hungry appeptites changing provecho saving myself some room for dessert sipping on glory sipping on grace words seasoned smelling like what I ate this morning... His word steeped in me like chai at tea time He brews percolating me into a concotion fit for a King preparation is always in season wines of timeless vintage grapes fresh from the Vine hungry
Read more...Nah I'm just kidding lol
But it was an interesting night.
It brought back to remembrance where I'm from. And despite things I've gone through, stuff I've seen, past all the imperfections...I'm truly from a place of love.
My sis came through bearing gifts for my bday and concerns for my future, my mom and dad were arguing, and my room looked a wreck. But u know what, at the end of the night love prevailed.
I got an opportunity to walk through the neighborhood under and a fairly clear sky apart from a round and lovely yellow moon. As we walked Brownie (the nicest/smartest/cutest Chihuahua in the land) and talked, memories flooded back of the person who lived here, the person who lived there, and the person I've been and who I've grown into being.
I don't know if this reflection is some emotional side effect from turning 21, but it is indeed mingled with thanks to God for His mercy in keeping me to this point.
I walked around those familiar blocks, seeing beaten paths not as worn as they once were, now glad my new steps are in the direction of Christ...talk about Happy Birthday
p.s. - moonlight and big sisters are dope
So the other night...I watched "Lukewarm and Loving It" on youtube, a Francis Chan sermon which talked about how whether we realize it or not everyone in America is rich compared to much of the world. And so that has spiritual implications for us since Jesus tells us about how hard it is for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven, He says that, "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." (Matthew 19:23-24)
And so, after the account of the rich young ruler who wasn't able to give up his material things I really started to examine my life, being really conscious of the newly found fact that I actually am rich.
And so...I ended up fervently praying for God to take away anything in my life that was hindering me from getting into the kingdom of heaven or distracting me from Him, and take away He did! The previous day I had activated my Palm Pre (smartphone) to use it and it went through. It just needed to be fully charged to complete the activation process and suddenly the phone that was fully ready to activate, codes ran through the network's system and all wouldn't work. Then...my macbook's (laptop) battery was dead when I went to see my grandma so I left it charging until I came back. In the meantime, there was a freak ultra severe thunderstorm and it fried my macbook.
This my friends is not a mere coincidence, it was a humbling reminder that God is REAL! And He listens to our prayers! The word says the prayer of a righteous man availeth much (aka it works :-) (James 5:16b) and if that's the case in this situation I'm glad Jesus's credit of righteousness to my account is fully functioning! :-) In thinking about all this, I just am soo thankful to know that He cares enough for insignificant lil me to take these things away from me to make sure I don't stumble!
And I'm thankful for the peace I had in both situations, Gina without Christ would have still been dwelling on the issue and pouting. Whereas, Gina now is still dwelling on the issue, but from a perspective of awe, thanks, and reverence that the Mighty and Powerful God who created the universe and everything in it cares enough about my personal salvation enough to not only send His only son Jesus to die so that I could get it...but to keep watch over my life like this so that I can stay in it!
Now I'm not gonna front ---> it stung the other morning when I had already gotten my hopes up on this Palm Pre, started planning on it, fantasizing about all the productivity I'd have my senior year with it at my side. It reminds me of Proverbs 4:23 which says "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." When I got all hype on the Palm Pre I wasn't doing a good job of guarding my heart rather, I was putting my hopes and faith into a phone, an inanimate object..sounds like a lil idol worship to me.
But yeah...so it stung at first, but if it didn't sting God wouldn't have needed to take it away from me. By the time the macbook happened that afternoon it was confirmation God was eliminating things exactly how I asked Him to. And He was quick about it!
So I looked at the situation like...ok, now what? Well gracefully :-) I had all my poetry and important documents backed up on my external hard drive so I still have that.
Now some people hit me with the "Well Gina, you were using your laptop to share links and materials that were helping to bring people to Christ!" And they've got a point there, but I was also using it to squander precious God-given time by meaningless facebooking/twittering/youtube video watching/ and idle skype time...now I ALSO used all the aforementioned things for His glory, but our God hates lukewarmness (Revelation 3:16-17). As the Forever Jones song says "He wants it ALL Today" and everyday for that matter because He deserves it. And He didn't take away my ability to share links/fellowship/etc online because I still have a desktop computer and the house still has internet. It's just that now I can't spend inordinate amounts of time on the computer doing idle things other than that.
It really gives me some perspective on the verse "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31
I hope some people read/hear this and see exactly how much God really wants us to fulfill that.
Another perspective is "Well, you need a phone." Well...I have one, it's not luxurious, it's not even really considered "fully functional" lol, but its a phone. And since I'm sure God is calling me to be a better steward over everything...my time included...my use of time being almost if not paramount...maybe all I really need is a device to keep me in super basic communication with people. Even if the efficiency level of that communication leaves much to be desired by the world's standards, I've been freed from living by the world's standards, so why should it bother me? :-)
And the other glaring perspective, "Well it's your senior year! You need a laptop!" But do I?? ...I need Christ, this I know, and I also know He's been telling me to step my "stewardship of my time game" up. So this year, I think I'm going to take advantage of the fact that I go to a college where we can rent laptops for 3 to 4 hour periods at a time. By using that, it will force me into good time management and keep me focused on academics and most importantly Him! And not so&so's new facebook status.
I have apple care (warranty) so I think I'll be able to get a new mac or a refurbished one, some sort of replacement if this one can't be fixed. But you know what...if I can I think I'm going to sell it and either donate the $$ from it or use it to get rid of some debt....not sure exactly what I'll use it for yet...but I'll pray on that too!
Grace and peace fam :-)
Gina
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." Matthew 13:44
P.S. after I got on the desktop computer I found a folder of files from a previous owner of this computer stuffed full of ministry resources and outreach ideas that I had no idea was there. And..the old phone although simple works perfectly now, just needed a new battery. :-)
The sermon...
The song...
do you see how bold these dudes are? Jay-Z and Rick Ross are coming out with a song called "Free Mason"
this article http://thathustle.com/forums/showthread.php?p=506589
says that "Contrary to popular belief the track is not related to any Freemasonry but is a tribute to a mutual friend in jail named Mason."
woww..really tho? ur friend named Mason? nah...not saying they're definitely free masons but these dudes via the enemy working in them is just hoping to deceive some people and keep them listening to Jay so his music can lead them away from Christ
here's some info on free masonry and how its doctrines compare w/Christianity and they DON'T align
http://www.gotquestions.org/free-masonry.html
plus in light of it coming out w/all the previous talk about his supposed occult involvement i'm sure if he was involved he'd love nothing more than to convince ppl that there's nothin going on and poke fun at the idea by making this the title of a song as he tries to do in various interviews where he admits that he believes in "some god" that goes against THE TRUTH OF CHRIST!! but it does align w/masonry which is "secret" so if involved he probably wouldn't openly admit his involvement anyways.....
*exhale* i havent heard the song but i pray ppl dont get deceived by it (just wanted to share)
for more on Jay-Z's stance on Jesus Christ check the video below
...read for more on freemasonry as it relates to Christianity via gotquestions.org
What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?
Free Masonry
Please note - by this article, we are not claiming that all who are involved in Freemasonry are cultists, or that all Freemasons believe all the items mentioned below. What we are saying is this - Freemasonry at its core is not a Christian organization. There are many Christians who have left Freemasonry after discovering what it is truly all about. Please visit Ex-Masons for Jesus for more information. There are also good and godly men, true believers in Christ who are Freemasons. It is our contention that this is because they do not truly understand Freemasonry. Each person should pray for wisdom and discernment from the Lord as to whether to be involved with Freemasonry. This article was reviewed and approved for accuracy by a former Worshipful Master of a Blue Lodge.
Question: "What is Free Masonry and what do Free Masons believe?"
Answer: Freemasonry, Eastern Star, and other similar "secret" organizations appear to be harmless fellowship gatherings. Many of them appear to promote belief in God. However, upon closer examination, we find that the only belief requirement is not that one must believe in the True and Living God, but rather, that one must believe in the existence of a “Supreme Being”, which includes the “gods” of Islam, Hinduism, or any other world religion. The unbiblical and anti-Christian beliefs and practices of this organization are partially hidden beneath an outward appearance of a supposed compatibility with the Christian faith. The following is a comparison of what the Bible says with the "official" position of Freemasonry:
Salvation from Sin:
The Bible’s View: Jesus became the sinner’s sacrifice before God when He shed His blood and died as the propitiation (payment) for the sins of all those who would ever believe (Ephesians 2:8-9, Romans 5:8, John 3:16).
Mason’s View: The very process of joining the Lodge requires Christians to ignore the exclusivity of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. According to Freemasonry, a person will be saved and go to heaven as a result of his good works and personal self-improvement.
The View of the Bible:
The Bible’s View: The supernatural and plenary inspiration of the Scriptures—that they are inerrant and that their teachings and authority are absolute, supreme, and final. The Bible is the Word of God (2 Timothy 3:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:13).
Mason’s View: The Bible is only one of several “Volume(s) of Sacred Law,” all of which are deemed to be equally important in Freemasonry. The Bible is an important book, only as far as those members who claim to be Christians are concerned, just as the Koran is important to Muslims. The Bible is not considered to be the exclusive Word of God, nor is it considered to be God’s sole revelation of himself to humankind; but only one of many religious sourcebooks. It is a good guide for morality. The Bible is used primarily as a symbol of God’s will, which can also be captured in other sacred texts, like the Koran or Rig Vedas.
The Doctrine of God:
The Bible’s View: There is one God. The various names of God refer to the God of Israel and reveal certain attributes of God. To worship other gods or to call upon other deities is idolatry (Exodus 20:3). Paul spoke of idolatry as a heinous sin (1 Corinthians 10:14) and John said that idolaters will perish in hell (Revelation 21:8).
Mason’s View: All members must believe in a deity. Different religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, etc.) acknowledge the same God, only call Him different names. Freemasonry invites people of all faiths, even if they use different names for the ‘Nameless One of a hundred names,’ they are yet praying to the one God and Father of all.
The Doctrine of Jesus and the Trinity:
The Bible’s View: Jesus was God in human form (Matthew 1:18-24, John 1:1). Jesus is the second person of the trinity (Matthew 28:19, Mark 1:9-11). While on earth, He was fully human (Mark 4:38, Matthew 4:2) and fully divine (John 20:28, John 1:1-2, Acts 4:10-12). Christians should pray in Jesus’ name and proclaim Him before others, regardless of offense to non-Christians (John 14:13-14, 1 John 2:23, Acts 4:18-20).
Mason’s View: There is no exclusivity in Jesus Christ or the Triune God who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; therefore there is no doctrine of the deity of Jesus Christ. It is deemed to be un-Masonic to invoke the name of Jesus when praying, or mention His name in the Lodge. Suggesting that Jesus is the only way to God contradicts the principle of tolerance. The name of Jesus has been omitted from biblical verses that are used in Masonic rituals. Jesus is on the same level as other religious leaders.
Human Nature and Sin:
The Bible’s View: All humans are born with a sinful nature, are totally depraved, and need a Savior from sin (Romans 3:23, Romans 5:12, Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:1). The Bible denies that because of the Fall, humanity has within itself the capacity for moral perfection (1 John 1:8-10, Romans 1:18-25).
Mason’s View: Through symbols and emblems, Masons teach that man is not sinful, just “rude and imperfect by nature”. Human beings are able to improve their character and behavior in various ways, including acts of charity, moral living, and voluntary performance of civic duty. Humanity possesses the ability of moving from imperfection toward total perfection. Moral and spiritual perfection lies within men and women.
When a Christian takes the oath of Freemasonry, he is swearing to the following doctrines that God has pronounced false and sinful:
1. That salvation can be gained by man’s good works.
2. That Jesus is just one of many equally revered prophets.
3. That they will remain silent in the Lodge and not talk of Christ.
4. That they are approaching the Lodge in spiritual darkness and ignorance, when the Bible says Christians are already in the light, children of the light, and are indwelt by the Light of the World—Jesus Christ.
5. By demanding that Christians take the Masonic oath, Masonry leads Christians into blasphemy and taking the name of the Lord in vain.
6. Masonry teaches that its G.A.O.T.U. [Great Architect of the Universe], whom Masonry believes is the true God of the universe, is representative of all gods in all religions.
7. Masonry makes Christians take a universalist approach in their prayers, demanding a “generic” name be used so as not to offend non-believers who are Masonic “brothers”.
8. By swearing the Masonic oath and participating in the doctrines of the Lodge, Christians are perpetuating a false gospel to other Lodge members, who look only to Masonry’s plan of salvation to get to heaven. By their very membership in such a syncretistic type organization, they have severely compromised their witnessing as Christians.
9. By taking the Masonic obligation, the Christian is agreeing to allow the pollution of his mind, spirit, and body by those who serve false gods and believe false doctrines.
As you can see, Masonry denies and contradicts the clear teaching of Scripture and numerous issues. Masonry also requires people to engage in activities which the Bible condemns. As a result, a Christian should not be a member of any secret society or organization that has any connection with Freemasonry.
So happy to be able to blogging this from my house! HOME! It feels good to back in South Carolina w/my fam. I know I've been madd MIA as of late, and although I had intentions of blogging all through my travels in Senegal, Chile, and Peru it just didn't happen lol.
I've found that I'm the type of person that doesn't take a lot of pictures, blog, or capture the moments in general...I'm better at just enjoying them...living them out and being in the moment! I could use this post to summarize the last couple of months, but I'd rather move forward like my boy here Mali Music...
On that note, focusing on the here and now...I'm currently using this bible reading method that has been proving to be really fruitful, and its available here! Its basically a pdf of 10 bookmarks that you print out, place in your bible, and then read one chapter of the bible from each list per day and continue doing this daily...sound simple right? It is...but its been revolutionary in the way its been able to increase the Word's approachability for me as well as my understanding. It's more dynamic now, because I'm reading old and new testament concurrently and its allowing me to see the big picture.
So its summer time here in South Carolina, and I'm browsing for a job but I think first I'll be launching this ebay business which you will probably be hearing more about fairly soon. I'm taking this time to simmer so to speak in where I need to be in the upcoming year because this time next year I will be OUT! As in graduated (Lord willing) from Williams College and the question is "What's Next?"
I think that maybe I should go about answering that question by first thinking about "what's now?" what are my current roles, how am I fulfilling them, what needs improvement, and then try to better myself now while accompanying this with much planning and prayer!
But I must say...I'm soo blessed! For one family is great, last night some of the cousins and I hit up Toy Story 3 and call me a girly girl but I def almost cried at the beginning and end. IT was soo EMOTIONAL lol. But I will say it was a nice movie. I def recommend it as something to get u out of the house for a bit and away from the more serious world we live in to check out what some toys are thinking about.
Another thing on the horizon is the Legacy Conference in Chicago which I REALLY want to attend, but there needs to be a financial blessing pop up for that one to occur, but we shall see... again prayer :-) This is a promo video for it, which features one of my favorite tracks by Shai Linne "Solus Christus" check it...
If you're feeling that track you can buy it here
Remember to support your Christian artists and don't take them for granted...if you feel it buy their music!
And on that note I'm out...
¿Quién soy? En serio....ja yo sé que cada día es como una transformación pequeña que me mete los opciones para eligir mi propia vida. "¡Elige su propia aventura!" como los libros de mi juventud... Yo recuerdo los días cuando mi únicos intereses eran de cosas intelectuales. Mi vida era una búsqueda eterna de algo nuevo, algo ingenioso algo mágico que pudiera dar vueltas a mis sueños y me temblaría hasta la médula. Pero estoy divagando del tema....mi problema es que no sé el tema. No estoy segura de que debo hacer para vivir la vida que yo quiero vivir. Yo sé que sea lo que sea es relacionado a mi vida con menos cosas materiales. Tengo que simplificar mi vida sin perdiendo su sabor, su propio estilo, su ánimo. Y eso no es tan simple o fácil...yo sé que eso es una pelea eterna que debo continuar luchar o por lo menos ser feliz con un equilibrio. Pero el equilibrio depende de muchas cosas...uno de muchos cosas son mis creencias y también mis perspectivas en cómo vivir mi vida cotidiana. Y yo sé que son mis creencias pero tengo que vivir con mis creencias en mente....
Read more..."thinking of you" .... "and all the things you wanted me to be"
This makes me think of my past self. Lil' gina, back in the day, the cute chick with the glasses "sexy slim", who had it all figured out. (and written down)
Part of me just wants love, an amazing love with super bells and whistles that make all the sounds I want to hear at frequencies that only I accept. As if he weren't truly heard before his sounds graced my ears. And I, never truly listened before embracing his song.
That's what I'd like, harmony. I'm so happy that I've finally pushed away enough bad notes to know what clarity sounds like. To remember what harmony is, and to be able to feel it. It's such a blessing, God has brought me so far away from some of the proverbial wastelands of brokenhearted nomadic siamese twins separated at birth looking for their other halves in vain. Yeah...lol those were bad looks. I've discovered that love, is something so warm, like the sun...that if you look directly into its path, you will go blind. It's better just to live life, feeling the warmth as you go, so once you arrive in a comfortable spot, you'll still be able to open your eyes and behold life's prize.
But you know, with all the sad, discouraged ex-lovers out there, I'm happy that I'm kicking back being cheerful knowing that my what if's come with smiles and not a bundle of fear.
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