Category Archives: Christian Living
What Will It Be For You?
2014, today marks the beginning of the New year. For many this is the first day of their resolution. Maybe it could be breaking a food addiction to even adopting a style of fitness. Whatever your challenge. Go after it with with all your heart, even if you don’t think it can be done. Do it anyway because it is what needs to be done. This is the year of great exploits for God. This is the year where destinies are fulfilled, sacrifices are honored, and dreams are realized.
So what will it be for you in ’14? How do you feel about it? In other words, what is your attitude concerning this newness or commitment? Is it just another year to you? Attitudes are contagious, is yours worth having?
Ignited,
Mike
Happy New Year
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Esteem Away
There are people in life whom I have held in great esteem. For example, when I was a young teenage girl many of the pop culture music stars had my attention. Now when I say they had that attention I don’t mean only when I watched a music video. I attended to their articles in popular magazines that decorated the checkout stands, watched the talk shows that they appeared on, and even news segments that highlighted their lives. I took the time to get to know who they were as an individual and valued what they had to say. As I was in my early twenties, I held a great regard for friends I had built a certain amount of trust for. Giving them the same type of attention as I did to those stars, I would take a genuine interest in their lives. Unfortunately, as my trust was breached I easily let go of the value I held for their words or even who they were as a human. This became my defense mechanism; a wall so carefully built that it could not be penetrated by people rather taken down by God himself.
During the season of what I call my “heart renovation”, I was very skeptical of people and their intentions, inadvertently keeping at bay great people for fear of a catosrophic repeat of pain. Yet, one day I came across these words in the Bible, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:3-4). This verse literally changed my outlook on life and my position in it.
You see, I would give to people the attentive dedication only if I didn’t feel threatened-my good was the first thing considered; not theirs. However, this is not how God freed me to live. He has freed both you and I to live and give of ourselves unhindered. As God’s children, we don’t have to walk around guarded, or looking out for our own interest all of the time; that is our heavenly father’s role. We can freely look out for the good of others.
We can highly regard people over ourselves, this is the model that Jesus displayed on earth. Although it isn’t always easy to do, it is much easier than painstakingly building walls that keep you bound to the pain of the past. Esteem my dear friend, esteem away.
Teresa Escalante
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Don’t wait!
For those who don’t know what to do with their God-given gifts,
Recently I was moving boxes moving to our new house. It’s a “cozy” home with new carpeting, furnished cabinetry, and it has a small room for my guitars. I have played the guitar for many years although you could not tell by my playing. I did manage to play a few melodies. In fact, I had spent a couple of years writing songs. I enjoyed singing these songs created by me and the Lord as much as playing them back to him. These songs were such a blessing to me. It was fun to create something that also moved my friends as much as me. I liked singing to God.
If you were to ask me right now if any of those songs made it on the radio? Well, not yet. Sadly, against many requests made by family and friends I declined to get them published. It was only until we relocated that I saw a small dusty note-book that possessed the treasures that lifted my soul to the heavens and allowed me to enjoy the worship filled presence of Almighty God. I knew it was God that gave me those songs but I was foolish to think that those songs were only for me.
On the radio I do hear melodies, lyrics and riffs that albeit original, sound very similar to the type of harmony that I believe the Lord wanted to exhibit through me years ago; had I been obedient………
The Lesson:
Recognize that the Lord is a good father and knows the good gifts for his children. He wants to bless his people and will place skills and talents within everyone to help his objective. He gives us these things for ourselves as well, these are the things we have in our hand to prosper us.
I believe God wants to speak to and through his people-all people. He is looking to find the one who would be willing to step out for his namesake and do his will- for his glory. So, remain faithful and prepare for the blessing that the Lord will use through you.
Don’t wait!!! If the Lord has placed something on your heart to do then I encourage you to follow after it. Be wise in your dealings, talk to your pastor and go hard after that which the Lord has placed before you.
So as for my music I will refine it and perhaps add a band, we’ll see how it goes….
Whatever you do, do it all for the Glory of God.
“And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Colossians 3:17 (KJV)
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