Posts Tagged ‘bible study’

Do you remember the song…”Whip Appeal” by Babyface?   Yes, I am dating myself.  However, I was thinking about it tonight while I was mediating on my scriptures for the day Joshua 5:2, Romans 2:29 and Colossians 2:11 all in which talk about circumcision first of the body and then the subconscious mind otherwise known as our hearts.

If you can follow my train of thinking the Word of God has “Whip Appeal”.  Once you begin to really dig your heels into it, it whips everything that does not line up to it right out of you!  You begin to desire it more and after awhile don’t mind that it is whipping the fleshy things right on out.

In truth true freedom begins first in your mind.  Once your mind is renewed… the flesh has no other choice but to submit.

My sisters,

We may not have the same mother or father… our skin tones different shades and hues.  However one thing that we have in common is our gender and its name…WOMAN.

Through it we have a kinship.  We have the ability to share stories of similar hormonal changes, first crushes, first kisses, loves, heart breaks, marriages and for many of us childbirth.

I write this article from my perceptive of being a single woman in her early 30s, no children yet…African American and having had my heart broken and restored.  Raised by older parents, both having since gone to be with the Lord; I write this as a Christian, born again with a heart renewed, who is grateful for everyday for new found grace.

Honestly I felt compelled to write this open letter after receiving too many calls from sister-friends or chance meetings where I have been asked for advice.  These moments have been opportunities for me to take the focus off of self and truly love on my fellow sisters.

I find it an honor to be able to minister and share my testimony with them and to hear theirs.  Encourage them that even after being hurt and having your heart stomped along with your pride and name… They like the phoenix can too rise up again.

See, I was in a relationship that spanned almost ten years off and on with someone that I allowed to mentally abuse me.  He had ties to my soul and privileges that only through the covenant status of marriage he should have received.

The details of my story are not as important as the lessons I am still learning from it.  The first lesson I learned was how to forgive myself for the part I played.  No one can abuse you unless you allow them to.  You are never without the power to at least attempt to fight back.  True love from God, goal is not to tear you down, but instead its goal is to build you up.

Being bitter and angry at someone that probably doesn’t even give you a second thought after the damage they have done is just a time waster.  You can spend years using the excuse of being hurt to block blessings God has in store for you.  New relationships, children, careers/ministries being birthed, can be blocked by you allowing your emotions to control you and keep you at an impasse.  I know this because I did it.

For two years I thought by keeping a wall up around my heart so I could lick my wounds in privacy, I was protecting myself from being hurt.  The sad truth was it hurt me more.  Instead of growing in love, I was growing in offense and the ripples affected every area of my life.

My job became my life.  My home reflected how I was feeling inside, a mess.  I was functioning, yet was empty.  My prayer life was ritual vs. being relational.  During this time God’s voice that used to be so clear for me to hear… was but a whisper…

I was short tempered, and made excuses for my rude behavior.  I tried to control others around me because I had no self control.  My friends, tried to tell me, however their constructive criticism fell on deaf ears.  Jesus though I understood him as my savior, I had not allowed to sit in the driver’s seat of my life. The Holy Spirit’s guidance by my delayed response showed evidence of disobedience.  So when my world the one I had constructed began coming crashing down around me; I was forced to stop.  Take a personal inventory and return the keys and seat to the true owner of my life, God.  To him I repented and asked help.  No man could give me hard truth I needed to change.

The scriptures that can best describe this time is in my life is Proverbs 18:10 – 12 from the Amplified Bible … “¹⁰The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the [consistently] righteous man [upright and in right standing with God] runs into it and is safe, high [above evil] and strong.    ¹¹The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, and as a high protecting wall in his own imagination and conceit.    ¹²Haughtiness comes before disaster, but humility before honor.”

The following series of poems, a few are from my 1^st book Poetry of a Black: Girl the Darkness and the Light Volume 1, others are still works in progress… In a way they tell my journey with God as he has been giving me beauty for my ashes Isaiah 61.

Some Diamonds in the Rough Never Go Beyond Infancy

I used to call you a diamond in the rough,

I saw so much potential in you

I held you down when others laughed and scorned,

said I was a fool.

I kept secrets even from my mama.

Let you live in my house rent free.

Let you see and operate in my inner court.

And act like you were the king of my Holy of Holies.

I placed all my trust in you,

only because I used to see so much potential in you.

No mere mortal man could ever appreciate what I did.

What I sacrificed, understand the tears, I shed all unselfishly.

So now I have come to the conclusion.

That some diamonds in the rough

Without the proper pressure,

never go their beyond infancy.

So as I look back at what I saw, what I thought we could be

I know now that because HE was not in between you and me

My dear, you and I were never meant to be

I played no games of the heart

I kept it real from the start

My heart was open and true to you

But I did not want to believe what I knew

A player unless he wants to change,

will always want and play the game

My focus was so much on you

That I did not know that

I had aligned myself to flesh

I needed to align my heart up,

To the most highest God,

For he would never leave me

Nor ever forsake me

He would never be untrue

Never walk out, or use me

No need for apologizes

For he would never wrong me

Abuse my love like you did to me

Though I was hurt

I have learned to forgive

The ties you had to my soul

Have been released

And until you find your own peace

And get in a relationship with HIM

You will remain just a lump of coal

That could’ve been the brightest diamond,

the world has ever seen.

###

Do You Know Me?

I sit here and I ponder our relationship.
You used to call on me, so we could just talk awhile.
Spend days on an end, just you and me.
I had your back even when others didn’t
I pleaded your case against our father,
when you sinned.
I forgave you when you lied.
I encouraged you when you couldn’t do it on your own.
I protected you when you were weak and clothed you with my love before you even knew my name or could even speak.
I sent provisions, but you didn’t give me thanks.
I was ok with it all, because the promise I made and the sacrifices I gave for you.
I remember times when you were bold enough to talk to others about our relationship.
Now when someone asks about you and me you deny that we are even related.
You have let fear of rejection and thoughts of unworthiness creep into your psyche.
I ask,  do you really know me?
Am I not your friend, your brother… your teacher?
Did I not show you in my words, in my love for you, in my actions that I would never forsake you?
Trust me…. I have your back…even when you don’t think no one else does.
I will never give up on you why? Because this we have, this thing… is real… and I am real.
I am love, I am your Father God, your brother Jesus and your teacher the Holy Spirit and in me, you can trust.
I AM whatever you need me to be…
Trust me, it is not in my DNA to not tell the truth.
I swore to tell you the truth through the shedding of my own blood… not once, but twice.
I am just waiting for you to talk to me again…I have all the time in the world.

###

Goodbye

The words seem to not be able to escape from my lips…

However, I know they need to be said.

Listen, I have to get this out of my head…

I know I have the power to stop you with my declarations.

I have loved you for so long.

However, I love another more…

Our destinies seem to have different paths that don’t meet in the end.

So as I am sitting here close to being washed away from my own flood of tears.

I know I must be the one to find the courage to walk away.

Shh…Don’t speak…

I really don’t want to hear anything you have to say.

Don’t waste your time.

I’m not listening.

I am not looking back.

Goodbye.

Sin…

###

Barefooted

I dare to walk alone

Yet you are always present

Your voice is so clear in my ear.

Guiding me down roads without fear

Barefooted…

Stones and pebbles lay underfoot.

Blood drawn I fall and scrap a knee

Get up… I hear… Get up…I hear so audibly.

Get UP! For righteousness sake

Arise…repent.

Barefooted

Dreams deferred

And given back renewed

Cause their source

Had to be known

My feet are healed

My eyes see clear

Barefooted walking on air…

He carries me still…

I read, I believed by faith

I lay still … I wait

Mediate and then… and then… and then…

I hear Barefooted

I’ve got new shoes

For you!

A shield a sword and armor too!

Barefooted I’ve got your shoes!

Barefooted you have been renewed…

You obeyed…

You acted by faith…

You heard my voice and did not hesitate.

Barefooted PREACHED it…

Words He never knew.

Barefooted…PREACHED it…

Words…He never knew…

###

Preparing for Boaz

This poem is for my sisters
However, I hope I get some nods from the fellas…

So you say you are preparing for your Boaz.

The man, you want to share the rest of your life with
Have him call you his wife, share his name…
Maybe raise a kid or two with,
hoping even through the weight gain and stretch marks
he will love you just the same.

However…Ladies…my sister girl friends…

We think at times that we must flirt and dress
in ways that leave nothing to the imagination

That Boaz will see this and instantly fall to one knee.

Or that the perfection we see
from the corner of our eyes in the dimness of club lights
while we sip on Apple martinis could it be he?

Or when we talk
in ways that would make a sailor blush
and wonder why we are not treated with respect
and as ladies

When we make
excuses for being late unfocused
and for unkempt houses…
Thinking Boaz, your Boaz will accept you for you.

You are worth far more then jewels
though you give yourself up for less
and even sometimes for free

Your reputation should precede you
elevating you to new levels of fame
not give you reason to hold your head down in shame

Daughter of the Most High, God
reclaim your position of grace

###

Lela Jefferson, © 2007 – 2010 All rights reserved.

– www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs.  Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.

Questions for Discussion or Reflection – Day Fifteen

2) According to Dr. Edward Hallowell, over half of us are chronic worriers.  Which of the ten signs of a big worrier on page 33 do you struggle with?  How do worry and anxiety spill over into your daily life and affect your behavior? Your physical health?

Ten Signs of a Big Worrier

Is worrying a problem in your life? Dr. Hallowell says it might be if these worry signs are true about you:

1)      You find you spend much more time in useless non constructive worry than other people you know.

2)      People around you comment on how much of a worrier you are.

3)      You feel that it is bad luck or tempting fate not to worry.

4)      Worry interferes with your work – you miss opportunities, fail to make decisions, perform at lower than optimal level.

5)      Worry interferes with your close relationships – your spouse and/or friends sometimes complain that your worrying is a drain on their energy and patience.

6)      You know that many of your worries are unrealistic or exaggerated, yet you cannot seem to control them.

7)      Sometimes you feel overwhelmed by worry and even experience physical symptoms such as rapid breathing, shortness of breath, sweating, dizziness, or trembling.

8)      You feel a chronic need for reassurance even when everything is fine.

9)      You feel an exaggerated fear of certain situations that other people seem to handle with little difficulty.

10)   Your parents or grandparents were known as great worriers, or they suffered from an anxiety disorder.

Search me O God and know my heart, test me and know my anxious thoughts See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting – Psalm 139:23 – 24

###

Personally I believe all of us have some areas and have had times in our lives where we have worried over people, places or things that we should had turned over to God.   I know for me, I have a tendency to either over analyze a thing or want something to be so prefect that I fail to even start on a project I know. I should be doing.  Praise God, he is helping me in that area by bringing the right people and influences across my path and I am willing enough to accept their counsel vs. being offend by it.

2009’s I speak by faith and see by my actions strongholds are not being carried over into this New Year.  Missed blessings or opportunities are not an option.  I have cleaned out my inner ear to hear more clearly from God.  In turn, I have begun the process of removing the waxes sort of speak of distractions, either externally or internally created.

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs.  Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.

Questions for Discussion or Reflection – Day Fourteen

1) Martha wanted Jesus to tell Mary to help out in the kitchen, but instead of giving her what she wanted, Dr. Jesus made a diagnosis:  “Martha, Martha… you are worried and upset about many things.”  If you had been Martha, how would Jesus’ words have made you feel?

I have been Martha, in the past and sometimes do even have relapses.  However, to answer the above question directly and honestly, I would have felt at first taken aback and quite possibly a bit offended by Jesus’ comment.  The reason since that this man would have been undressing my mind, with his response to my request of help, from Mary my sister.  Culturally yes the women were to ready the house for guests.   However, nowhere in this encounter with Jesus do we see Martha being asked to do anything by Jesus or anyone else for that matter.  She made the conscious decision to busy herself.  I can imagine being Martha saying to myself while being very aggravated “I wish I could sit at the Master’s feet and act as if I have no cares in the world like my sister Mary!  However, I must do what duty dictates.”

Duty at times can be a blessing.  It leads to the maintaining of order.  However, it cannot be our excuse for not making positive changes in our lives.  Mary outside of the two sisters was the most bold in this story.  She went against traditions to sit herself in a room filled with men, at the feet of a man that was not her husband.  In this she showed Jesus that she valued what he had to offer, his presence.

Instead of trying to show him through works begat from busyness, she [Mary] showed him in her immediate corresponding action of faith by sitting at his feet.  Martha on the other hand, showed her busyness to be more important than to hear a word from Jesus.

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I have been studying the book of Ruth from the Old Testament for the last month and a half.  Not for the usual reasons.  Women are generally told to learn of and study Ruth’s life in preparation of meeting their own Boaz or future mate.  I understand that as a single born again Christian woman, Jesus is my Boaz till I marry.  So, anything I do now in “preparation” is really maintaining and improving when it comes to OUR relationship together.

The character I have been drawn to is Ruth’s mother-in-law Naomi (from her first marriage) and her development throughout the book…from being a bitter and discouraged woman that mourned the loss of her husband and her two sons…to becoming a helpful, selfless, wise and mature woman, who was finally restored and redeemed beyond measure…

In my own life I have had to put aside feelings of rejection, failure, disappointment, betrayal, mistrust, doubt and a host of others in order to not close my eyes and heart to visions of God’s will for my life.  During this last year for example the roots of my character have been examined, tested and still are as I have begun the process of executing / birthing visions.  I am not the same person I was a year ago and I know it is all for the better.

What inspired me to begin this study of Ruth was as I was coming home from a powerful rehearsal session of the volunteer / seed sowing ministry I serve in Music (at my church), the Lord through the Holy Spirit pressed on my heart to begin reading.  Since I joined my church now over 5 years ago, I have made it my business to always have in my bag a Bible translation.  So when prompted, I didn’t question why I was being led, I just began to read.

What has surprised me the most is the fact that I do not know how I could had (in the past) overlooked the importance of Naomi’s role in the story’s back drop.  It was Naomi’s son whom Ruth was first married to.  It was Naomi’s homeland of Bethlehem where Ruth is introduced to Boaz and it was Naomi who advised Ruth in all she should do to prepare for Boaz.  It was Naomi in the end of the book that becomes nurse to Ruth and Boaz son O’bed who would one day be the paternal grandfather to King David.

Naomi was able to do this because her heart began to be changed through service and obedience she received from Ruth.   Slowly her attitude became one of gratitude.  So, like many great preparers of other biblical characters before and after her, Jethro (Moses’s father-in-law) Samuel (prophet and appointed  kings), Mordecai (uncle and adviser of Queen Esther) she was used by God in such a way that has affected generations.

That part of her testimony is one that I want to one day also be remembered for…

Lela Jefferson

www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

So… in thinking about what was going to be my 1^st blog topic today, led me to think about both my pastors (Dr. Creflo A. and Taffi L. Dollar) recent teachings on the faith of what an AUTHENTIC Christian should be and its co-relation to a tweet quote I read sent by John C. Maxwell in regards to Integrity.  ”Integrity is the glue that keeps our way of life together.  We must strive to keep our integrity intact. – Billy Graham”

From Webster:

Main Entry: in·teg·ri·ty

Pronunciation: \in-ˈte-grə-tē\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English integrite, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French integrité, from Latin integritat-, integritas, from integr-, integer entire

Date: 14th century

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values : incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness

synonyms see honesty

__

To me what it means to be an AUTHENTIC Christian is to do what Jesus would have done.  To have compassion, have a strong sense of integrity, have temperance (and all the other fruits of the spirit) be able to correct and be corrected (teachable) with love, and a willing to lay your life down for the Abba Father.

One of my attitude adjustment plan steps is to work on correcting one challenging thing about myself one day at a time.  So that what I want to be projected about my character lines up with the WORD and is pleasing to God.  In order to do this I know that I need to know what God says about me, have a teachable spirit, be able to hear the voice of God and be willing to obey it immediately.  By doing this I am developing what I like to call the “Self Correcting Spirit”.  Knowing when something is wrong (does not line up to God’s word) and being able to correct my actions and words before they become habits.

Today I am reviewing my INTEGRITY.  What aspect of your character will you be reviewing / working on correcting today?

Lela Jefferson – www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs.  Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.

Questions for Going Deeper – Day Thirteen

7) Write Jesus a letter beginning with “Lord, I know you love me because…,” and list the ways he has shown his great love for you.

Lord, I know you love me because you gave your life as a living sacrifice for me.  You taught through your example to others that even though it is over two thousand years later I am still gleaning from your wisdom!  You left me the greatest comforter, the Holy Spirit to be my daily guide.  Even though you have been redeemed and have returned to sit at the father’s side you STILL intercede on my behalf ceaselessly.  With the simple calling of your name and my belief in your word, your only answer to me is always YES!

There is SO much that I can list about how you have shown your great love to me, but the greatest is that you called me yours before I even knew how to utter your name.  Each day I fall more and more in love with you as we grow more intimate with each other.  All I want to do is serve you and your people.  I know through my willing servitude and swift obedience to your voice, I show you my love, trust and respect in return.

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com

I read having a Mary Heart in a Martha World – Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver over the summer.  A book I now highly recommend for all women, young and old to read.  I have been actually sharing my findings as I journey through the accompanying Bible Study Mrs. Weaver placed at the end of the book on my blogs.  Here is the latest question I studied out and gave commentary on.

Questions for Going Deeper – Day Twelve

6) Read Psalm 103. List at least five of the many ways God shows his love for us.  (If you are struggling to know the Father’s love, consider memorizing this chapter so you won’t forget “all his benefits.”)

The benefits that stand out for me are as follows, the complete chapter follows my highlights:

1. God forgives us of ALL our generational sins (iniquities) and he heals us of ALL our diseases (things that don’t put us at ease.)
2. God redeems our lives from evil and makes them beautiful, dignified with his loving-kindness for his sake with tender mercy.
3. Through our confessions he renews our youth like that of an eagle.
4. God does not hold grudges.
5. He removes transgressions from our lives.

Psalm 103 (Amplified Bible)

Psalm 103

[A Psalm] of David.

¹BLESS (AFFECTIONATELY, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul; and all that is [deepest] within me, bless His holy name!

²Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul, and forget not [one of] all His benefits–

³Who forgives [every one of] all your iniquities, Who heals [each one of] all your diseases,

⁴Who redeems your life from the pit and corruption, Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy;

⁵Who satisfies your mouth [your necessity and desire at your personal age and situation] with good so that your youth, renewed, is like the eagle’s [strong, overcoming, soaring]!^(A)

⁶The Lord executes righteousness and justice [not for me only, but] for all who are oppressed.

⁷He made known His ways [of righteousness and justice] to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel.

⁸The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and plenteous in mercy and loving-kindness.^(B)

⁹He will not always chide or be contending, neither will He keep His anger forever or hold a grudge.

¹⁰He has not dealt with us after our sins nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.

¹¹For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great are His mercy and loving-kindness toward those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him.

¹²As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.

¹³As a father loves and pities his children, so the Lord loves and pities those who fear Him [with reverence, worship, and awe].

¹⁴For He knows our frame, He [earnestly] remembers and imprints [on His heart] that we are dust.

¹⁵As for man, his days are as grass; as a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

¹⁶For the wind passes over it and it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.

¹⁷But the mercy and loving-kindness of the Lord are from everlasting to everlasting upon those who reverently and worshipfully fear Him, and His righteousness is to children’s children–^(C)

¹⁸To such as keep His covenant [hearing, receiving, loving, and obeying it] and to those who [earnestly] remember His commandments to do them [imprinting them on their hearts].

¹⁹The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, and His kingdom rules over all.

²⁰Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do His commandments, hearkening to the voice of His word.

²¹Bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, all you His hosts, you His ministers who do His pleasure.

²²Bless the Lord, all His works in all places of His dominion; bless (affectionately, gratefully praise) the Lord, O my soul!

Cross references:

1. Psalm 103:5 : Isa 40:31
2. Psalm 103:8 : James 5:11
3. Psalm 103:17 : Deut 10:12

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation

To be continued… I welcome your comments!

The previous article can be found here.

Lela Jefferson – http://www.memoirsofablackgirl.com