Anyone looking for a Shepherd?

Psalms 23.
The Lord is My Shepherd.
This psalm, this one sentence in this psalm is filled with so many meanings and life lessons.
Most of us have never seen a sheep let alone understand the role of a Shepherd.
In this sentence the key concept is the relationship between the sheep.
When you really look at it... what do sheep really do for themselves. Anytime we see sheep on TV or hear about them in a book, they are in a pasture grazing. Sheep are always eating! that's all the day everyday eat and then sleep at night. Sheep don't find food for themselves, they don't protect themselves from wolves or lions, they don't find a safe place to dwell. They just eat, because food and protection is the Shepherd's job. David says the Lord is my Shepherd.  When you understand the role of a Shepherd you can truly appreciate the passage. A Shepherd goes out and finds food, a Shepherd has a staff to attack anything that threatens a sheep, a Shepherd is the one who creates a pasteur. What is a pasteur? It's and enclosed area of grass for sheep to graze in normally enclosed with gate or a fence  What is the grass for... food, what is the fence for... protection. The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want Psalms 23:1.
With your God assuming the role of a Shepard of your life, what else could you possibly want?

When you look at the anatomy of sheep, there are no defence mechanisms on the sheep, they don't have long sharp claws, they don't have big sharp teeth, they don't have legs built for speed or agility and the very few that have horns cant do any damage with it because they have neither the strength nor the skills to use it. They don't need any defence mechanisms because they have a Shepherd. The sheep are totally dependent on the Shepherd because the things that they are up against they don't stand a chance.This is why the Shepherd creates a safe heaven filled with food and a barrier for security.


This is the role that God wants to play in our lives, He wants to be our Shepherd  but are you humble enough and or trusting enough to be his sheep?

Question?

What does Jesus mean to you?
No, this is not a philosophically question asking for a complicated philosophcal answer. Share with us what Jesus means to you, personally.

Homosexuality. Right or Wrong?

Homosexuality has been a topic of confusion in the church out the church. In schools, in workplaces, in businesses, in families...Everywhere! People are trying to figure out is homosexuality right, is it acceptable or is it wrong. The Bible makes it clear that homosexuality is a sin, and therefore is wrong.  Where do I see that in Leviticus 18:22 22 'Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.' and if you read the whole chapter it outlines  many sexual sins and then says that these things are abominations and defiles the body. There are many other texts in the bible which speaks against homosexuality, they well be outlined at the end of the post so you can personally look them up.
If your a person living a homosexual life style or your beginning to feel homosexual tendencies, you need to pray earnestly to the Lord about it, ask Him to help you over come these feelings because you cant over come sin on your own, if you try it will just over come you. Only through Jesus and with His help can you ever over come sin. Dont feel lowly or like the lowlife of humanity that some around want to make you feel, this is why Jesus went to the cross, to make it possible for you and me to overcome sin. Jesus wants to help you and me overcome sin. Homosexulaity is a sin. Just like all others, and let He who is without sin cast the first stone. Who hear has not sinned.... let me see a show of hands...* looks around room* oh, no one... so why then do we as Christians feel superiority to Homosexuals, the bible says that we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God ALL includes every one of us who has been shapen in sin and formed in inquity. Every one of us have sinned which puts us all on a leveled playing field. Homosexuals are sinners just like the rest of US( and I say us because even those who pretend to be righteous have sinned, and those who are actually righteous have only done so through the blood of Jesus washing away their sin) liars, thieves, gossipers, fornicators... and if your reading this shaking your head saying that your above this, you remember that thing that one thing you always do that you want no one to find out about, yea that secret thing.. that puts you in the category of a sinner. So come of your high horse.

There are too many Christians walking around as if God ask us to be a panel of judges to try everyone's case. Our jobs as Christians is to share the gospel not  hypocritical judge and shoved down people's throat. Your messengers not jurors. You carry the message show in the bible why it is wrong step back and let the Holy Spirit do His job. Not even Jesus forces his way into our heart, He give us many opportunities to change our ways and do the right thing but He NEVER forces anyone to do what He wants we always have a choice. That is the example we must follow.

Homosexuals God loves you, but he hates your lifestyle, He hates the sin.

Bible References: Romans 1:26-32,  Leviticus chapter 18 (from memory research more later)

Idol Worship

I learnt over the period of couple weeks the true meaning of " Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," Yes, I know it in theory but it never truly sunk in until recently.. that I was trying to do everything on my own. I was trying to get an education on my own.... I was trying to forge my path for my life on my own. I thought making my plans then asking God to bless it meant that I was depending on God and that I was doing the things that He wanted  but in truth and in fact that very actions was a very blatant display of my lack of trust in God. How many times have you done that? Made your plans for the day, for your schooling  for your career, for family or your life THEN ask God to bless it. You look God in the face say ' ok God I don't really trust what you have planned I know whats best for my life so here's whats gonna happen... this is the plan I drew up and I need you to bless it'. That isn't trusting God that's idolising Him, and by idolising I mean turning Him into an Idol.  God is not and idol, He isn't something you keep on a shelf and only take down and dust off when you want blessings over a plan or and investment. He is a sovereign being meaning He has thoughts and plans, unlike the stone cold idol that most of us make Him out to be... he has  plans for your life, that if you followed you would have the definition of a fulfilling of life.
So I learnt that lesson a couple weeks ago, and I decided that I'm done doing this by myself I was done questioning God. I was gonna live my life completely trusting Him because in Him I could do all things. Then this morning whilst studying for an exam, I realised that I hadn't had devotions in a minute ( meaning in a while) I haven't opened my bible in probably a week. So here I was trying to be a better Christian by my own strength, trying to be more connected to God without even allowing God to be in the picture. Isn't that crazy???? but I know I'm not the only young person who does it. You can't get closer to God by deciding your going to do it, and then try to do it  without Him. The only way we're gonna be any better as a Christian and have a close relationship with Christ is to live in constant communication with Him which is a difficult task if Christ to you is an idol. Take God out of the idolistic box that you've confined Him to.  See Him as being with thoughts, personality, likes, dislikes, yes even feelings. Learn about Him and his character  by constantly reading the bible, and talking to him through prayer. When people hear the word prayer their mindset switches and they immediately revert to this rigid repetitive form, but prayer is in essence just a conversation . The only difference between prayer and a conversation is that a conversation is you talking to another person and a prayer is you having a conversation with God. Jesus who died on that Friday evening, and rose that Sunday morning is not an idol. Stop making Christianity out to be idol worship.

Homosexuality

This post is coming Friday December 14, 2012.................
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Just A Thought

This is just a thought on how the Lord reveals himself to all of us. Have you ever just laid down and looked directly up, staring at the face of the evening sky? You know, the one directly after the sunset, filled with darker and darker shades of midnight blue originating from a lighted crescent on the horizon, a gentle reminder of the sun's former residence?
I just did that, on top of this hill in the middle of nowhere on the TN-AL border, surrounded by nothing except brush, deer, and coyotes. The sky was as a newly conceived child, a miracle and not yet developed, as the stars were just beginning to reveal their faces--so few that one could number them upon one hand.
All this, and I came to this conclusion...we're too busy. Too busy looking down at the concrete fast track to material wealth or forward at the dreams we've crafted with our own hands that we forget.
We forget our Creator though we are admonished to "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not..." (Ecclesiastes 12:1). We, myself foremost, forget that, sometimes, our effort is not necessary nor desired in the things that pertain to God alone. We do not always need to be in control. Sometimes, we are just required to "Fear not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day" (Exodus 14:13).
The heavens surely declare the glory of God and the firmament sheweth his handiwork (Psalms 19:1) and, even by just looking at the sky, we can see that "From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised" (Psalms 113:3).
So, today, you can say that my laying down on my back on top of this country hill after sunset was time well spent. 

Written by: Oneil Grant.

I Am Upset.

I am upset.
I am upset that I claim Jesus's name yet I keep doing wrong. I am upset that I ask for forgiveness just to to do it all over again. I am ashamed to say it but it's time for me to face it. I am a repeat offender.
It's as if I ridicule God in His love. I know He's there, I know He cares but I don't care, at least not enough to change my ways, and I'm tired of it.  I'm tired of using and misusing His grace, I'm tired of cheating on God with the devil. I will not do it anymore. I will not pretend to be something I'm not instead I will become what I've been pretending to be. I will no longer wear the makeup of Christianity  I'm just gonna be me. The true me, the me God wants me to be because tonight, I saw God, Again. Again God revealed Himself to me, again God pleaded with me and I can't look into his face and reject Him again. Not again, I will not use the eyes he gave me to look away, the ears he gave me to turn away, I will not use the brain He gave me to process the thought of rebellion against Him nor the breath he gave me to sustain a life of sin.

I refuse to go yet another day stuck at the same spiritual level I was since my mother read my bedtime stories. I refuse to get up yet another day kinda " trying" to walk the Christian pathway, that makes the Devil smile. Mourn oh deceptive one because to your total you have to add -1. I am no longer #TeamKindOfChristian or #TeamMiddleGround. I've vanquished my pride squashed my vanity my life is no longer about me me me! It's about the Jesus in me. I will not allow the Devil to stop me from being all God wants me to be. Ive been under this spell that sin has spun long enough, and slowly but surely my affinity for the sinful things that used to choke me, will diminish. God called me and in the split second all the things that had to go flashed before me. My pride my vanity, myself reliance, MY BELIEF THAT I CAN DO ME BETTER THAN GOD CAN DO ME. I changed my mind set. I stopped thinking that I can do this, and I can do that. I am not powerful or mighty, God is. Say it with me, I am not powerful or mighty. God Is. Talk to Him right now, cause trust me..

I saw God today. I will never be the same again.

How to get close to you?

How to get close to you?

How do I get close to God? I hear about Him but I can't feel Him.
I hear of His goodness but I can't see Him.
I want the wonderful things people speak of but I keep messing things up.
I want to live holy, I want to live upright but Sin keeps trapping me.
I want to talk to you about it but Satan keeps telling me im not worthy.
He keeps telling me that i'm not worthy to ask for help, and I believe it, every time I ask for you forgiveness, I say i'm done, but I betray you again.
I'm not worthy of your love, your grace or your time.
But im thankful that I'm just the kind of person you want to save.
The broken, soiled, repeat offender. I am the person you want to save.
I'm thankful that I dont have to be righteous to call upon your name,
I'm thankful that the power in your name is not limited to the 'perfect christian'
but it's available to me as well.
I'm thankful that I dont have to be worthy of your love, your grace or salvation to get it.
I'm thankful that your blood is able to cover me irregardless of the magnitude of my transgressions.
I'm thankful that you believe in me, in my ability to change and that you don't hold my sin against me.
For everyone out there that feels like this. I thank you for leading them here. Let them know that they didn't stumble on this by accident, but by divine direction.

' Sin = what? '

What is Sin?

A lot of people in the world today, especially the youth, put sin in a category where it should not be. What do I mean by that? Well, today sin is categorised with fun, a good time, enjoying ones self. Which is what Satan has done to effectively get and keep young people away from God. When you truly understand the essence of sin, the Christian pathway will become  a bit easier to travel.

Sin as defined by the dictionary is the transgression of the divine Law, or a reprehensible action.
When you really look at it sin is sooo much more than breaking a law. The essence of sin is much deeper much more sinister than just that.

We were perfect God made us perfect in every way. We were immortal, when we were made there was no end sight, God made us and everything around us to live for ever. One person decided to try sin. One person decided to test drive sin, and  when she did, it was automatically internalised and rotted her and everything else from the inside out.

I think of sin as a curse. Picture it. Humanity in the form of Adam and Eve had a choice, we chose sin and immediately we started to die.  Right away what was immortal became mortal, what was supposed to always be has an end. ... Listen to yourself  breathe for a minute .. no really stop and listen. With every one of those gulps of air you die. Every morning you wake up thinking you have new life, you don't your one step closer to your expiration date, your one day closer to death. Right now life is an oxymoron because with every moment that you live you die. This is what sin has done to you.

With every year crime , violence , hatred, drug abuse, sexual abuse, sickness, Hurricanes  Tornadoes, earthquakes, famine and war grew more and more intense. Every day leaves drop of the trees, a flower blossoms and dies, someones mother dies, someones sister is raped, some child is molested and I can go on and on...... This is what sin has done to the world.

There is nothing good, fun or jovial about sin. That's why Jesus  pleads with us to repent of our sins and then to go and sin no more! He calls us to a life free of sin, he calls us to a life of quality, happiness and purity in him. How can something that is Killing you be too good to give up.  That's the equivalent of someone who has cancer being handed and actual cure but refusing to take it."Naw man I'm cool.. this junk right here, this cancer right here, its just too good to give up."(o.O) Jesus understands the toxicity of sin and now so do you.

Hold you head up high and live the Christians life of quality and purity with a satisfied smile on your face, because because despite what many believe... just look around you, Sin ≠ fun.

* Please share this post. Young people helping young people, join the movement! * 

The Clock of Your Existence.

Have you ever wonder what time it is, on the clock of your existence.

Every where around me I see people dying. Young and old, family and friends, educated and uneducated, rich and the poor yet  to most of us its not yet real. We still live like tomorrow is promised, as if the power of death is on our pocket  and we're holding the reigns with death on our leash. 

The clock of your existence is ticking. I'll never forgot this one guy lets call him John Grey. He had an accident and died one semester. Sat beside him every class, never knew... never would have expected that his time was almost up. No one in that class would have ever guess that this guy who is answering the question or this guy your sitting next to, your FRIEND who you've known forever, he just  doesn't have another day left. He had plans for School, he had plans for a career, he had plans with his girl , there was just no more time left on his clock.

How many of us have plans that out date our existence?

That's a scary thought, that's why no matter how young you are you got to live a meaningful life. There is no time for fear, doubt or self pity. Let go of that bad relationship, let go of that fear of rejection, let go of that desperation for approval from man. Because at the end of it all you would have failed at life, if all you can show for our life is you 20K tweets, half of a degree, and some swag.

                                      

Make your existence count. God says 'But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.(Isaiah 40:31). Check him. Let Him show you the mighty things that you will accomplish in Him. Let Him tell you about the great things that will happen because of you.  Refuse! to live an unfulfilled life, don't allow the clock to stop ticking before you allow God to do those mighty things through you. So stop right now. Ask God to reveal to you where He wants you to go, what He wants you to do, and DON"T STOP ASKING until its clear to you.

 Above your head is an unseen clock,and it's ticking. Tickity Tock.

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Wasted drops of Blood... Part 1

I want to talk to my Christian Young people

What have you done with your life?

I know what your gonna say well my life hasn't begun So I don't have much to show for it at the moment. You know what that is? It's a pitiful and totally inappropriate excuse  for your unfruitful tenure on earth. Being young is not an excuse for unmotivated, lazy , narrow minded, lackadaisical, immature, unethical, indifferent, ambivalent beings. Your probably saying well.. I graduated from high school or I got my GED and got accepted into a University or I graduated with my Degree going on to that job... that's great BUT what about the rest. What about service? What are you doing to make the depressed smile?  What are you doing to impact your community? what are you doing for your church? What are you doing for God? being a Christian young person isn't just about spiritual growth but personal growth as well.  Too much of us are intimidated by our youth, which is actually one of the sharpest must effective tool in our belts. If only you could only understand how powerful beyond belief you are, if only you understood the earthshakingly amazing and powerful things you can accomplish. The bible makes many references to the desire to use young people to do great things my favourite is in  Jeremiah 1:7-9  where God calls Jeremiah to but Jeremiah is afraid and he tells God that he cant be used because of his youth.. this is the response he got... "Do not say, 'I am only a youth' 'You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you,” declares the Lord. Then the Lord reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, “I have put my words in your mouth. See, today  I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant."

Now when I look at this texts and other references here and there (such as Ecclesiastes 12:1)it confirms in my mind without a shadow of doubt that God wants to use the youth of the church to do great things ... no not only in the church  the older folk kinda got that, but in the wider Community as well. 

We should be the salt of the earth the beacon of light in the darkness. We should hate and detest mediocrity. It's no enough just to go through life like everybody else your a follower of Christ more is expected of you. Jesus didn't die on a cross so that I can live a life of unfulfilled dreams, irrelevance and mediocrity. I don't know about you but I never want Jesus to look at me.... and see wasted drops of blood. Its not enough to love Jesus go to church sing and shout then spend the rest of your time tweeting about nonsense, looking at memes on face book, gossipping about peoples relationships, or who's weave looks like 'all my life I had to fight' (lol). When I look to my left, I see too many young people too caught up in the nonsensical things, amused with the things of this world. Let me break that word down for you Amusement... 'an activity that is diverting and that holds the attention' your attention is being diverted from Christ and you don't even know it. Then I see another set of us when I look to my right. I see  too many of us young people who are content with getting a good education, sitting down in church getting Fat on the word. Christianity is a call to service and no... service isn't  such a bad word. As essential as these thing are.. service doesn't only involve volunteering at soup kitchen or building churches in Africa,  you can serve by doing what you Love. Yes, those things called talents that you do naturally and you ENJOY doing, Jesus is calling you to serve him with those.  God needs young people who will think outside of the box, think outside of what has always been done, and do the extraordinary for him. I marvel at the fact that when people do things for Satan they go all out, do their best they use the biggest the brightest and the best, go hard or go home yet when it comes to Christ..... you feel me. If you know this post is for you. It's time to get up. Stand up. The time for spectating has come and gone. Join the movement.

Below I've highlight some young people I know who are using their God given talents to impact the community and to bring the word of our amazing God to the world.

                            Milton Doggette 

Song writer, Singer, Past Student of Oakwood university, member of the Adventist church.
Has an amazing song out... "Hold me Close' check him on youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jSWaCZQ6AUc

Daryl Anderson 

           An amazing producer. Student of Oakwood University Here's some of his work. 

                   -  One Nation A Time : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sRzWuymdrZE

                    -  The Letter :  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkI3Y77K8cA&list=UUZmCxb_Bo4dmoRy7ndAVfnA&index=2&feature=plcp

             Serenity

A group of Christian (Adventist) ladies. Who won Oakwoods making the group reality show.All students os Oakwood university. Here's a vid of their work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz08QbdKTj0

   Richard Martin

An excellent preacher and mighty man of God.  Recent Graduate of Oakwood University Check it out :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aBM40EfpL0

                     

          

                   Adiel and Ministry

A group out of Nothern Caribbean University headed by Adeil Thomas
 a powerful songwriter, producer and singer.

Check out their work: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6QZkAgHn6Q

              Daran E. A. Clarke

Founder of a the iServe youth group movement for the Cayman Islands Conference, 
Evangelist, singer all together a mighty man of God. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tENsZql1ZA

        

               
   Charles Eaton

                   A gifted young man a spoken word Beast! an Adventist Young man living Christ. Student at oakwood University  His poetry is so ... I can't even describe it listen for yourself! - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5yXc1UPiL8

                          Committed 

                            A group of Christian young men who won NBC's hit singing competition ''The sing Off'.    Amazing Vocals and musical arrangements. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yS3jn9MtNrc&feature=related

At the top of the blog on the righthand side is an option to share this post. Pass the word along. It's time to Stand up. 

Ps. Know of any outstanding young person in your community. Hit me up : keely.aoc@gmail.com