago, particularly a wrongdoing. Now mind you, he had apologized for what I brought up, but its evident that I was still hanging on to his record of wrong. While I didn't have a written document, the record of the wrongdoing remained with me in my head. For him, he thought I was over it because in the car he said "God is not a I remember when God". After hearing him say this, I was reminded of what the bible says, “Love keeps no record of wrongs.” I don't know about you, but when I really think about what those words mean – keeps no record of wrongs... the words 'not forgiving' came to mind. Mind you again, my boyfriend and I were not having an argument on this day, but there have been times where we have gotten into arguments, and I bring up things that he has done wrong. And if I can be honest, I'm sure he can tally up things I have done and said as well.

Here's a question for us: What If God kept a record of our wrongdoings? What if every time we do something wrong, God adds it to a list? I don't know about you, but if God were to keep a record of my wrongs, I could not survive! But I thank Him for wiping out my sin record! Truth is, God doesn't keep a record of our sins when we ask for forgiveness. Isaiah 43:25 says, "I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; And I will not remember your sins... It is because God loves us so much, that He does not keep a record of our sins. Romans 4:8 also tells us, “Blessed is the man who sin the Lord will NEVER count against him”. 

Speaking of God's love, forgiveness is an expression of love. In 1 Corinthians 13, which is referred to as the love chapter, the Apostle Paul talks about love... but in this post I want to focus at the every end verse 5 where Paul points out that love "keeps no records of wrongs". Here we see that not only does Paul describe love, but he also tells us what love is not... and he also shows us this is the way we are to relate to anyone. We are not to keep a record of others wrongdoings so it can be brought up at some future time and thrown back into someone's face to be used against them. Paul is saying that love never records a wrong...whether or not these wrongs were done intentionally or unintentionally.

In speaking of love, we may as well ask, are we really willing to love??? After all, that's what love is. Love doesn't hold records of wrongs against another. That said, until we give up keeping score, we are incapable of expressing love. We will also be destined to live in the failures of the past. Perhaps you have a record of wrong doing on your spouse, children, parents, other family members, or church family but as believers, we should forgive and forget! Not only that, but we should also keep in mind that if we are still holding on to others records of wrongs, we have missed the point of God's love. Note: If God keeps no record on us, how can we keep a record on others.

Prayer 

Lord help us all to forget and forgive the records we have kept on others, and thank you, Lord, for not keeping a record of our sins. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you, LORD, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness. - Psalm 130:3:4

...But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." Mark 11:26

Give it up for.....

It was this evening, I was on the phone talking with a friend, while also trying to watch BET's 'The Game'. While talking, a commercial came on, and during this time I figured I would give him my undivided attention. However, while the commercial was on, I got side tracked when I heard the man from TV say "I want to give it up for good..." After hearing this, it made me think how we, as believers should want to give up things for good, or shall I say give up things for God...particularly that sin or sinful habits that is keeping us from Christ. I know last week or so before this post, I talked about not giving up on God, but in this post, I want to talk about giving up sin, but not just for good, but for God! I John 3:4-6 tells us...Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness. Verse 6 then tells us that "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him."  

Sin defined, is disobedience or rebellion against God. Sin is also defined as unrighteousness. I John 5:17 says, “All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not leading to death” (I John 5:17). The truth is, we are all guilty of sin...but there's also the truth that God hates sin and as believers, we must hate what God hates and learn to love obedience.  In the bible, there are a great many kinds of sins, and there are many verses about sin. In Galatians 5:19-20, Paul lists seventeen sins of the flesh which is “adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like”.  And it is here we see that the works of the flesh is not just physical sins. In 1 John 2:16, sin is described as coming from three sources: lust of the flesh (gluttony, lust, sloth), lust of the eyes (greed), and pride of life (pride, envy, anger). However, Romans 8:8-9 reads, "Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. In the book of Proverbs, Solomon tells us about the things or sins that God hates. For example, Proverbs 6:16-19 reads, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 1) haughty eyes, 2) a lying tongue, 3) hands that shed innocent blood, 4) a heart that devises wicked schemes, 5) feet that are quick to rush into evil, 6) a false witness who pours out lies, and 7) a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.”

Here we see that the bible describes sin in many ways that is not just confined to external sins. Not only that, but everyone also experiences the seven deadly sins such pride, envy, gluttony, lust, anger, greed, and sloth in daily life...but as believers, we are to live our lives in a way that brings glory to God. I understand that sin is all around us, and within us, but, we should aim at being Christ-like. In 2 Corinthians 13:11, the bible even tells us to aim for perfection. If we are honest, most of us can agree that we know the good we are supposed to do, but yet there are times we choose to sin and fall short of God's perfect standard. As for me, I don't claim to be sinless... and you too shouldn't claim to be sinless for 1 John says, “If we claim to be without sin, we lie and the truth is not in us...BUT if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 

As we're on the subject of sin, did you know that we can also sin in our heart and mind...and yet never commit an obvious act of sin? I don't know about you, but even after becoming saved, I myself thought it was innocent to think about certain sins, since I was sure I'd never take part in the actual sin...but that was a mistake. It is true that sin begins both in our heart and mind. This is why we should always ask God to search our heart...and mind. Psalm 139:23-24 says, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life". For example, many of us like to comfort ourselves with the fact we haven't committed certain external sins... but what about those internal sins that are hidden in our heart and mind, or our attitude towards those who commit sin? The truth is, all sins, no matter what it is separates us from God. This is why Jesus tells us in Matthew 15:19, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. Again I say, this is why we should regularly ask God to search our heart because in asking Him, we are inviting Him to open our heart so we may receive conviction of the Holy Spirit. 
 
Colossians 3:5-10 tells us "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator....Let us also not forget what 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new".... If you are not sure if you're in Christ, look at your life.
 
CONCLUSION

Sin is everywhere and all around us. But as I've previously stated, God hates sin! He hates every sin and that should be enough of a reason for us to give up sin, that is unacceptable to Him. Acts 3:19 says, "So turn to God! Give up your sins, and you will be forgiven." Whatever the sin, we need to focus our attention on giving up that sin. Take a moment and think about how God demonstrated His love to us. To show His love, God did something totally incredible...He gave up His only begotten son to die for us, to pay for our sins. I don't know about you, but if God can give up his only begotten son, we can choose to give up sin to demonstrate our love to Him. The key to giving up sin fasting, praying ,reading the bible, and attending church, and bible study. Not only that, but Jesus will help those who want to give up sin. Remember, we can do nothing on our own, but we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. (Philippians 4:13)  With respect to the sinning of the non-believers, we must remember that it is God's desire for all people to be SAVED!

Let there be No Excuses!

It is amazing what excuses my clients make and give for not doing what I am asking them to do to be reunified with their children. It was this morning I was in court for a dispositional hearing to evaluate the parent's progress towards reunification. However, due to the parent's lack of progress, or should I say because of their excuses for lack of readiness to be a parent, the judge closed the case. At the conclusion of the hearing, and before closing the case I heard the judge say to my clients "I'm getting tired of the excuses." After hearing the judge say this, it made me wonder if God ever grow tired of unbelievers making excuses for not coming to Christ. Like my clients, we are constantly pursuing interests other than what's really important.

"And they all with one consent began to make excuses."

Today, people have all sorts of excuses why they do not want to come to Christ. While people have many different reasons for not coming to Christ, and accepting him into their heart...I would like to note that these excuses are not reasons, but excuses. These excuses can range from, the timing is inconvenient, not being ready to give up certain things, still want to enjoy life, and have a good time... and if I can be honest, these are the excuses of my clients. But James 4:14 tells us, "Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away."  While I am always amused by the different excuses they come up with, I remember before I became saved, I too had an excuse. In the parable of the Great Banquet, found in Luke 14:18, Jesus said, “but they all began making excuses.” Interesting.

In Luke 14 verses 15-24, we read...

15 Hearing this, a man sitting at the table with Jesus exclaimed, “What a blessing it will be to attend a banquet in the Kingdom of God!” 16 Jesus replied with this story: “A man prepared a great feast and sent out many invitations. 17 When the banquet was ready, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come, the banquet is ready.’ 18 But they all began making excuses. One said, ‘I have just bought a field and must inspect it. Please excuse me.’ 19 Another said, ‘I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. Please excuse me.’ 20 Another said, ‘I now have a wife, so I can’t come.’ 21 “The servant returned and told his master what they had said. His master was furious and said, ‘Go quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and invite the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’ 22 After the servant had done this, he reported, ‘There is still room for more.’ 23 So his master said, ‘Go out into the country lanes and behind the hedges and urge anyone you find to come, so that the house will be full. 24 For none of those I first invited will get even the smallest taste of my banquet.”

In Jesus' parable, we see that God prepared a great banquet and invited many guests. However, when the time of the banquet arrived, they each made excuses so as not to attend. From reading, we see there were three excuses given. The first said, 'I have just bought a field, and must inspect it. (Luke 14:18)." Another said, 'I have just bought five pairs of oxen, and I want to try them out. (14:19). "Still another said, 'I now have a wife, so I can't come'" (14:20).  It is here we see that the invited guests made their excuses as to why they couldn't attend the banquet. They turned down the invitation to the banquet because the timing was inconvenient. Interestingly, the excuses offered by these people when invited to the banquet sounds very similar to what one hears from many when they get an invitation to salvation. The point of the parable is that things of this world were priorities for the excuse makers.
Being a social worker, I think I may have heard it all when it comes to excuses, and why they are not making their child a priority. Like them, when we make excuses about salvation, we are saying that Jesus isn't as important as other priority in our lives. Truth is, it is God's will that everyone be saved. And if you know that you are not saved, you should get saved today. For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you.” Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). Note: God does not force people to come to him; He simply invites, but we must accept the invitation. He says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” Revelation 22:17. 

CONCLUSION

Don't make any more excuses! After reading the parable of the Great Banquet, hopefully you'll see that the parable touches on something deeper. The parable of the great banquet concerns salvation. It signifies God's kingdom. Remember, everyone is invited, but we should not make excuses at the time that he is inviting us...because His invitation doesn't last forever.

Don't give up, give out, or give in!

Ever felt like giving up? If we are truthful with ourselves, I think we can all agree that at some point in our lives we've felt like giving up on something. Whether it was a marriage, relationship, or job, we've all been tempted to give up and throw in  the towel. I don't know about you, but that's a constant temptation for me, particularly when things get tough. I remember when I was in college pursuing my graduate degree, I thought about giving up because it seemed a little more difficult than what I originally thought it was going to be.

This reminds me of the Christian life. When things get tough, every one of us has come to the point of giving up in our Christian walk, and even the strongest of Christians have also be tempted to give up at times. There are many that have been, or is at the breaking point at giving up trying to live the Christian life because they feel they can't go on anymore, or just can't make it when the trials and temptations of life challenge them constantly in their walk. But look at what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 18:1, "Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."
 
Biblical Example

In the First Book of Kings, Chapter 19, we find that Elijah, a prophet of God wanted to give up. In 1 Kings 19:3-5, we read ³ Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, ⁴ while he himself went a day’s journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
It is here we see that the prophet Elijah asked God to let him die (1 Kings 19:4). Maybe deep down, Elijah did not want to die, but in essence, Elijah did want to quit and give up! Elijah possibly felt like a failure since the dramatic events of Mt. Carmel did nothing to turn the king or the kingdom from idolatry. Elijah was discouraged by the thought that everything that had happened was in vain and fruitless and that nothing more could possibly be done by him for God's cause. Sadly, every one of us at one time or another ends up like Elijah. We become tired, discouraged, and frustrated...and like Elijah, we want to give up. As Christians, we want to give up when we sin, give into it, or when we find ourselves continually falling short of perfection. Then there are some people who grow tired of doing the right thing, and just give up.

But look at what Romans 7:15-20 tells us, ¹⁵ I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. ¹⁶ But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. ¹⁷ So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. ¹⁸ And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. ¹⁹ I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. ²⁰ But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 

We see here that the Christian life is not always easy! And I myself have found that living the Christian lifestyle is a daily challenge...and If I can be honest, there have been times in my life when I've wanted to give up. When I think of Jesus command, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect" Matthew 5:48, I myself have wanted to give up simply because I've found myself falling short of perfection. But let me say this, giving up is the easy way out. No matter how hard the challenges are, we must press towards the goal. In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul says...¹² I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. ¹³ No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, ¹⁴ I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Note: The process of perfection includes challenges to overcome. 
Conclusion

Sometimes the Christian life is all about tenacity. Also keep in mind that while we may start out well in our Christian walk, what really counts is how well we finish. The lesson from the prophet Elijah can be helpful to all of us, and that is, DO NOT GIVE UP, GIVE OUT, OR GIVE IN because God is not finished with you yet! Galatians 6:9 tells us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Remember, if the enemy can't get you to give in, he will try to get you to give up."

 

The next time you feel like giving up, I encourage you to remember Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". As I minister to you, I also minister to myself. As I try to encourage you, I also encourage myself, and as I challenge you, I also challenge myself so that together we don't give up on striving daily to live our lives according to the Word of God.

Double for your Troubles!

It was today after church service, I went to McDonalds to get myself something to eat. When I arrived at the drive-thru, I initially ordered a McDouble mini meal, but after remembering that my mother had already cooked, I then changed my order to just three chocolate chip cookies. After approaching the first window to pay, I then approached the second window where the lady asked me to pull down and that they would bring my cookies out. No one likes waiting, but I waited, and waited, and waited for those three cookies. Finally, a guy comes out and gives me a McDonald's bag with two McDouble sandwiches, and a large fry. I then told the guy that this was not what I ordered, but he let me keep the meal. I then had to wait again for those three cookies. After waiting, a lady came and apologized, and gave me double the cookies for my wait. After she said this, God gave me the message, “double for your trouble.” 

 

Everyone has troubles. Troubles are a part of life, and believe it or not, God does not promise us a life free of troubles! Even God himself says in John 14:1, "Man that is born of a woman is of few days, and full of trouble."  However, God does promise to give us blessings just for the troubles we go through...when we are obedient to His Word. This reminds me of a man whose name was Job. If you're not familiar with the story of Job in the Old Testament, let me say this, Job was a blameless, upright, patient, and God-fearing man...but he had troubles. In Job 1:13-19, Job's troubles begin after four messengers came with news of one disaster after another, and by the end of the day, Job lost his livestock, possessions, and his family. Note: Job lost everything after God took Satan up on the challenge that Job was only faithful because of all God had blessed him with. Satan then went on to destroy all Job's livestock, steal his possessions, and ultimately kill his family. But because Job remained faithful, the Bible says that God gave Job twice as much as he had before!

 

In this post, I'm going to focus in on Job, Chapter 42, verses 10-16 where God blessed Job with double for his trouble. We read,  

¹⁰ When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before! ¹¹ Then all his brothers, sisters, and former friends came and feasted with him in his home. And they consoled him and comforted him because of all the trials the Lord had brought against him. And each of them brought him a gift of money and a gold ring.¹² So the Lord blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys. ¹³ He also gave Job seven more sons and three more daughters. ¹⁴ He named his first daughter Jemimah, the second Keziah, and the third Keren-happuch. ¹⁵ In all the land no women were as lovely as the daughters of Job. And their father put them into his will along with their brothers. ¹⁶ Job lived 140 years after that, living to see four generations of his children and grandchildren.

Here we see that Job received double everything of all that he had before. God doubled Job's wealth and his family. Not only that, but Job lived one hundred forty years after his troubles ended. Let me tell you this, God wants to bless His people. Not only that, but God promises to bless us when we fear him and walk in obedience. I remember in 2008, I lost everything. I lost my dog, my job, and my car. Like Job, I couldn't begin to understand why all of those things were happening to me, but I didn't lose my faith in God, and I didn't forget Satan's job description.  In John 10:10, God says, ¹⁰ The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. But God! He blessed me with another dog, the same job but with higher salary, and another car that was paid in full. Wow! Double for my trouble!!!  Isaiah 61:7 says, For your shame ye shall have double; and for your confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall posses the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

In sum, we all will have troubles in life, but they are only temporary. Be it family troubles, financial troubles, friend troubles, and/ or physical troubles...but we can learn from Job's example. We see from Job's example that he maintained patience, respect, and trust in God even in the midst of troubles.  Although Job's troubles began after God allowed Satan to test his righteousness and faithfulness, God also allows Satan to test us today. And like Job, you may not understand what is happening or why it's happening to you, but ask God to show you. While many people think of patience when they think of Job, he was also a wonderful example of faith in endurance. Let Job's story be a wonderful source of encouragement to you. Last but not least, we must remember that Satan is the taker, God is the giver!!!! 

Filling the Void.

It was Sunday during church service I was talking to a friend about ministry. He then showed me a friend of his on Facebook who's also in ministry. And I then told him about a friend of mine in ministry, and asked that he send him a friend request on Facebook. Of course when he sent it, he noticed that one of the mutual friends was someone we both know (we'll call her Jane). He then asked how my friend knew Jane, and I told him that she use to date his friend. After telling him this, he said to pray for her as she was one of those women who just got to have a man. When he said this, I was reminded of the Samaritan woman at the well. But little did he know, I was once the Samaritan woman, until I found Jesus.

If you're not familiar with the story of the Samaritan woman, read John 4:1–26 before proceeding.

¹Jesus knew the Pharisees had heard that he was baptizing and making more disciples than John ² (though Jesus himself didn’t baptize them—his disciples did). ³ So he left Judea and returned to Galilee. ⁴ He had to go through Samaria on the way. ⁵ Eventually he came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. ⁷ Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” ⁸ He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food. ⁹ The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?” ¹⁰ Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.” ¹¹ “But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? ¹² And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?” ¹³ Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. ¹⁴ But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” ¹⁵ “Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.” ¹⁶ “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her. ¹⁷ “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied. Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband— ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!” ¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. ²⁰ So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?” ²¹ Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. ²³ But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. ²⁴ For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.” ²⁵ The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.” ²⁶ Then Jesus told her, “I Am the Messiah!”

Here we find Jesus leaving Judea traveling to Galilee, and having to go through Samaria on the way. He then goes to Jacob's well in the Samaritan village of Sychar, where he meets the Samaritan woman and begins a conversation. From the conversation, we learn that the Samaritan woman had been married five times, and was now living with a man who was not her husband. Now, the point that this woman had been married five times, should not automatically indicate promiscuity. However, it is obvious that the Samaritan woman had a voracious need to be in a relationship....trying to fill a void.

 

Since the story of Samaritan woman, not much has changed. Truth be told, some of us today is the Samaritan woman. Not because we've been married five times, but because many live in repeat cycles attempting to fill a void that just never seems to get filled. It's important note that voids come in all different shapes and sizes. But in the case of the Samaritan woman, she tried to fill a void with her different relationships with men. And from those relationships, its evident that she either couldn't find what she wanted in a man and finds another, or they couldn't find what they wanted in her and left. I myself have been the Samaritan woman where I sought to fill a void within, through my relationships with men, and like her, those relationships never completed me. Here's a question for you, what void(s) do you notice in your life, and how are you trying to fill it?...For you, the void may be material possessions, money, sex, drugs, work, or other forms of fulfillment. However, when you try to fill the void with these things, you will remain empty and unsatisfied. These things bring only temporary satisfaction. There is no person, or thing that can fill that void, only Jesus can. This is why Jesus tells us in verse 14 that  "But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again." Note: Jesus wasn't talking about the water in Jacob’s well, he was talking about living water: the water of life...the gift of salvation.

Reflection

“Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

In sum, you may be looking to fill a void, but just know that Jesus created us with that void intentionally. He put that void there to lead us to him. Like the woman at the well, she had been through five husbands trying to fill a void. Not only that, but she tried again with the sixth man, but he too failed to complete her. However, she did finally find completion in the seventh man, Jesus...the one who brought wholeness to her life! Speaking of the seventh man,  I would like to note that the number seven is one of the most significant numbers of the Bible. The number seven represents completion! Remember, until one has a personal relationship with Jesus, your life will never be complete. It is He and he alone that can make your life complete. Colossians 2:10 says, "So you also are complete through your union with Christ. Jesus Himself said "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John14:6) He also said, "I have come that they may have life" (John 10:10)

If you are unsaved, go to the well! He's not only by the well of salvation....He is the well of Salvation!

Temptations of Lust...

"Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil"

(Matthew 6:13)

Everyone is tempted! I am, you are, and even Jesus himself was tempted! As a Christian woman, one of the greatest challenges of living the Christian life is dealing with temptations. I am often tempted to spend money that I shouldn’t, I've been tempted to tell white lies, eat while fasting, and as a woman attempting to live a celibate life, I have been sexually tempted. While all of us have faced temptations such as these, the Bible tells us, "the temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure." (I Corinthians 10:13)

Truth of the matter is, temptations will come into every Christian’s life, and the temptations we face fall into three areas: lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life (1 John 2:16). However, the question is not IF we are tempted, but what we do WHEN we are tempted? In the Bible, God gives many examples of those who faced temptations, but today I want to focus on David and Joseph's encounters with temptation, and how they responded. While temptation to lust is a common problem for many Christians, this post will focus in on the temptation to lust, and what the Bible says about temptation.

First, lets consider the passages from 2 Samuel 11:1-4 where David, the man after God's own heart encountered temptation. ... "1In the spring of the year, when kings normally go out to war, David sent Joab and the Israelite army to fight the Ammonites. They destroyed the Ammonite army and laid siege to the city of Rabbah. However, David stayed behind in Jerusalem. 2 Late one afternoon, after his midday rest, David got out of bed and was walking on the roof of the palace. As he looked out over the city, he noticed a woman of unusual beauty taking a bath. 3 He sent someone to find out who she was, and he was told, “She is Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite.” 4 Then David sent messengers to get her; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.

We see here, David's lust for Bethsheba, and that he fell to temptation. Not only did he fall into temptation, but he actively carried out the sin. He fell into sin with Bathsheba. In verse 4, it says that he slept with her. It's important to note that temptation itself is not a sin. Temptation only becomes sin when we give into the temptation. We can learn from David’s temptation with Bathsheba and remember what not to do in our own struggle with temptation.

Now, lets' look at Joseph who was tempted sexually in Genesis 39:7-12 ...7 and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8 But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9 No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could I do such a wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10 She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11 One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12 She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, and sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house.

Unlike David, we see here that Joseph is an outstanding example of how to conquer temptation. Instead of falling into temptation, Joseph resisted temptation. He did not sin against himself, Potiphar, Potiphar’s wife, or God! In verse 10, it says “She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible.” Now, even though the Bible tells us, "Every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed."... Joseph did what scripture tells us to do, "Run from anything that stimulates youthful lusts. Instead, pursue righteous living, faithfulness, love, and peace. Enjoy the companionship of those who call on the Lord with pure hearts." 2 Timothy 2:22

For me, I can remember times in my own life where I fell into temptation like David, and times where I resisted temptation like Joseph. And to this day, I still struggle with particular temptations. But if you too are struggling with temptation in your life, just know you will not be tempted beyond what you can bear. In sum, temptation will always come, but it’s not a matter of IF, but WHEN!!! And when it comes, just keep in mind that God always makes a way of escape. It's important to note that what tempts one person, may not be a temptation for another person, but there are things we can do to not put ourselves in tempting situations. We must also rely on the power of the Holy Spirit inside us to overcome lust every day. Remember, our response to temptation will determine whether we will please our self, or please God.

James 1:12 says, "Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him."

The Pretender!

As I was sitting in the courtroom this morning, I was listening to a case on trial where a man was called to the witness stand. When the witness arrived to the stand, he was asked some questions by one of the lawyers and one the questions asked was if he had been charged with a felony for driving under the influence (DUI). While the witness did say he got a  misdemeanor charge for drinking and driving, he also stated he was charged with obstruction of justice for giving the police officer a false name. After the man provided this information to the attorney, the attorney stated..."So you were pretending to be someone else?" .....
 
The title of message today is, The pretender. What is a pretender? In order to answer that question, let's consider the meaning. As defined by the dictionary, a pre·tend·er (pr-tndr) is one who simulates, pretends, or alleges falsely; a hypocrite or dissembler. To be fair, all of us, in one way or another have been a pretender. But for a Christian to be a pretender is to say, then that one is a hypocrite...and the word hypocrite means pretending to be something you are not. In the Bible, Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus twelve disciples was an example of a person who pretended to be someone he was not. Judas followed Jesus for three years, along with the other disciples and pretended to be one of them. While Judas is best known for his betrayal to Jesus, he did more. Judas was a liar, deceiver, a thief who pretended to care for the poor (John 12:6). Not only that, but he was possessed by Satan (John 13:27), he did not address Jesus as Lord, but 'Rabbi '(Matthew 26:25), and he betrayed Jesus with a kiss (Matthew 26:47-50) ... As we see here, although Judas was chosen by Jesus to be one of the twelve disciples, he was not a true believer. He just looked and acted like a one. He was a pretender.
 
In the religious world, there are many people like Judas that give the appearance of a believer. Like Judas, they have the right association, reputation, and participation...but no salvation! From the example of Judas, we see here that a person can be very close to Jesus, and yet be lost. And this is why the bible tells us "Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine." (Corinthians 13:5). But, there are still those who profess and pretend to be a follower and believer, but inwardly they are worldly. While the other disciples thought Judas was good, Jesus knew how he was, because he knew his heart. I Samuel 16:7 says, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."  I've learned from life experiences that outward appearance is not the best way to judge how good a person is...but by their fruits, you will know them. In Galatians 5:22-23, the Apostle Paul spoke about what a Christ-follower looks like . "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law." The fruit Paul is referring to is the character, attitudes, and actions of a Christ-follower. A person can't be a follower of Jesus while doing their own thing. The Holy Spirit produces fruit in the life of a believer.
 
Conclusion
If we look at the religious world today, we have to admit that there's many people pretending to be followers and believers, but one can only pretend for so long. You see, a person can be a member of a good church, be respected for their service in the church, and be faithful in attendance...but when reputation becomes more than character, that person becomes a pretender! We need to remember that an audience of one is easier to please. You can only be a Christian if Christ is in you. Being a Christian doesn't mean that you're perfect, but God does command His people to be holy as he is holy! On another note, we need to remember that while we may fool others, we will never fool God!

Lord, help us all to love and to obey you. Help us to be Holy not only on the outside but also on the inside. Thank you for knowing all about us and for loving us!

The Attention Getter!

It’s amazing of the things that my dog Lucky does to get my attention. He whines when he wants my attention, he barks, he stares at me, and he also does other things that seem strange like chew on things and misbehave. But whenever he does any of these things to get my attention, I respond. And just as he have his way of getting my attention; God has His ways of getting mines. Here’s a question for you: What does God have to do to get your attention?

 

Consider the story of Saul, who we know as Paul, and how God got his attention in a dramatic way.

 

Acts 9:1-9 ---1 Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord’s disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” 5“Who are you, Lord?” Saul asked.” I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” he replied. 6 “Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.

 

As we see here, God is a great attention greater. When God wants our attention, he knows how to get it! There are also numerous other examples in the Bible that demonstrates this. For example, God got Moses’ attention by a burning bush, and he used a worm to get the prophet Jonah’s attention. But as for Saul, God got his attention in a way he never expected by shining a bright light from heaven and blinding him while he was on his way to Damascus. Evidently, this light was brighter than the sun shining in full strength. However, even though Saul was just blind for three days, his life was changed forever. Saul began to follow Jesus and told people the Good News about God's love!
 

In sum, God uses different ways of trying to get our attention throughout time, but whatever way it happens don’t delay in responding! I know what it took for Him to get my attention, but it was not dramatic as Saul’s encounter, lol. However it was a life-changing experience. Prior to being saved, I lived life my way and did what I wanted. But it was not until God got hold of me that I changed! Sometimes, God will bring you down to make you look up! Friends, God is the only one who can help you really change. Look at this way; had God not blinded Saul, he may have never changed… and not only did Saul’s attitude change, but his name changed too! You see, God was in complete control, and He always has a reason. Sometimes He has to get our attention to show us our need to know and receive Jesus. On another note, just as I learned to pay attention to my dog’s signs for attention, it’s important that we pay attention to any signs that God may be sending. So, what will it take for God to get your attention, and how will you respond? Remember, if he can get your attention, God can use you for his purposes.

P.s, Don't wait to late to offer God your attention! He wants you to be saved and He wants you to surrender your life to Him!

 

38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38-39

Communication is a Two-Way Street!

Today I was watching Deliver Us from Eva, a 2003 movie starring LL Cool J and Gabrielle Union, and while I was watching the movie, there was a part where LL's character, Ray was talking to Eva (Union) and he said “It's hard to get to know someone when they won't talk to you.” Some of you might be wondering where I’m going with this but when I heard this, I felt that was God talking to me. Before I proceed, I will say that I don't usually watch TV, but this day, I just happen to turn on the TV. On another note, while journaling is my way of talking to God daily, pouring out to Him everything that I feel about things that happen, and to thank him for everything...this day I didn’t feel like talking because I was moody, cranky, and tired...but while watching TV, that message was for me to talk to God.

Though God knows everything about us, he still wants us to talk to Him. In the movie, one of the reasons Ray made the statement "It's hard to get know someone when they won't talk to you" is because he was trying to get to know her to have a relationship with her. Surely many of us have heard the saying, without communication, there is no relationship...and so with that being said, in order to have a relationship with someone, you must communicate. And it's the same way with our relationship with God. For most of us, our relationship with God is based on us talking to Him, where we share our true thoughts, questions, experiences, needs, and desires. However, God wants more than just talking. He wants a relationship, a relationship of the kind that can come only by talking and listening. After all, a relationship is a two-way street. Let's look at the two-way conversation between Gideon and God.

In Judges 6:36-40, God listens to Gideon and communicates to him.
36 Then Gideon said to God, "If you are truly going to use me to rescue Israel as you promised, 37 prove it to me in this way. I will put some wool on the threshing floor tonight. If the fleece is wet with dew in the morning but the ground is dry, then I will know that you are going to help me rescue Israel as you promised." 38 And it happened just that way. When Gideon got up the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out a whole bowlful of water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, "Please don't be angry with me, but let me make one more request. This time let the fleece remain dry while the ground around it is wet with dew." 40 So that night God did as Gideon asked. The fleece was dry in the morning, but the ground was covered with dew.  

Isn't it amazing how the Lord chooses to communicate?

As you see here, communication with God is a two-way street. It’s a give and take process.  We talk and he listens. He talks and we listen. It's important to note that while God communicates to us primarily today through His Word, He communicates with us in other ways as well. Job 33:14 says, ¹⁴ For God may speak in one way, or in another... In the Bible, he used talking animals, a burning bush, angels, visions, and a “still small voice” to speak to his people. But for you, God may speak to you through your inner spirit, other people, circumstances, or several other means. For myself, I communicate to God through prayer. But my favorite way of communicating with God is through prayer journaling. However, God communicates to me through His word, the Bible. For example, one time I was praying asking God if the guy I was dating was my husband, and he answered me in John 4:18..."and the man you now have is not your husband". Not only that, but he also talked to me about moving from relationship to relationship just like the Samaritan woman. Then there was another time I was complaining about my pay, and I just opened my bible to the Gospel of Luke, Chapter 3 and the verse that jumped out at me was "be content with your wages".  It's amazing how God speaks through Scripture! John 8:47 says, "Whoever belongs to God hears what God says."

In sum, our God is a communicating God, and he desires to communicate with us all the time. He wants us to talk to him, and he wants to talk to us. All you have to do is talk with him as you are having a conversation with a friend. James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” The key is that we must draw near first. So let's all make a decision to talk with God, and listen for his voice. Remember, communication is a two-way street!

Dare to be Different!

Different! This is the word that stood out to me while having a conversation with my sister Simone. She and I were having a conversation about this guy she was talking to, and as she was talking to me about him, I asked what it was that she liked about him, and her response was, "He's different." Not only did she say that he was different, but she also told me how he was different. Surely, most of us has said this about someone we dated, and if you are married I'm sure one of the reasons you married the person is because they were different, unique, and distinct from all the others. But, just as they are different, we as Christians are to be different...and set apart from this world.

The purpose of this post is about being different, or to be different than the world.

In the book of Daniel, the first chapter, the prophet Daniel is a good example of being different because he was different from everyone else. Chapter 1 also gives us the example of Daniel and his three friends, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah of how we are to be different like they were.

1 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim, king of Judah, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came and laid siege to Jerusalem. 2 The Lord handed over to him Jehoiakim, king of Judah, and some of the vessels of the temple of God, which he carried off to the land of Shinar, and placed in the temple treasury of his god.

3 The king told Ashpenaz, his chief chamberlain, to bring in some of the Israelites of royal blood and of the nobility, 4 young men without any defect, handsome, intelligent and wise, quick to learn, and prudent in judgment, such as could take their place in the king's palace; they were to be taught the language and literature of the Chaldeans; 5 after three years' training they were to enter the king's service. The king allotted them a daily portion of food and wine from the royal table. 6 Among these were men of Judah: Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 The chief chamberlain changed their names: Daniel to Belteshazzar, Hananiah to Shadrach, Mishael to Meshach, and Azariah to Abednego.

8 But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement. 9 Though God had given Daniel the favor and sympathy of the chief chamberlain, 10 he nevertheless said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; it is he who allotted your food and drink. If he sees that you look wretched by comparison with the other young men of your age, you will endanger my life with the king." 11 Then Daniel said to the steward whom the chief chamberlain had put in charge of Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah, 12 "Please test your servants for ten days. Give us vegetables to eat and water to drink. 13 Then see how we look in comparison with the other young men who eat from the royal table, and treat your servants according to what you see." 14 He acceded to this request, and tested them for ten days; 15 after ten days they looked healthier and better fed than any of the young men who ate from the royal table. 16 So the steward continued to take away the food and wine they were to receive, and gave them vegetables.

After reading this, you can see here that verse 8 tells us what we need to know. "But Daniel was resolved not to defile himself with the king's food or wine; so he begged the chief chamberlain to spare him this defilement." Not only was Daniel different from the others who worked for the King, but his friends were also different. Every time Daniel and his friends sat at the table with all the other young men training to serve the king, they were different because they ate vegetables and drank water only....while the others were eating all the King's food and drank wine. They resolved not to defile themselves with the royal food and wine. Note: Though I only pasted Chapter 1 from the book of Daniel...chapter 3 also contrasts worldly men with men of God.

In sum, the application of this post is very simple. Be like Daniel! Remember, we can make a difference in the world, by being in the world, but not of the world...with the power of the Holy Spirit. 2 Corinthians 6:17 says, "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you," God commands His people to be separate from the world. We are in the world, but we are not of the world."

NOTE: You will not see perfection in a Christian, but you will see something different in that person!

It's not just God watching you!

Frustrated, irritable, and spaced out is what described me today at work, or shall I say this has been me at work several days before this day. And according to one of my co-workers, she said I was kind of out of myself at our unit meeting today. I admit that I have been frustrated and irritable with the demands of my job. However, it never crossed mind that my co-worker was watching me.

While most people know me as a bubbly, cheerful, joyful, and happy go lucky person, this was a good reminder to me that…you never know who’s watching you! Not only that, but from a Christian perspective, we as Christians must realize that God isn’t the only one watching us, but the world is watching us too. Most of us don't give it much thought, but people do watch us. They are watching to find out what a Christian is like, how we react under pressure, what we do when the going gets rough, and what we do when there seems to be no way out! That said, this post is about being an example.

Let's look at the book of 1 Timothy

In 1 Timothy 4:12, Paul tells Timothy…“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity”.

In this case, we have Paul telling Timothy to demonstrate who God is through actions. And we can see here that Timothy has a duty. He is to set an example for Christians to follow. Not only that but Timothy is being watched and with that being said, you never know who is watching you from a far or even close for that matter. People watch you while you don’t think anybody is. The same is also true with parents and children. Even when you don't realize it, they are constantly watching and learning from you. Not only that, but they learn more from you by the eye, than they do by the ear...and that's why we as Christians should continually remember the influence of our own example. They see our ways, note our conduct, observe our behaviour, and what they see us do. As I stated earlier in this post, it never crossed my mind that my co-worker was watching me, but it did bring to my attention that I need to be cognizant of my reactions to situations as a Christian.
Always remember, someone, somewhere is watching you! That someone is watching you at home, church, work, school, and in your neighbourhood and that’s why Titus 2:7 tells us, "In everything set them an example by doing what is good. So, while it’s safe to say that we need to provide an example for others to see, it's important to keep in mind that there are two kinds of examples: by what you do and what you do not do.

Conclusion

Let this post be a good reminder to you that you never know who's watching you, or who may be basing their verdict about God on the way you handle your circumstances, your emotions, and your situations. Remember, many times we are the only example that people will have of God. So let us be an example to people in words, in temper, in diligence, in moderation, in faith, in love, in kindness, and in humility to our family, friends, spouse, co-workers, neighbour's, etc...After all, you never who's watching your example.

Note to self : Stay Focused!

Life is full of distractions! Most of us are distracted several times, if not dozens of times, every day. As for me, I work in a distracting work environment and where I work, I am constantly faced with a number of distractions, (i.e., co-workers, clients, e-mails, phone calls, etc.) and with that being said, staying focused can be tough. As we all know, distractions are just part of life, but from a biblical perspective, a distraction would be anything that draws your attention away from God, His Word, and His plan and purpose for your life. 

I myself, become distracted in so many other ways all too often. Even in opening my computer to write this, I found myself clicking on something else. But, if I really want to be distracted, all I have to do is turn on my phone. While God has been trying to help me recognize and understand the distractions in my life, my biggest distraction was Facebook... and after realizing how much of a distraction it had become to me and my focus on God, I decided to deactivate my account temporarily. Other things like the TV, internet, social media, cell phones, etc. can also be distractions. Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with any of those things, but when they become a distraction from God, that's the point it is detrimental...and Satan’s desire, more than ever, is to distract us from God, His word, and His plan and purpose for our lives.

1 Corinthians 7:35 says,  “And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction.”

Let's look at Nehemiah 6:1-3...¹ Now it came to pass when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and Geshem the Arabian, and the rest of our enemies, heard that I had builded the wall, and that there was no breach left therein; (though at that time I had not set up the doors upon the gates;) ² That Sanballat and Geshem sent unto me, saying, Come, let us meet together in some one of the villages in the plain of Ono. But they thought to do me mischief. ³ And I sent messengers unto them, saying, I am doing a great work, so that I cannot come down: why should the work cease, whilst I leave it, and come down to you?
 
As you can see, Satan tried to distract Nehemiah from the work of God, but he doesn't allow himself to be distracted by Satan's tactics. In the text, Nehemiah responded, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?”... That said, Nehemiah refused to be distracted! Nehemiah understood his mission and was committed to keep focused on his mission. 

In closing, God has something for all us to do, but we must not get distracted. We must STAY FOCUSED ON GOD! Now while some people are diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD), a case could be made that we also have at least some form of spiritual attention deficit disorder too. However, it's important to note that life will distract you, but you don't have to stay distracted. Proverbs 4:25-27 says, "Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. 27 Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.” As you see, this proverb is all about FOCUS. This encourages us to stay on the course, fix on what's important. 

STAY FOCUSED ON GOD!