If I get home before you

When I die don't cry for me
Testify but tell the truth don't lie for me
Don't pour out a lil liqueur or get high for me
Cause this world needs change please try for me
Tell em who I was what I did how I did it
Tell em I was rooted I was grounded and committed
But if I was a fake or a fraud let em know
Then point em to the light Jesus Christ and let em go
But if Christ left twelve there's gotta be at least thirteen
That are moved by the memories of Glen livin clean
But if you believed that I loved you
Use that love to live life till it leaves you 
Give em Christ till they believe you
Don't let em deceive you and if they don't receive you
Well then dust your feet off at the edge of that city
But don't look back cause what's comin ain't pretty 
And if they can't say that I was really in His will
That I was walking in His word was a city on a hill
Then my living was in vain
All the hurt all the suffering all the sorrow and the pain
Anointing down the drain
But if I pleased God 
If I worshiped Him in spirit and in truth
In the streets in my home on my job in the booth
If I lived life sober
I'm gonna put on my robe and I’ma tell the story how I made it over
How I made it over
Only by God's grace 
Seeking God's face 
Knowing my role His will my place
But if my kids didn't know Christ
Cause there was no Christ in my home life
Then shame on me
If Tonia didn't know that God was the King of my life
That she was my queen my wife the Church to my Christ
Then put the blame on me
But if I walked like a
Talked like a
And God knows my heart if I thought like a Christian
Then put that name on me
And if I didn't get to say goodbye don't worry
When you get here you can say hi but no hurry
But because the lines are blurry let me make this clear
Here is heaven and Jesus is the only way!

Ball Is Life

  Ball is Life ... a term every young man or woman now shouts with the heart to be the best in the game.

And that’s good but only if Jesus is at the center of whatever life you live. The bible says, “What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what He wants you to do. Then He will give you all these other things you need” (Matthew 6:33, Easy-to-Read Version). So don’t go after things, go after God and He will provide the things that you need. On average, players play until they are about 30 years old, and 60 percent of NBA players file for bankruptcy (can’t pay their bills) after 5 years of retirement. So that means, about 3 out of the 5 players of a starting lineup will file for bankruptcy. My point is that nothing lasts except what we do for God because physical things get messed up and break down (e.g.: sneakers, cars, houses), but spiritual things don’t (e.g.: mentoring and helping people around you, leading them to Christ so that they can live forever). In my personal life God makes me happy; the things He gives, the people He puts in my life make me happier; I was happy with just God. So instead of basketball or accounting or music, make God your focus and He will provide what you need to reach your full potential with the gifts and talents that He gave you. He is not going to give you athleticism if He doesn’t want you to use it. God wants you to be happy He made you who you are and He knows what’s best for you (He knows everything). A lot of time what we think is best is not and what we want is not always what’s best either, so give Him your life and He will give you what you need to fulfill His plan for you, which will make you very happy and successful (even if it’s not what you see as success right now).

Michael Jordan is arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, the player that every player is compared to. Championships, gold medals, awards, respect, power, the hottest sneaker line of all time, team owner. But his acceptance speech at his Hall of Fame induction was a little sad and revealing

(http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-jordanhall091209 ). MJ, the G.O.A.T., isn’t happy with everything he has done in his life and career, there’s only one way and reason that’s possible, because Christ wasn’t and still isn’t at the center of his life. So if “Basketball is Life” make Jesus the center of that life.

                                                                                                                      By:Glen Jenkins

New Creation ... Brand New Wo(man)

Brand New Wo(man)

Many times I sit back and really reflect on how my life has changed. Honestly, I find it sad that people would automatically judge you without trying to know your story: it's not always easy dropping the old you and putting on this new "righteous look". Quite frankly I didn't have to put it on, the old me was stripped for a purpose and it's not my fault I'm not the same.

2 Corinthians 5:17 states, " Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." Winter of 2011, I decided that I had had enough of this world and its calamity; I knew I needed a change. Life for me wasn't pleasant at the time and I felt as if I just didn't belong in the state that I was in. Being a junior in High School wasn't easy for me; I spent many of my days depressed at how my life was and all of the struggles I seemed to endure. I knew I didn't belong in the person that I was trying to portray; I knew I wasn't just some rebellious, fast, gullible teenage girl. I was different, and I had a hard time accepting it.

Quickly, summer of 2011 approached and I was introduced to the idea of attending a week of Church of God of Prophecy (COGOP) Youth Camp. At first, I was a bit hesitant and didn't know if it was a good idea, but I decided that if I was going to try this journey with Christ I had to demolish the fear of me not knowing anyone and being alone and to take a step that would ultimately change my life.

I entered that place with no intentions but to meet with God and to grow a solid foundation with Christ. Overall, it was a divine meeting during that week. I decided to rededicate my life to Christ; I knew that something needed to be done and just accepting Him again wasn't enough for me. After all, I was already baptized at the age of eleven, but at that time I really had no idea as to what I was doing; so, I was battling with myself if a second water baptism was appropriate or even necessary. Nonetheless, I took that step and decided to be baptized for a second time. I can honestly say that that was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.

It's no surprise that when I returned home, the "friends" that I started out with were automatically no more. Life as I once knew it was gone. It was like God had a divine blueprint once I left those camp grounds. I started to see myself and my future in a whole new light. I felt as if I was a young child learning how to talk, creep, and walk all over again. Sometimes it saddens me that people I once held dear to my heart were very willing to let me go because "I changed". It just goes to show that not everyone can follow you into the places where He wants to take you.

Ever since my change, God just continues to shower my life with amazing people. Relationships that I once desired to keep are blank to me because they are nothing compared to the relationships God lines up for you when you follow Him. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." I'm in need of nothing, and I am surely content with my life right now. I know that even in the worst moments that are to come, it'll only get better.

It is now 2013 and I am a freshman in college with so much more maturity and experience and yet, I'm still not perfect. Never will I label myself as perfect, but yet I strive to follow the perfect One and do my best with lining up with His will. I know that there must be a greater anointing, a higher step, and a great future out there for me. I'm not sure where the Lord is taking me now, but I am a living testimony that once you obey His call and follow his footsteps, your life is set up for you. I have no need to worry. I am proud to say that I am not the same. I am a new creation and a brand new wo(man).

                                                                                                        By: Natoy Natalie Fowler

sin

                                                                                    

                                         Sin

Sin is like a hole; we jump in and realize that it’s deeper than we thought. We wind up breaking something and we need help getting out. God gets us out and heals us so that we can continue walking, but we have a limp. If we keep walking we’ll make it, but we’ll never be the same and we have to live with some things in spite of being rescued and healed. We can avoid it though: stay away from sin ... it’s deeper than it looks!

WAKE UP!!!!!!!!!

                                                                        Wake Up

All throughout history in any war that has lasted for a long period of time, once the momentum has swung convincingly to one side, the rules of engagement are abandoned and horrible atrocities are committed. Once desperation has set in, we witness human nature at its worst, attempted genocide, rape, maiming, and murder of non combatants. We see the destruction of infrastructure, agriculture, wiping out of live stock, burning down homes, all for the sole purpose of destroying any chance of a future for “the winning side”. What does this have to do with you? Simple, whether you believe in air, gravity, or the spiritual realm they are very real! After the most recent event where an entire first grade class was taken from this world, maybe half of the class of 2020 and 2024 from one town will be missing, because of a horrible act by a broken man used by a desperate enemy. This was a clear sign of desperation; and the scariest thing is and the question that came to my mind is: is the devil more sensitive to what’s going on as far as God’s will than we are? So much so that we see a sense of urgency by the devil unmatched & unanswered by the Christian world. Is it possible that he’s becoming more & more desperate in the face of his impending doom and we are becoming more comfortable, complacent and disconnected? If he’s worried, shouldn’t we be paying closer attention as to why? Are we missing something? If we are, is it because we’ve fallen asleep at, or abandoned, our post completely? If this is true, how can the devil be more aware, or have a better sense of, what God is doing than God’s own people – praying, church-going people? Just because the battle is the Lord’s doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be paying attention. I was convicted & repented again for all the time I waste. I should wear glasses (even though I’ve claimed my healing … LOL seriously); I can  see the world better spiritually than I ever could physically. All I have to do is the hardest easiest thing I’ve ever tried to do, draw closer to the only hope of real safety, real security, real peace possible, Jesus Christ!

Romans 13:11-14 Amplified Bible (AMP) ¹¹ Besides this you know what [a critical] hour this is, how it is high time now for you to wake up out of your sleep (rouse to reality). For salvation (final deliverance) is nearer to us now than when we first believed (adhered to, trusted in, and relied on Christ, the Messiah).¹² The night is far gone and the day is almost here. Let us then drop (fling away) the works and deeds of darkness and put on the [full] armor of light.¹³ Let us live and conduct ourselves honorably and becomingly as in the [open light of] day, not in reveling (carousing) and drunkenness, not in immorality and debauchery (sensuality and licentiousness), not in quarreling and jealousy.¹⁴ But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), and make no provision for [indulging] the flesh [put a stop to thinking about the evil cravings of your physical nature] to [gratify its] desires (lusts).

Adultery? One of the main things I’ve learned in reading and studying about Jesus is that He wanted us to go deeper, read between the lines, so to speak. With answers like Matt. 5:28, “But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Verse 32, “But I tell you that any man who divorces his wife, except for the problem of sexual sin, is causing his wife to be guilty of adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman is guilty of adultery.” Verse 37, “Say only yes if you mean yes, and no if you mean no. If you say more than yes or no, it is from the Evil One.” These were not the answers the person asking was looking for. They thought He was just gonna recite the word verbatim, but Christ went below the surface with His answers. This wasn’t some preacher interpreting God’s word; this was God telling us what He meant. Verses like these encouraged, motivated & challenged me to look at life differently across the board. Then one day at work I found myself in a convo about relationships & the thought I’m about to share came to me. I encourage you to think about, pray about, search the word and if the shoe fits … take it off!

To all of us out there with BFs, wifies, girl friends, you got a “man” that you “love” and he or she’s the best thing that’s ever happened to you until the next thing that happens to you: Think about this, if God made one man for every one woman and you are in a relationship, monogamous or otherwise, you’re giving yourself physically & yes even spiritually, you invest time, resources, emotions, secrets, pictures, etc … then you break up & move on to the next one. Some might say that this cycle helps you learn what to do & what not to, or that the sexual experience will help you on your wedding night. But, one, the Bible never mentions dating, just courting (look for yourself); two, you’re really practicing divorce; & three, you may be committing adultery. “But we’re not married; it might be fornication but not adultery.” They’re both sin & sin is sin. Verily I say unto you, if you believe that God can see the past, present & future at the same time, isn’t that person somebody’s husband/wife? Just because you don’t know him/her yet, if you’re having sex with someone who is not your husband/wife, you’re having sex with someone else’s husband/wife. That is adultery! The point is that a lot of people live in this cycle & the hope is that they walk out of it & on to the road that leads to Heaven. But Heaven is the end of the road; on the way, is the man or woman God created for you, the kids, the ministries & the process that will see you become a man or woman after God’s own heart. Matthew 6:33 Easy-to-Read Version (ERV), “What you should want most is God’s kingdom and doing what He wants you to do. Then He will give you all these other things you need.” I applied this just in time, all thanks to God, just before I met my wife. I only suggest what works for me & God doesn’t love me more than He loves you. So, if He will do it for me, He will do it for you! By: Glen Jenkins

THE SPIRIT OF CAIN

THE SPIRIT OF CAIN
by Glen Jenkins on Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 10:04am

The spirit of cain

I was at a stop light when someone pulled up next to me & they were listening to “Jesus Walks” by Kanye West. I thought to myself “that song was hot”, but immediately the thought came, “But it’s from Cain’s heart not Abel’s!” What does that mean?

Genesis 4:4-8 (Contemporary English Version)

4and Abel also gave an offering to the LORD. He killed the first-born lamb from one of his sheep and gave the LORD the best parts of it. The LORD was pleased with Abel and his offering, 5but not with Cain and his offering. This made Cain so angry that he could not hide his feelings.

6The LORD said to Cain:

What's wrong with you? Why do you have such an angry look on your face? 7If you had done the right thing, you would be smiling. [a] But you did the wrong thing, and now sin is waiting to attack you like a lion. Sin wants to destroy you, but don't let it! 8Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go for a walk." [b] And when they were out in a field, Cain killed him.

Hebrews 11:4 (King James Version)

4By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

: something that is believed especially with strong conviction. : without question

Amplified Bible 4[Prompted, actuated] by faith Abel brought God a better and more acceptable sacrifice than Cain, because of which it was testified of him that he was righteous [that he was upright and in right standing with God], and God bore witness by accepting and acknowledging his gifts. And though he died, yet [through the incident] he is still speaking.



Instead of giving God what he asks for we give him what we want, what we think, (Isaiah 55:8

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.)

“Obedience is better than sacrifice”

What does this have to do with Kanye West, or music? We offer God what we want or think is right. Perfect example, the word says in Romans 12:1-2 (New Century Version)

Give Your Lives to God 1 So brothers and sisters, since God has shown us great mercy, I beg you to offer your lives as a living sacrifice to him. Your offering must be only for God and pleasing to him, which is the spiritual way for you to worship. 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking. Then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.



1 Corinthians 1:31 (New Century Version)

31 So, as the Scripture says, "If people want to brag, they should brag only about the Lord."[a]

Most of what we hear is about a person, what they have, how much they have, where they’ve been and all they possess (bragging) everything they do is in direct conflict & goes against the Ten Commandments & other biblical teachings, often going against the laws of this country cosigning illegal activity.



Everything you do or say should be done to obey Jesus your Lord. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus. (Is this true for your favorite artist or you?)

Colossians 3

Luke 13:24-30

King James Version (KJV)

24Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. 25When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: 26Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. 27But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. (a wicked act or thing : sin: a : an offense against religious or moral law, a : transgression of the law of God ) Most of the music talks about love which is actually lust or infatuation, crime, drugs & alcohol to the point of intoxication, the love of money & material things, bragging about what you have. Listen to your favorite song: what is the focus? A person, place, or thing, or God? 28There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.

A lot of secular artists claim Christ, thanking him for their success but most of it is self-will not His will & it’s born out of selfishness & lust, or even out of a need to take matters into their own hands. They will say that their secular jobs are separate from the rest of their lives but most people’s secular jobs don’t encourage & glorify lifestyles that go against the Ten Commandments & the rest of God’s word. The word says, “seek ye first the kingdom of God & all else will be added unto you”, but we live it the other way around, “seek all else first & we will pick up God along the way.” We start to dictate what “God understands” & that He’s a forgiving God but a broken spirit & a contrite heart are needed for true repentance and sincerity. When we look to clear our conscience so that we can be safe until the next time we sin, we are actually praying to ourselves & forgiving ourselves (which is not bad because we should forgive ourselves but we should be seeking to please God & not ourselves). It’s not at all limited to music or the arts, but also our lives, whatever we are offering God; if we’re not obedient we’re just giving our gifts, our time, and our money away. Do what He asks, the way He asks, when He asks.

This is something that I’ve identified in my life & work daily to combat. For a long time I’ve struggled with how to most effectively spend my personal time & I tried to do it every way other than how I felt like God wanted me to do it. Why? Because I’m not a morning person & a whole list of other excuses. I thank God now He’s giving me the strength & even though it’s been difficult I’m doing what He wants, how He wants it, which is me at 5 am most mornings & my only expectation is to meet Him. I’m there just in case He wants to talk to me. I am also searching the rest of my life to see where I can use this – work, school, home, CHURCH??? What are you giving God? How do you know what to give God & how to give it? Start with this: 2 Do not be shaped by this world; instead be changed within by a new way of thinking (read, study, meditate on & use what you learn from the bible in your life), then you will be able to decide what God wants for you; you will know what is good and pleasing to him and what is perfect.

The spirit of Cain !