nita105's Revelife

Could you marry a minister?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 17:15:22 GMT

I just read Shanella's post and it inspired me to write a post of my own.Shanella's mother dropped a bomb on her when she told her that she wanted her to marry a preachers son. It's ironic because I was actually writing a novel where this same situation takes place. In my novel, the pastor's son is automatically expected to be a pastor some day but he isn't sure that's what he wants to do.The son is engaged unbeknownst to his parents and is considering getting married really soon. The only problem is that his wife-to-be doesn't want to be the wife of a minister.

Would you want to marry a minister? Why or why not? Do you think that it would be more difficult to me married to a man/woman of the cloth than a regular public servant?

If you are married to a minister, what advice would you give anyone contemplating the idea?

www.waterplantgrowth.com

Why Ask Why

Wed, 24 Sep 2008 15:48:58 GMT

Why can’t I have peace? Why can’t I rest?

I pray and I tithe, when will I be blessed?

Why do I have to fight, why am I always at war?

Why is it that when I am right, I am persecuted all the more?

Why isn’t this easy? Why is this life so tough?

Why does no one believe me? Why do I want to give up?

Why can’t I quit, why do I strive?

When the world is against me, how do I survive?

It’s not because I’m good. It’s because of His mercy.

How he shields me from everything that tries to hurt me.

It’s not because I am powerful. It’s not because I have might.

It’s because I let go and let God – It’s not my fight.

It’s not because I’m sinless or because I do no wrong.

It’s because He that is in me is mighty, powerful and strong.

If Jesus is my portion, how can I be distressed when I can go to a place in the Lord and find rest?

If I have all the answers why am I clueless? If I know the right path, why must I go through this?

Why is the flesh so weak, why does it war against spirit?

Why is the truth so easy to speak and so hard to hear it?

Why? Why? Why? I’ll understand by and by.

Well when will that be? Meanwhile I’m battling hate, jealousy and envy?

When? When? When?

When my enemies are all around me and I’m left without a friend?

I know that I am not alone because He is always by my side.

He is my love, my ears and my guide.

He is the source of my strength joy hope and love. When I look for my help I set my eyes above.

Help me to be patient as I am waiting.

Help me to be quiet in the midst of the riot.

Help me to call you and only you. Help me to trust me to get me through.

I know you hear me because you said you would never leave me or forsake me and you are sending all these trials to build me not to brake me.

So I say thank you. Thank you for the sun, thank you for the rain. Thank you for my health, thank you for my pain. Thank you for my change and you being the same.

Why ask why and why complain?

Have You Ever Missed God?

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:21:22 GMT

Let me tell you what happened to me today... For a few weeks now (actually longer than that) I have been asking God questions - mainly the same one over and over again and waiting for Him to answer. During my waiting period, I discussed the matter with others whenever the opportunity presented itself. I didn't go around asking people how they thought they would handle the situation but whenever they mentioned it - I talked, talked, talked and then talked some more about it. It got to the point where I didn't have a problem but the problem had me. I know I should have just left the matter between me and God but I didn't.

Anyway, today I was just sick and tired of being sick and tired and said to God that I needed to Hear Him clearly and if I didn't hear from Him I had no clue what I would do. I started not to go to service like I do every Tuesday afternoon just because I had so much on my mind and knew today was the 2nd of 3 weeks of prayer. I didn't want to be called on to pray like I always am (I know that's not right...). I just wanted to hear a word from the Lord. Anyway, I reasoned that if the minister asked if anyone wanted special prayer that I would get some. Afterall, I felt myself beginning to grow week.

They hardly ever call for special prayerduring this particular service although there is always someone there to pray for you before and after service if you need it.. But thank God the offer was extended today. I got into the prayer line reasoning within myself that I wouldn't be specific about my request. When my turn approached in the line the minister stopped, anointed my head with oil, stared at me and said that she heard the voice of God told her to tell me to obey Him and not man. She said that God told her to tell me to listen to Him and His voice.

I just laughed to myself because I have been asking Him all week to let me hear "His undeniable voice". I expected God to speak to me on my terms. I wanted Him to litterally blot it out and make it crystal clear to me what His will was concerning the matter. Not only did I want Him to do this but I also wanted Him to do it exactly as He always had. Thank God it's not about my will but His will. He knows what's best.

When God had to show me once again that He is not Burger King and I can't always have it my way right away, I became disappoined and felt that God was stringing me alone holding the answers and making me wait. Then once again, He checked me. He had me to recall the the bible story in 1 Kings 19:11-13 where Elijah was on the run going through a tough time and waiting to hear from God. He was looking for God in earthquakes, mountains and winds but when God finally did come it was in a still, small voice. I too thought that because my problem seemed so big that I needed God to do something big but the smallest Word from the Lord is bigger than any problem.

The preacher's statement caused me to sit back, think how many times has God clearly spoken to me and I missed it because I was looking for thunder and lighting.... deep isn't it?

Have you ever missed God because He didn't come like you expected Him to come or missed His answer because it wasn't the answer you were looking for?

www.waterplantgrowth.com

I Feel So Much Better Now

Wed, 27 Aug 2008 00:25:22 GMT

I just love it when I attend a service and leave all stirred up meditating and reflecting on the message that was preached. Today's message preached by Dr. Mary Chapman, the director of EPPOM Ministries was entitled "Get Rid Of The Weight". When she announced the title of the sermon I knew that it was a custom made message from the Lord just for me. Today's post is inspired by the Lord leading me to share my personal reflections on the message preached today.

God has a way of getting our attention and confirming what He has already told us. My prayer this morning was "Lord, help me to truly give it all to you and leave it there." Then, the message at the service today was "Get Rid Of The Weight". This was no coincidence. You see, for a while I had been holding onto some unnecessary weights. I couldn't figure out for the life of me why I felt so drained and was having such a hard time making my way to the next level but it became clear to me this afternoon that I was having such a difficult time moving forward because I had so many things weighing me down and slowing down my progress. The devil IS a liar. I will go forth in Jesus' name!

It's really easy for us to tell other people to "let go and let God" or to "stand still and see the salvation of the Lord" but sometimes we get so caught up in everything going on around us and trying to remedy every problem that we forget to take heed to our own advice. I wasn't able to hear the entire message but I believe the Lord blessed me to hear just enough to cause me to examine myself and make some necessary changes. The Word of God should take residence in our spirits and cause us to want to make some changes.

We cannot effectively lift one another up in prayer or in any other capacity if we ourselves are heavy ladened and burdened but thanks be to God that Jesus came to give us rest Matthew 11:28.

As I listened to the message I thought about all the many new directions I had been being pulled in. I have my family concerns, ministry concerns and business to handle with the books I have been writing. I had friends with problems, relatives with problems and siblings that insist on having destination weddings every few months. In all of this, I began to spend an excessive amount of time trying to figure out how I was going to be everywhere and everything for everyone that I forgot that all I needed to do was to focus on my primary role as a Child Of God and allow God to take care of the rest. I was so engulfed with trying to get things done that I forgot to simply surrender and say "Thy will be done".

I had so many places to be at one time and so many responsibilities to take care of that I felt there just weren't enough hours in a day. Imagine that: me thinking that God had not created enough hours in a day when He told us that He would supply all of our needs according to His riches in glory - "all" means that He has even given me ample time to take care of everything that I needed to take care of. Perhaps I should have changed my prayer long ago from asking God to give me more time or more resources to teach me to be a better steward over that which He has already given me. God is not going to add increase when we aren't properly managing what He has already given us (See Matthew 25:21).

(Some of us are quick to quote that scripture when we are thinking of material or monetary needs but what about time and patience? "All" means everything.)

The whole point was that some of the things that "I needed" to take care of were not really things that I "needed" to take care of. We have responsibilities here on earth but we also have a responsibility to heed the advice we are given in the 12Th chapter of the book of Hebrews which reads: "lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us," (see Hebrews 12:1-2).

It is a sin to worry. When we worry, we are in essence lacking the faith that God is who He said that He is. God is The Great "I AM". The bible tells us that it is impossible to please God without faith (Hebrews 11:6). So not only was I weighed down with all the many cares of the world but I was also sinning by worrying because God doesn't want me to worry but to believe and seek Him in everything as He is a rewarder to those the diligently seek after Him.

The preacher was definitely hitting close to home as she ministered. And you know what? It is well with my soul. I thank God that she was obedient to the voice of the Lord and preached Get Rid Of The Weight from Hebrews 12:1-2 because I was liberated by the message. I already knew that God had the situation under control but me being the oldest child and a mother, I tend to try to "make things" happen and I can't always do that. I came to the realization that I could not continue to profess with my mouth that it was all in God's hands and in my mind still try to makes plans and preparations. After all works without faith is dead.

So whatever you may be going through emotionally, financially or mentally that seems like it's too much to bear - let it go. I have and it sure feels good. Maybe you've tried to let it go but you just can't seem to truly hand it all over to the Lord, I'll agree with you in prayer right now that the un-forgiveness, stress, worry, doubt, fear, etc. are all gone in Jesus' name. If you don't feel comfortable with a public post, you can also e-mail me at shanitawaters@waterplantgrowth.com.

If this post had an audio clip, I would probably be singing the old hymn " I feel better so much much better as I lay my burdens down..."

So as I close this post but never my prayers for you remember that it is not the will of the father for us to have overwhelming and stressful lives but that we may have life and have it more abundantly.

Tell Me Your Business So I Can Pray For You...

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:45:23 GMT

“I need to get up in your business so that I will know what to pray about”. This was one of the most disturbing statements I’ve ever heard a minister of the gospel stand up and make before a congregation (and I’ve heard my share of disturbing comments in church). Needless to say, didn’t share my prayer requests with him but instead I began to pray for him and those that believed what he said to be true. During the following service, this minister preached about some of the things he learned when the members shared their prayer request. Through this and experiences like it, I’ve come to learn the hard way that you can’t share everything with every body – not even your minister. There are some things that we have to go to God directly about for ourselves.

As Christians we are able enter into the presence of God and commune with Him on our own behalf (Hebrews 10:19-22) . Although it is a blessing to have other Christians willing to pray for us and with us, we must remember to pray for ourselves. In the Old Testament, we needed someone to offer sacrifices go to God on our behalf but now we have free access to boldly approach God because we are cleansed through the blood Jesus shed for us. Not only are we able to go to God whenever and wherever we want to, but the Holy Spirit is constantly praying on our behalf for all of our needs even – those that we don’t even realize that we have (Romans 8:26) . Unfortunately, many Christians forget this when a problem arises. At times of weakness they turn to man instead of God for direction. God does not want us to rely on our own reasoning or the reasoning of others. He wants us to seek Him first in everything and He will give us instruction (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Perhaps the problem is that we don’t want to wait for instruction. We live in an era where everything is instant. We have computers everywhere and I believe that we sometimes forget that God is not a computer. We think we can input the problem and within seconds, He will output the solution. Sometimes God will answer us immediately. Other times God wants us to be still and know that He is God. Sometimes God wants us to go through some tests so that He can bring us out with a testimony that he may be glorified. When we don’t get instant answers, some of us have a tendency of thinking that maybe someone else can pray a prayer or get their prayer through more quickly so we end up petitioning everyone else to petition God on our behalf when all we needed to do was ask in faith and wait on God in the first place. Then after we share everything with everyone, we’re hurt when people mask their nosiness as concern and delve into our personal lives. That’s what happened in the congregation after the minister told the people that he needed to get in their business so that he would know what to pray about instead of praying that God’s will would be done or praying as he was led by the Spirit of God.

Some people believe that because a man or woman of God may have a title or stand in a certain office in the church that God will answer their prayers more quickly than their own. In turn, they end up feeding people (like the minister I mentioned earlier) some of their inner-most problems and concerns. Some Christians cannot resist the temptation to share information that you may consider to be sacred. God is no respecter of persons. It doesn’t matter if you are a bishop or a lay member – you can go to God for yourself.

Now, I’m not saying that there is something wrong with having prayer partners or prayer groups. Nor do I believe that all ministers are like the minister that obviously just wanted to know what was going on so that he would have a timely sermon topic. But beware, watch as well as pray because there are people like this out there. Jesus said that we are to pray one for another. He also said that when two or three gathers in His name that He is in the midst (Matthew 18:20). However, if upon evaluation of the time you spend in prayer you realize that the majority the time you spend praying is with a prayer partner or in corporate prayer, please consider spending some one on one time with the Lord where you are unrestricted and can freely talk to Him. Remember prayer is two-way communication with God. He will listen to you but He wants to speak to you as well.

How do you feel about publicly stating your prayer concerns publically? Do you “tell all” or are you like me and keep it real simple with statements like “pray my strength in the Lord” to avoid disclosing personal information? Have you ever had you prayer concern spread throughout your fellowship? Let me know. I’d like to hear from you.

Shanita Waters

By His Stripes We Are Healed, Author

Now offering Book Tying Services

www.waterplantgrowth.com

Listen to My interview tomorrow @ 10am

Thu, 21 Aug 2008 13:03:43 GMT

Good morning everyone!

Tomorrow (8/22/08) is my first radio interview to discuss my debut novel By His Stripes We Are Healed and I’d love for you to tune in and check me out at 10:00 am. I will be interviewed by Marsha Sumner on Heaven 1580am. It is a Maryland based radio station so unless you’re within the range you will have to listen online.

The web address is www.heaven1580am.

There is a “Listen Live” button in the upper left hand corner of the screen. You will need to click this button to listen.

Should you so desire to call in and chat with me over the air, the call in number is 1-888-432-1580. I would love to hear your voices.

Thank you for your time, encouragement and support. Please be sure to forward this message to anyone I forgot to copy that you may think may be interested.

I ask that you keep me in prayer as I am interviewed live on the air for the first time.

Blessings!

Shanita

www.waterplantgrowth.com

P.S. Called Out Of Darkness, my sophomore novel is in the making. There will be a preview soon available on my site – I promise.

All Eyes On Me

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 19:59:32 GMT

Have you ever felt that just because you are a Christian that people expect you to be the epitome of holiness? Have you ever felt that people are watching your every move just waiting to see you slip up and do something unbecoming of a believer? That's because they are or atleast those that are looking for a sign and trying to determine the authenticy of what we believe.

I am fortunate enough to work in a large organization where there are so many Christians that we have real church services every Tuesday afternoon. There's prayer, a scripture reading and a message preached all during our lunch hour. I've noticed that when other people that work for my organization see me leaving our chapel meetings, they began to ask me what I think about things like abortion, religious connotations in the presidential election and all sorts of things that they don't ask anyone else. In fact, I’ve never even said more than a few words at a time to some of these people. I’m always more than happy to tell anyone about Jesus but are the personal question necessary? If they want to know about Christ, why not skip the small talk and ask me what they want to know? I know, it can never be that simple.

I don’t walk around work telling people that I’m a preacher, Christian author or the perfect Christian but they always make their way to me and ask me the weirdest questions about everything from Adam and Eve to what my thoughts are on cloning. It isn’t that they just want to make small talk either. Once I answer them they always ask me what the bible says about the topic they asked me about to see if what I think lines up to the word of God. I feel blessed anytime I am given the opportunity to witness or minister to anyone but what do you do when people are just trying to feel your out or judge you with no real interest in God?

I know that as Christians we are the light of the world and should not hide our light but let it so shine before men. But, do you ever feel like you just want to be left alone? Do you ever wish that people would stop looking to you and look to Jesus? What do you do when people are trying to make you out to be some super Christian? Have you ever felt like all eyes were on you?

Get Out Of The Way And Follow The Way

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:42:59 GMT

Gospel recording artist, Yolanda Adams makes some of the most meaningful, beautiful, popular Contemporary Christian music around today. My personal favorite is the song entitled Step Aside. The whole idea of the song is that God has everything under control and instead of us interfering; we should simply "step aside" and allow God to work everything out in His time in His way.

It’s really easy for me to listen to the lyrics as they minister to my sprit. I even enjoy singing along. However, when it’s time to apply the lyrics and principles Ms. Adams sings about it’s not always so simple and enjoyable anymore. If you are anything like me, you like to plan ahead. You pray and hope for the best but there’s that small part inside of you that wants to prepare for the worst. You know what God said and what He is able to do but at times you find yourself drafting up a contingency plan just in case God does not answer your prayer as you see fit. This is not the will of the Father. God wants us to fully rely on Him and trust that He knows what’s best for us. His plans for us are good and not of evil.

As I read and meditated on Psalm 46, the very first verse spoke to my spirit. It reads: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (NIV). What does this mean? He is our refuge; our safe place. We can hide ourselves in Him and no one or nothing can touch us. No words can harm us. No ill thoughts can concern us - not even those of our own. Every lie and every scheme that the enemy has concocted will never prosper because God protects us. He is our refuge.

He is our strength. Everything that we are not mentally, physically, emotionally or even financially able to handle – He will handle it for us. All we have to do is step aside and be shielded and protected. This fight is not our fight. We don’t know the enemy’s next move but God does. God is omniscient; He sees all and knows all. Why would we go into a battle blindly that was won over 2000 years ago when we are already victorious in Christ Jesus?

He is an ever-present help in trouble. Because He is an ever-present help that means that there is no reason to worry about how we are going to handle this situation or that situation because we are not it alone. God is with us. And if God is for us, who could be against us? Not only is He with us but He is an “ever-present” help. That means that He won’t run out when the going gets tough. He won’t be there one minute and gone the next. He is in it for the long haul. Whether we want His help or not- He is there.

But why wouldn’t we want His help? That’s easy; we as people like to take matters into our own hands. When we don’t acknowledge God first and wait for His instruction, we end up getting in the way instead of following <em>The Way </em>and interfering with God’s way. Then it takes longer for our change to come because God has to fix the mess we created before He is able to fix the original problem.

As the songwriter says, "while we’re sitting there trying to figure it out Jesus has already worked it out". Jesus is the way, the truth and the life. So we need to get out of the way, step aside and follow The Way.

www.waterplantgrowth.com

Forgiveness Doesn't Mean Exemption

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 14:20:02 GMT

A lot of people seem to think that once we've dedicated our lives to the Lord and started to follow Christ that all is forgiven and the past is magically erased and we are excused from everything we did in our past lives and it's repercussions. It's true that God forgives us and casts our sins into the sea never to bring them up again. However, we still must face the consequences for our actions.

Yesterday my husband and I were sitting in the living room watching TV. We were babysitting for a close friend of ours . Our friend is a Christian and attends church on the regular basis. She brings her son with her during the weekday services as well. Anyway, out of nowhere the child knelt down and began to imitate Muslim prayer. Immediately, we stopped him and told him not to do that knowing that his mother was raising him as a Christian. I thought about it later and questioned whether or not we were out of place for stopping the boy (age 5) from praying but that's another post for another time.

I called his mother and told her what happened and how we responded. She thanked us for stopping him and told us that her exhusband is a Muslim. Since the divorce they had been both trying to teach their son to worship God. The only problem was that our friend serves Jesus Christ, the true and living God. Her exhusband is not a believer.

Later on that evening when our friend came to pick her son up, she explained that she had always been a Christian and was warned many times that she shouldn't marry a man of a different faith because it would cause problems down the line when trying to raise their children. She decided to marry the man regardless of what the bible said, God said, her pastor said and everyone else that cared for her said. Now she has to fight daily to teach her son the truth when he is constantly subjected to Muslim worship when he goes to visit his father on the weekend. Our friend is no longer married to her husband and is forgiven by the Lord for making this ungodly decision and union but she still has to carry this cross of fighting for her son's soul salvation. Not to mention the father has weekend visitation so the boy isn't able to go to Sunday service.

Our friend has remarried since her divorce and had two other children who are being raised in the admiration of the Lord. Her new husband is afraid that her son will be a negative influence on the other children and is very adamant about his wife telling her exhusband to stop teaching thee boy his religious beliefs. (This is another post for another time) But the mother really cannot expect to infringe upon someone else's religious beliefs and rights with their child.

This story is just one illustration of how our forgiveness doesn't equal exepmtption. Are you (or anyone you know) still paying for some sin youv'e committed from your past that seems to be a huge thorn in your flesh that won't go away? If so, how are you handling it and what advice would you offer others with the same battle?

Shanita Waters
Author of By His Stripes We Are Healed
visit my site www.waterplantgrowth.com
Now offering typist/transcription services

Non-Christians on Christian Websites

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:00:46 GMT

First let me begin by saying that I am enthused at any opportunity the Lord affords me to talk (or write) about His goodness and mercy. I realize that there is nothing I could have ever said or done to be so deserving of all that Christ has done for me. I do not think that I am any better than anyone else who chose not to accept Christ's gift of eternal life. However, I do pray for those that have not come to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior that they may do so before it's too late.

I appreciate these online groups as a tool to help strengthen, equip and encourage the saints of God. However, just as most of us gather to lift up the name of Jesus and encourage one antoher, there are those that prey on these communities to try todiscredit the sacrifice that Jesus made for us and make some of us that are not strong in our faith begin to waver.

I try not to pay ignorance any attention and to pray for those that disrespect God and His people but how much of this should we silently sit back and allow? Do we pretend as if we don't hear (read) what they are saying or do respond with love and kindness and tell them that their comments and behavior is inappropriate? I have been a member of various online Christian Communities. For the most part, the members are people that love the Lord and enjoy fellowshipping with other believers. Sadly, there are those that claim they don't believe, used to be believers and enjoy trying to show us the errors and inconsistences in our beliefs. So they lurke in forums, chat groups and message boards with believers speaking blasphemously.

Have you come in contact with any non-christians in this or any other online community? How do you respond when they take the time out to post comments that contradict the Word of God?

I normally say nothing and pray for them or ask them to respect the beliefs of the Christians for which the community was established for. What do you do?

I would like to hear from you.

As for the non-christians, why do you hang out on Christian sites if you don't believe?

I would really appreciate your input as well.

Blessings,

Shanita