Temptation Does not Disqualify You!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.~

Hebrews 12:1-3

What is the goal and mission of the life of a Christian?  Is it just to go to church? To read you Bible? To do good things and say kind words?
Truth be told, you don't have to be a Christian to do those things! In fact, there are many different faiths who teach on the similar and simplistic values of what we have considered to be "Christian". There are unspoken social rules that will praise your for doing what is kind and fair, and condemn you for anything less. There are even good natured Atheists who make a habit of preforming such routines in their own lives, without the help of the Holy Spirit and without the salvation of Jesus. So, when you think about it, doing good things is not the crux of the Christian's purpose. Our good deeds are not more valid than someone who is not a Christian and our temptations are not fouls that disqualify us from our faith. We have been called to live above the positives and negatives that seek to distract us from our true purpose.

Goodness, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. What is good for someone doesn't mean it is good for everyone. And what was good yesterday is not guaranteed to be good today. This is how temptation enters our lives: by trying to convince us that our goodness is the standard and the measure by which God accepts me. But, according to scripture, this is far from truth. God's acceptance of me is totally based on my acceptance of Christ. When I am focused on His heart, then temptation will have no power within mine!

So, considering the scripture, how is it that we can develop our hearts to stay focused on Jesus and avoid the trap and the distraction of trying to be good? First, we must understand that focusing on Jesus doesn't mean that temptations around us will disappear. There will still be issues to face, habits to break and thoughts to battle. This is not a measure of your goodness or of your Salvation. 1 John 5:11-12 tells us that our Salvation is wrapped up in God's goodness through Jesus. If we have Salvation in Christ, then we need not fear temptation. Instead, we must use perseverance, just as Jesus persevered while He was on Earth. There were plenty of temptations, including His trial in the wilderness, when the enemy tried to tempt him (Matthew 4: 1-11). Yet in this distraction He kept His eyes on the mission- on His heavenly Father.

Hebrews 12 also brings forth another key element to staying focused: we must throw off everything that might hinder us, as well as the sins that seem to always try to get the best of us. For everyone , this will be different. Each of us struggle in different areas. My issues and temptations are different from yours. Your struggles are different from your co-workers and your co-worker's struggles will be different from their neighbors. Each of us have struggles that are uniquely specific to our own hearts and lives. Yet ALL SIN will hinder us from staying focused on Jesus and if we are not focused on Jesus, we will find ourselves drowning in temptation and ineffective for the ministry in which He has called us to complete for the Kingdom.

If goodness is the standard, then what is our need for Christ? Temptation cannot be battles by our good efforts or our positive affirmations. Jesus alone can keep us from falling, but we must keep our hearts on him! Anything that removes Christ as our priority is a hindrance to our relationship with Him, and if we are not living out our salvation in an effective manner, we are in danger of becoming a temptation for others who are watching our lives. Believers and  Non-believers are watching your life and according to this scripture, so are those Christians that have already gone before you. We are always surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses... they are cheering us on and they want us to be successful in our relationship with Christ and in our spiritual development here on earth. Even the non-believer wants to see you successful, because they are looking for something authentic. They are watching the closest because they are looking for reasons to hope and believe.

We can be "good" on our own, but there is no life change in that. Understanding that loving Jesus is not about our goodness gives us a better appreciation of God's grace, because, eventually, we will all fall in one area or another. But, when we move past a selfish faith- a faith that is only motivated by what we can get for our lives, we become humbled in the fact that we must keep our eyes, our hearts and our lives focused on Jesus. The mission is not to receive blessings, opportunities and prosperity for ourselves; our highest mission is to show the world what Love really looks like. And His name is Jesus!
Every rose has it's thorns, but that does not disqualify its beauty! We must persevere through our blessings and in our pains (and there will be many hard times), but we don't have to be afraid of our struggles or temptations, because we know that all things will work together for our good, if we only keep our focus on the Lord! (Romans 8:28). This is where our Joy comes from! Knowing that in my victory, I am encouraged, but in my weakness, God gives me His strength! Either way, we win! But, we must lay aside those things that will hinder and distract us, and
we must be sensitive to the lives that surround us- using us as their examples in the faith and looking to us as models for Christ.

Living as Christ is not a natural way of life- this is why we rely on His Holy Spirit to give us the strength and love that we need to be successful! So don't worry, God has it all under control! When you fall, confess your mess and keeping pressing on! Don't get distracted by trying to be good and don't allow your temptations to steal your confidence in Christ!!! Focus on God's love for you and let that be your motivation and your focus. I promise, it will fill your heart and spill over into the lives of those around you!
  

Be encouraged!

~Pearls

Strength is Evident in the Crisis

 It's the normal assumption that good deeds should be rewarded: Going to college should get you a good job, being respectful should earn you respect, showing yourself friendly should earn you lots of friends. In some cases, this is true. But spiritually thinking, it's honestly when we are doing what is right when wrong comes to pay us a visit! This is why, more and more, we are hearing the buzz that Christianity "doesn't work". No body wants to endure unpleasantries or discomfort. We want a quick fix and the least amount of effort, difficulty or struggle in our lives.  If something seems laborious or tedious, we try to avoid it. It is a debilitating mistake to assume that being  christian means that only blessings lay in store for you and I honestly blame the pulpit. There are so many messages being spewed from sanctuaries that following Christ results in financial abundance, opportunity and continuous prosperity in every endeavor one would seek to pursue. But when we look to scripture, we see that this is simply not the case. Giving our hearts to Jesus is like signing our name for warfare. From the start, we automatically have the victory, in Christ, but my sister, understand there will be hard times ahead.

As a result of the disciples following Jesus, they lost their social standing, their homes, their families and their wealth. Peter, James and John lost their fishing career, Paul lost his political status, Mary lost her good reputation and John the Baptist lost his head! But see, they knew that greater glory was worth the risk. It is my passion not to fall prey to the misconception that problems disappear once I follow Jesus because if I am only following Jesus for what I think I can get out of it, then that is not true Christianity; that is not true devotion.
In our earthy relationships, we are taught to date people who can make us happy, meet our needs, show us a good time and make us feel good about ourselves. And sadly, this perspective has crept into the church, where we then have projected this same expectation on Christ: "If I serve God then He has to bless me and give me the desires of my heart and lead me into my purpose and give me favor and keep me on the mountain top and make a way out of no way for me..."!
My loves, if God does nothing else but just pour His grace and mercy on us, that is more than enough! We must check the motives of our hearts and remember that Jesus suffered for our sakes... is it too much that He expects our willingness to do the same for Him? And if that time ever comes, do we love Him enough to be strong and courageous throughout the storm? Or will we jump ship when the boat feels too rocky? Are we equipping ourselves to fight through faith? Are we strong soldiers or simply spiritual civilians on the sidelines?

It has always been my personal belief that strength is evident in the crisis, not in the oasis. Yes, we

can feel uplifted in church, when the choir sings our song, but what happens in the real life situations? Are we prepared to stand firm in the midst of the fire? Do we posses the courage we need to combat our struggles and win the battles that each day has in store for us? We can declare all we want, but the truth of our hearts beam brightest in the dark.
I am reminded of what my father has always told me, "the mark of a strong relationship is in the arguments. You don't know what type of man you are dealing with until he becomes angry. The actions, words, and attitude that he displays in his anger is the true refection of what is already in his heart". So, the first argument I had with my boyfriend (now husband), he still held my hand and he still opened my door for me; he still kissed me good night and he still said, "Ill call you tomorrow". He was pissed, but still showed love. He could have said, "look, I'm not trying to deal with all of this". He could have jumped ship, especially because that particular argument was my fault! But, he showed strength and courage. It's easier to walk away, because walking away doesn't require any work. In fact, it is selfish and self is only interested in what is minimal effort. Self is seeking the blessing, but not the effort. Self is only wanting what is pleasing to me- never mind you, until I am satisfied. Sadly, we have been so accustomed to holding others in this regard, that it begins to pour out into our relationship with Christ. Instead of fighting for our faith, we walk away in pursuit of our comfort. We can spiritually choose to go A-wall on our salvation because, it's easier. But we have not been called to an easy life in Christ. We have been called to a victorious life! The temptations and distractions of this world seem immense. At times, it doesn't even look possible that we can overcome the trials that so many of us face, but greater is He who is in you, than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)!

We don't want to suffer or wait. We don't want to practice patience or the integrity that is produced in difficult times. We don't want to be inconvenienced. But all of that is necessary if we ever hope to experience the glory that awaits in Christ! It's easy to do things the easy way, but the results of easy are never long lasting. To walk in purity and truth, kindness and forgiveness, patience and graciousness, in the midst of chaos and unpleasantries... this is true strength and undeniable courage! It is the call of each Christian, as she lives out her daily life and makes her life choices: Do I press on in this storm maintaining the likeness of Christ, or do I find an easy way out and avoid the difficulties?

Self preservation will always be the death of us! It will kill our opportunities to shine like Jesus! It will destroy the seed that God is growing in you and will close the door to the destination of your purpose and calling. Every struggle, trial, dilemma and hardship we endure when we choose to do what pleases the Lord makes us stronger in this life and prepares us for the next. Remember, all suffering is seasonal. It doesn't last forever, but the glory and the rewards that await are eternal (2 Corinthians 4:17)! Each season sets our path for the next journey, but through it all, God is there. He is preparing, pruning, growing and digging up all that He desires for us. He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5)! In order for the flowers to grow, the earth must first be broken. The soil must be turned over, so that the roots will grow deep and produce the garden. But if the earth is unwilling to go through it's season of brokenness, then it will never have the opportunity to display any beauty.
There is so much beauty that God wants to produce in you! But you and I cannot be afraid to sojourn through the war. This is where His word has the platform to truly ring in our hearts and produce the choices, decisions and reactions that are necessary to give Him the Glory- ultimately blessing us in the process! We cannot be afraid to fight in the battle, because we have already won the victory, and freedom is ours, in Christ!

"Thanks be to God! He has given us the victory through our Lord, Jesus Christ!" ~ 1 Corinthians 15:57

Be Strong and Courageous! Don't avoid the trials or the storm. God is growing a garden and wants to put you on display! Your victory is in Jesus and through Him, you are a champion!

Stay strong, my sisters! And Happy Independence day to you all!
~Pearls

Running Your Race

Do you know what I love to do when I'm tired... I mean, really, REALLY tired? I like to sleep. I like to put on my fav Victoria Secret sweat pants, with the green stain on the left hip, throw on my worn out UNC-Charlotte T-shirt, put my hair in a bun, turn my phone off and all the lights, creep into my comfy Queen-sized bed, throw the covers over my head, say a quick, "Thank you Jesus for this day. I love you, Lord. Amen", and just be knocked all the way out! (Excuse my ebonics!) I love to sleep. Especially when I'm tired.

My friends and I kid about this all the time. Monday mornings seem to be the worst and our group chats are filled with funny memes that exaggerate our exhaustion. I get tickled by the silly cartoons, the faces that fall in the coffee cups, the pillows being placed over heads and the comedians who crack jokes about the upcoming doom of the inevitable work day. In all honesty, if we all had the choice, work would never be done. We'd all spend our days with our heads laid on our down pillows. Work is tiring. Sleep is comforting.
My point? Well, sometimes, in the tiredness, we don't truly appreciate the work. We don't see the effects, the positives, the advantages or the blessings. How can we? We're tired!!! But in our fatigue, I wonder, how many of us, like myself, only anticipate the rest and not the results?
What about in our Spiritual lives? How many of us ever grow tired of well doing? How many of us long for our heavenly rest from the work and fatigue of living our lives as selfless ambassadors for Christ? How many of us, I wonder, only get through our opportunities to witness, give back, share love or extend forgiveness, only in anticipation for the time where we don't have to do it anymore?

Scripture tells us, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"- Galatians 6:9

Sometimes, we get tired of work; even if the work is good and fulfilling. We're human and our minds grow weak with repetition. It's the same with our spiritual lives. The spirit may be willing, but our flesh gets so weak sometimes (Matthew 6:24). We don't always want to turn the other check all the time, it gets tiring. Some days, we don't want to encourage others, because that can get exhausting. Loving those who are rude and ungrateful gets frustrating and we want to throw in the towel. Even reading and praying... it can seem redundant and unsuccessful, and our natural response is not to even bother with it for one reason or another.
We can get so down on ourselves and so focused on the relief and the not results, but scripture urges us not to give up! Just this past Friday, I was reminded of how persistence can change patterns. If we want to be effective and live lives that count, we have to be willing to be persistent in our living. Even when it's hard, even when we are tired, we cannot give up on doing what it right. We cannot give up on showing love when others hurt us, or telling our loved ones the truth, even if they do not receive it with joy. In the long run, we do others and ourselves a disservice when we refuse to get up and press on.

"Therefore, since through God's mercy 

we have this ministry, we do not lose heart"- 2 Corinthians 4:1

"And as for you, brothers and sisters, 

never tire of doing what is good"-2 Thessalonians 3:13

Pressing on takes courage and determination. Persistence requires resolve and commitment. It's frustrating when we don't see results right away, but I am reminded of the Bible's call towards us as athletes- particularly runners (I Corinthians 9:24). In this scripture, it is brought to our attention that in a race, there can only be one winner. Yet at one point or another, I know that runners get tired, especially long distance runners. Think about Allyson Felix, who won the Olympics for the women's 200 meter in 2012. Or Thomas Longboat who broke the Boston Marathon time in 1908. What about Forest Gump who ran cross-country? Ok, maybe not Forest Gump; but the point is, running a race, doing good deeds, working for the Kingdom of God... it can all be hard work. But if we get tired, if we let the fatigue get the best of us, we will never win the prize; we will never earn the reward.

There are indeed times for rest. But when the rest is over, are we willing to get back to work? It's not always easy. The sun won't always shine and the birds won't always sing, but when I dig deep in my heart, I realize that I'd rather be in the race than in the bed. I'd rather be doing and becoming and achieving all that God has for me, rather than dreaming about what could be.

If your Spiritual nap has taken up more time than you originally intended, it's time to wake up! If you are on what seems like your last leg and find yourself entertaining fantasies of your warm cozy bed, let me give you a fresh push of encouragement: Don't give up on doing what is good! Don't allow yourself to tire from being used of God. He has a plan for you and a prize at the end of your journey, if you don't give up. Rest in Jesus and he will carry you! There will be hills to climb, bruises to mend, bushes to jump over and rivers to cross. It will get difficult at times, but beautiful at others. There will be days when you just want to stop and take in the scenery, and that's ok. At least you'll still be in the race. The important thing is to not give up. Sure, you might yawn at times or need some energy to make it, as all athletes do who are actively pursuing the gold. But nothing gets accomplished if you dream your day way.

Don't give up. The BEST is yet to come!

~Pearls

Majoring in the Minors

It never ceases to amaze me at the number of people who claim to be Christians, yet live out their Christianity as if it is optional. They go to church, sing songs, but will curse, lie, have unholy relationships, and still expect the presence and power of God to be available to them.

Our society is a dangerous one. In one of our early studies of Daniel, writer, Beth Moore, likened our culture with that of Babylon: a culture that consumes self and rejects any form of inconvenience. Have we gone so far in our thinking, that we have adopted this mentality within our Christianity? I believe the answer is a sad, "yes".

We tend to go to church out of obligation, not even considering or interested in getting involved more than finding a comfortable pew to sit on. We evade volunteer requests, finagle our way out of donating, hide from opportunities to extend ourselves to strangers and reject ideas or opportunities that are not "the normal church thing" to do. We are majoring in the minors!

Look at us! Where is our passion? Where is our heart? Where is our motivation to be all that God has called us to be, not for ourselves, but for His kingdom?

Before I was a believer, I did all sorts of things that I regret, yet I did them with a passion, and most of the stuff I did, I really didn't even want to do them. I partied hard until all hours of the night, even when I was tired and knew I would regret it. I dated guys that I didn't even really like, because other people expected me to or because I didn't want to disappoint a friend. I wore clothes that weren't my style, I sacrificed my studies, I paid for tickets to events that didn't interest me and I listened to music that I knew was harsh and negative and dishonoring. I made a lot of sacrifices for people, friends and culture. I was all in, even if it wasn't my "thing". And I wonder how many other countless Christians there are that have similar stories:who once would arrange their lives, schedules, agendas, friendships, interests, goals and beliefs for the sake of culture. We've all done it, without question. So why, now that we belong to a new culture- the culture of Christ- do we struggle to make sacrifices and changes? Why is it so easy to say "No" to Jesus, but so difficult to say "No" to the world?

John 15:19 tells us that we are in the world, but not of it. That we no longer belong here, but are now heavenly  citizens, in Christ Jesus. If this is the case, we must consider how we live, not like the world, but like Christ. We are no longer bound to our culture, to become like them, participate or make changes to fit in with them. Our focus should be to become like Christ, participate in His agenda and make changes for him. We are outsiders, who only fit in amongst those who believe on the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! Our motivation should be to please him, no matter what it costs, no matter how it might inconvenience us, no matter how we feel. We should be willing and excited to support that which supports our Savior. So, why aren't we? Why are we still busy trying to fit in with the culture of a dying world? Something is so wrong and sad about this. How can we be effective Christians, when we are not willing to take risks, make changes and live out of our comfort zones? How can we expect to change the world for Jesus, when we continue to allow the world to change us?

Something to think about...

~Pearls