Open your mind...

Today I met a very interesting person. Even though his story was unique, I've heard this before in others, even in family members. "I believe in God or in a Higher being, but I don't like church. I pray at my house, by myself. I have studied and researched religions, and they all agree on a higher power. Therefor I believe."

This "I don't like church" type of thinking, is my fault. It's our fault, as part of a church. In my search for a home were I, as a christian, could be and feel like I'm moving forward and "leveling-up" spiritually, I went to a lot of different churches and different doctrines. And like this person, I also did and still do a lot of research on other religions, to know what they believe and to better understand why they believe or why some don't.

When I was 3 years old, my parents divorced, and my mother was the one who raised me and my brother. She always tells me, she didn't have anything, so she gave us to God, and whatever His plan was, He had to provide for us, and use us.

My first church was on my mother's bed at night. We were 3 church members, my brother, my mother and I. My first book was the Bible, and I loved it. As an innocent child I had a fear for God, but I wasn't afraid of Him, I always saw Him as my father and that I had to follow His example. Of course I didn't always behave but I never did anything really bad. I had my issues because of not having a daddy, and as I grew older I always had the feeling that I need one. I had friends with a father in home and I felt like I really wanted that, but as I grew older I realized I had the best father of all.
When I became a teenager I had to discover myself, and of course there were some times when I was searching for answers in so many places, I just got lost. So I decided to go back to my beginning, I went back to my Bible. I asked the Lord in prayer. I prayed: "Lord, I know I haven't been the best but please speak to me, I need answers from you." And I opened my bible and it was in Isaiah 6 which is my favorite verse in the bible. My favorite part said:

⁸ Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?”

And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

 And then I understood that maybe my mission in life, is to go out there and speak the truth. Haven't done a great job so far, but I am trying. I want the Lord to send me out there, to make a difference. 

He wants to send out His army of believers, to not fight with guns or nuclear energy, but to fight hunger, poverty, Hippocrates , low self-esteem, and so many other things that are happening right here. Even in our churches. We don't have to go to Africa to fight hunger, right here, in our own communities there are kids who are going to school without having anything in their stomach. There are boys and girls committing suicide because of low self-esteem. There is a spiritual war going on and we aren't doing anything about it. We aren't praying for miracles. When we pray we ask for selfish things. God has to give us, and we don't give anything.    I believe that we are a river that has to flow. We receive from above, our vertical relationship has to influence our horizontal relationships.

When I say open your mind, I don't mean believe anything you hear from other religions. Open your mind to see, feel and know what God wants you to do for Him today. Tell Him: "Here I am, Send me!!"

God has great plans for us, we are the ones limiting Him, by closing our minds. Open your mind to do whatever crazy random act of Kindness He puts on your heart.

I want to encourage you today to open your mind, to let God use you for His Kingdom, for His people. And be a river that flows with water for those who are thirsty for Him, thirsty to know that they have the Best Father anyone could ask for. Let the Lord pour His rain of wisdom, kindness, righteousness, forgiveness and most important of all grace. That whenever we speak to those who need him, even in our church or out there in the world, whoever hears us, will hear and feel the grace and love of our Father. The love that Jesus Christ showed us when He went to that cross and was victorious.


Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Casting Stones

This weekend I heard something that happened in a church that left me thinking a lot. A pastor in front of everyone in his church, during service, started casting stones. Well not literally but you understand my point, he exposed two young adults who were in sin and this sin is giving fruit.

I do believe it is a shame for these young adults to be living in sin and to be leaders in their ministry. What anointing are they bringing to others? None. And yet I do not agree with this pastor to expose them like that. This pastor lacked wisdom, Godly Wisdom.

When Mary Magdalene was about to be stoned to death, which by law was the punishment for adultery, Jesus showed mercy and Godly wisdom. He knew she had to punished, and that the ones who were about to cast these stones were right. BUT God is the only one that is allowed to judge us. He is the only one who is righteous enough, pure enough to punish or show grace. Jesus used his wisdom to show us all that we are in no position to judge anyone around us, because none of us are free of sin. None of us can cast the first stone.

When you know someone is in sin, and you as a brother or sister in Christ might want to help her or him, by giving some advice. Talk to them privately, guide them with the wisdom the Lord has given us. Don't point fingers, because who are you to be the judge?

Today I want to encourage you, if you are in sin and a someone has pointed fingers at you, if they have cast stones at you, I won't tell you to forget about them, but to forgive them and check yourself. See if you are being an example to them. And if you aren't get on your knees and pray to the Lord to help you and forgive you, and show you his wisdom, like Jesus Christ has.

Do not be like this pastor, who without thinking judged these young adults, who have failed not to the church but to God. And even when they failed Him, he will show them enough grace to forgive them and use their fruit for great things in His Kingdom.

I leave you with this. Do not cast the first stone, be right with God and show the Grace he has shown you to others. That is the way we as Christians or Followers of Christ should act, because we have also been forgiven of a lot!

Be blessed =D