.....::::: What Are God's Standards Concerning Sex? :::::.....

"More than half."

"That is the number of Americans (minus the rest of North America) that think that the Bible has little influence on a culture they see in moral decline." (source: Religion News Service)

"More than three quarters of Americans (77 percent) think that the nation's morality is headed downhill, according to a new survey from American Bible Society." (source: Religion News Service)

Moral decline means that our standards have been lowered. But why did I reference moral decline?

"The same survey shows that 88 percent of Americans said they own a Bible, 80 percent still think the Bible is sacred, 61 percent wish they read it more […]." (source: Religion News Service)

Stop. Hold that thought!

In the day and age we live in, sex is EVERYWHERE. And I mean EVERYWHERE! We find sexual images in public transportation, schools and don't get me started on television. This is important because the images, commercials and various types of media tell us that SEX, the act of love that is supposed to and was intended to be sacred, is available to you almost freely. This mixes up our generation a lot. Our standards have been mixed up with God's standards that we try to find a common ground or "gray zone" where we can compromise; still do bad things even though we know we shouldn't.

The shocking thing about all this is that whether we believe it or not, Christianity is very well known in the world today. It is often misinterpreted though. Sadly, many Christians don't even read their Bibles very often. Many non Christians and even Christians alike practice pre-marital sex, even though they know that they shouldn't. But many don’t know in reality what God has to say about pre-marital sex besides that it is forbidden. That is why I said "hold that thought earlier. Many men have no clue whatsoever about God's standard about sex.

Here is a FUN FACT! Did you know that in nearly every book of the New Testament, we are commanded to avoid sexual impurity? Don't believe me? Let’s visit what God’s standards are for this intimate act.

1) Matthew 5:28 - "But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

Sex was intended to be a means to express ones love, self-sacrifice, and union in a marriage relationship. What Jesus is saying here is that the desire to have sex with anyone who is not your spouse is mental adultery and thus sin. He emphasized that if the act is wrong, then so is the intention. Jesus is not saying that sex is bad or that a natural interest in the opposite sex or a healthy sexual desire is wrong. No. He is saying that when we fill our minds with sexual thoughts, we will be more likely to act on our thoughts. He wants us to avoid that.

2) Mark 7:21-23 "For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder,  adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.”

When we want to do things that we know are wrong, we THINK about it first. An evil action ALWAYS begins with a single thought. Paul mentions this and even advises us to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. (See Philippians 4:8)

3) Acts 15:29 - "You are to abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality. You will do well to avoid these things. Farewell."

Uhmm...I think it is pretty clear. But just in case it is, focusing on sex will just lead you to "situationships" and not relationships. This means more problems and less love.

4) Romans 13:13 - "Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy."

5) 1 Corinthians 5:11 - "But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people."

6) 1 Corinthians 6:13 - "You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

In Jesus, we find love, protection and freedom. But we should never abuse this freedom because if so, it has the potential to hurt others and even ourselves. The same way drinking too much leads to alcoholism, gluttony leads to obesity, sex in the wrong context can turn into a bad habit that controls you.

7) 1 Corinthians 6:13 -  "You say, “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food, and God will destroy them both.” The body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body."

8) 2 Corinthians 12:21 - "I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged."

9) Galatians 5:16,19 - "So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. […] The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; […]"

10) Ephesians 5:3-4 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving."

11) Colossians 3:5-6 "Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed,which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."

Men and women should be open to true love - and to sexual intimacy - WITHIN the commitment to lifelong fidelity.

12) 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5,7 "It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; […] For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life."

God created sex for pleasure and procreation. If you are not ready to have kids or start a family with that person, why find yourself in that situation? It is an expression of love between a husband and wife. Sexual experience must be limited to the marriage relationship to avoid hurting ourselves, our relationship to God, and our relationships with others.

13) Hebrews 13:4 - "Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral."

14) 1 Peter 4:3 - "For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry."

15) Jude 7 - "In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire."

16) Revelations 2:14 - "Nevertheless, I have a few things against you: There are some among you who hold to the teaching of Balaam, who taught Balak to entice the Israelites to sin so that they ate food sacrificed to idols and committed sexual immorality."

17) Revelation 2:20 - "Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols."

18) Revelation 21:8 - "But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death.”

Sounds harsh right? The Bible warns us of many things. It warns us of sexual sin and that we shouldn’t take it lightly. For too long, we have heard sermons or people speak about “running from sexual sin” but never in detail (please read our earlier post “The Truth About Sex”). God created sex to be a beautiful and essential ingredient of marriage, but any form of sex outside of marriage always hurts someone. It hurts god because it shows that we prefer following our own desires instead of being led by His Holy Spirit. It hurts others because it violates the commitment so necessary to a relationship. Ever notice how when two people finish having sex, the guy tends to not care and the girl is either emotionally hurt or emotionally dependant of the guy? You see! It deeply affects our personalities in the long run!

With that being said, we find that God’s standards for sex can be found in more than half of the books in the New Testament. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we enter a relationship with God. The example that I love to use is this: see God as your “lover”. When you are in a relationship, you do everything to please and keep that person happy and satisfied. Sleeping with someone else before God hands you over to your true life partner, is basically as if you cheated on God with someone else. Even though infidelity is very popular in our generation, that does not make it okay to do so. Think of the people who get hurt as a result of your actions, before you think of doing it. Hope this clears up some things for people. No one is perfect. We are not here to judge anyone. On the contrary, if you have done this or are living a life where sexual sin (sex before marriage) is dominant or present, it is not too late to stop. Sexual sin can be enslaving but Jesus died for those sins already; not so you can continue and still do it but so that you can have access to a LIFE that is way better and one that fulfills better than 5 minutes of body to body pleasure. We all struggle with something; some it is lust and others it may be something else. But if this doesn’t concern you, feel free to share it with someone who might need to read this. Stay blessed and much love to you on your walk with God. Peace & Blessings!

(This post used Stephen Arterburn’s book “Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time.” as a reference.)

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: Can You Translate Your "Christianese" Please? :::::.....

"Christianese" is a communicable language within the Christian subculture with words and phrases created, redefined, and / or patened that applies only to the Christian sphere of influence. In other words, it's an invented word used to express the use of Christian theology terms that may seem like bibberish to those that have no idea what the speaker is talking about.

How often do we do this though? How often do we talk to people about Jesus, but we use terms and words that they have an easier time understanding Chinese or Sign Language rather than understanding us? Jesus used metaphors, similies, and analogies to portray and demonstrate God's goodness, message and invitation to Life. Why is it that we must show how spiritually intellectual we are by using big words or words that seem to make no sense or are even frightening to our listeners?

My sister and I moved to Canada in 2004, after the death of our parents. We understood little to no french at all. The only thing that truly helped us was the fact that we are Haitian American. Haitian Creole is some what close to French. Anyway, if a Montreal Canadian had come up to us (which happened quite often in our first two years) to announce, in French, something like how we were being offered a chance to live in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's house or even better; a chance to live at the White House with President Barack Obama and reap the benefits of living there, that would've been AWESOME! But at that point in time, if someone didn't translate everything that person would've said to us from French to English, my sister and I would've missed out on such a ONCE IN A LIFETIME, GOLDEN opportunity. Why? Just because French was such a foreign language at the time.

In the same way, God's message and invitation to Life must be translated into language people can UNDERSTAND. Using words like KINGDOM, REPENTANCE, and SAVED sound scary and uncommon to most people. It is as if we are speaking a language that is foreign when we use terms like being "justified," "sanctified," or "redeemed." Please, don't get me wrong, these terms are important, but we must first understand the truth of God's message enough to translate them into a language or vocabulary that ordinary people (those who have yet to know these things) can understand.

Why though? Why would someone turn from what they are used to, what they have grown to know and love, from the only semblance of life, love, and security they have ever known (apart from God) and turn to God if they don't believe that He is good or has good intentions towards them? That is where Jesus steps in. He used creatuve language and many analogies to paint and demonstrate an accurate picture of the Father's goodness in terms people would and could understand:

"He runs to the prodigal son with open arms (Luke 15:11-32)" and "He values you more than many sparrows (Matthew 6:25-34)."

Yes, Jesus did speak in parables (moral stories) to provoke people's hearts that were on the verge of being responsive or those that were hardened, but He also gave life to a linguistic picture so others may understand and see God's goodness.

We should do the same! Sometimes, it is not that people don't want to believe in Jesus. It is just that they don't have a clue what we are saying. We try to seem high and mighty by using terms that we believe will spike their curiousity but in reality, all we do is cause even more confusion. In order for people to turn and trust God with their whole lives (repent and believe), we must stop speaking "Christianese" and just be us. Use words that they will comprehend and most importantly, just be yourself. It is important that we listen to their needs and invite them to Life.

Have a blessed day and don’t forget to spread for Christ!

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS YOUR NAME :::::.....

Let's use our brains for a few seconds...

Imagine for a second that you walk into a place and no one recognized you.

How would that make you feel?

Would you feel alone?

Hurt?

Angry?

Now imagine for a second that you were the head of a multi-billion dollar company. So you walk into YOUR COMPANY, and no one recognizes you.

They disrespect you.

They pay no attention to you.

How would you feel?

Third scenario...imagine you come home from work after a long day and your own family didn't recognize you? Not only that but the place you occupied in the household was being occupied by someone else.

What would you do?

All the time invested in building relationships with the house members only to see that you have been replaced. How would you feel?

Regardless of the example, whether you are a celebrity or someone that is mildly known, if we were to walk into a place and not get recognized, it would harm us deep down inside. We would all like to go somewhere where everybody knows our names. It makes us feel wanted and cared about.

Ironically, there is this itinerant preacher by the name of Jesus that felt the same way in terms of wanting those He loves to accept Him. Some of us have heard of Him but not all of us truly recognize Him.

Let’s try and imagine what it was like when Jesus claimed to be Messiah and how the people responded.

"Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” (John 1:45)

People waited centuries to see the Messiah but once they heard that it was Jesus, they did not believe nor did they accept this. Why? Was it because they saw him grow up so they never considered Him to be the Messiah? The Jewish leaders, most if not all, laughed at the very suggestion that a low-born, uneducated carpenter from Nazareth, of all places, could be the very Messiah that they were waiting for.

But He was and is.

Just as any human being, you can imagine what the religious leaders were like when confronted with the questions regarding Jesus being the Messiah. They would probably go on and ask why certain prophecies were not fulfilled yet, how come He was not a king on a throne instead of a carpenter and that the Messiah was to abolish war forever. But let me tell you, this is proof that  God has a weird way of functioning til this day. He does not fulfill man’s expectations but He does things His way; whenever and wherever.

The first time Jesus told people that He was the long awaited Messiah, He was in a synagogue in Nazareth, reading from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.
"He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read […]"

Pause.

You have to understand that what makes Jesus’ declaration so special is that Luke 4:16 states that “He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up […]” That means that He was surrounded by people that knew Him, most likely since He was a child. You would think that the people would be happy since the long awaited Messiah was FINALLY here! You would think that they would throw a party or a banquet of some sort…nope. They actually ran Jesus out of town and wanted to throw Him off a cliff but He escaped.

The people of Nazareth did not even try to consider that maybe what Jesus was saying was true. They did things their way according to what they believed. To them, He did not fulfill the messianic expectations.

Let’s use another example.

In Matthew 16, we find Jesus in the region of Caesarea Philippi with His disciples. He proceeds to ask them this question:

“Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

His disciples answered Him like we all would; they said that He was one of the greatest prophets come back to life. But then He asked them who do they think He is.

Jesus asked His disciples the same question but using a different perspective. Everyone has an opinion and a point of view. The sad part if that these people were with Him almost all the time…but they had yet to see it. The amazing thing is that Simon Peter, was the one who answered and his answer was worthy of the Messiah.

“Simon Peter answered, you are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

Peter confessed that Jesus was divine and that He was the promised and long awaited Messiah.

"When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” He asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:13-16)

And our last example…

Near the end of the events at Golgotha, where Jesus hung on the cross, amazing things happened. His death was accompanied by at least four miraculous events (darkness the tearing of the curtain in the temple, an earthquake, and dead people rising from their tombs). Jesus’ death could not have gone unnoticed. Everyone knew something significant had happened! So much that in Mathhew 27:54, it states that a roman centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw these phenomena and recognized Him as the Son of God.

"When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (Matthew 27:54)

The irony in all this is that the ones who were supposed to recognize Him since they were the very ones waiting on His arrival, didn't recognize Him. Instead, they were the ones who sent Him to His death. But strangely enough, God’s plan can never be undone. It was all according to plan. A lot of Christians today believe that they would be able to discern and see Jesus as the Messiah if He came incognito again. Do you fall under this category? Have you yet to recognize Jesus as Messiah? Do you recognize Him as Lord, Savior, Prince of peace, Counselor by excellence, the Lamb of God or the Lion of Judah? Or are you one of the ones who walks past Him and ignores His words, message and messengers? Are you still not sure that Jesus is the Messiah? Do you need some kind of proof to admit that Jesus is indeed the Messiah? Sometimes we want to go where everybody know our names...

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: DO YOU KNOW HOW TO LOVE? :::::.....

Hey everyone!!! Hope all is well with you! A couple of months ago, we at Spread4Christ posted a blog entry called: “What’s Love Got To Do With It?” It explaining what love is as written in 1 Corinthians 13 and why it is important. The crazy thing is that we sometimes treat love as if it was this new thing that just randomly showed up. But it was always here! What we aim to do in this post is show you “how” to channel this love and how if demonstrated properly, it can change someone’s day and even their life.

Being a avid social networker, it allows me to truly see what people think sometimes. If you haven’t noticed, there are those certain people that post everything they are going through on social media. (I am guilty of it…sometimes…okay…often). Where am I going with this? I have had the chance to see many posts about love; from tumblrs, tweets, statuses on Facebook and even Instagram pictures. Some people, because they have been hurt or betrayed or disappointed by love, they bad-mouth it. You know those posts that I am talking about. The ones that say “I’m doing me” or even the anti-love posts. But there is something wrong with that. How can love be bad if God is love? What the person probably experienced was “immature love”. Not that it was bad but it just wasn’t the right time. A friend of mine once used this parable to explain mature love.

“Have you ever eaten a fruit that isn’t ripe? Love is the same way. Anyone can say, “I love you”, but if the love isn’t mature, it doesn’t taste good. For a fruit to be ripe, it has to spend time in the sun. For our love to be mature, it has to spend time in The Son.”

Deep right? Well in 1 Corinthians 13, it clearly states what love is supposed to be. But what if the person isn’t receptive to that kind of love? What if you are doing it wrong? What if the way the world loves is not the way we should ACTUALLY be loving one another? But how do we love one another though? Love is more than a simple warm feeling. It is a call to action. It is an attitude that reveals itself in action. But how can we REALLY love others as Jesus loves us? Well, have you ever tried to show someone love and they were completely unreceptive? Jesus loves us regardless. Nothing we do can make Him love us less (do not take it for granted) so since He forgives all and loves all, we should do the same. Loving another the way Jesus loves us is to let bygones be bygones and move forward together in peace and love.

Loving someone the way that Jesus loves us is;

...helping someone when it is not convenient. There may be that one person that no matter how many times you see them, they may annoy you or even make you uncomfortable but if that person needs you or even if they don’t come out and say that they do, love and help them anyway!

…giving when it hurts. Yeah…this one right? It is easier to say than do, right? But that still does not make it any less important. Above, I spoke about when the person you are helping or showing love to is not receptive, do not take your love away. Nor should you suffocate them with love. I know a few people who have gone through relationships where all the other person did was take, take and take but never gave. And eventually the other person ended up cheating or leaving. I know it sounds crazy and I know it may sound like something impossible, but trust me, loving someone that does not necessarily love you back is one of the best feelings in the world. Why? Well, Jesus goes through it everyday with us in my opinion. In the Bible it says that if we love God, we will obey. No one is perfect and we mess up sometimes so obey on a 24 hour basis is hard. But Jesus still loves us even if we do the things that hurt Him. What fun is it to love the ones that everyone else already loves? You accomplish so much more by loving the people that love you back and even the ones that don’t.

…by devoting energy to others’ welfare rather than your own, by absorbing hurts from others without complaining or fighting back. Basically, when showing love, you must forget yourself and put others before you. This kind of loving is extremely hard to do but it is not impossible.

What makes loving like Jesus so amazing is that when you do it, people do notice. People never understood why and how Jesus was able to love and approach the people He did even today. How come? Because, to love others the way Christ loved other was and still is revolutionary! Love keeps believers in Christ strong and united in this world that is hostile to God. And you never know how you can impact and change someone’s life with love. Let’s change the world! Reach out and love someone today!

John 13:34-35 "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: A WOMAN'S WORTH :::::.....

Hi everyone!!!! Anyone who knows me knows that I am an avid social networker! What that means is that I love everything about social media. I love the fact that we can interact and “communicate” with people around the world even if this form of communication is somewhat artificial and not concrete. So basically, I was on Instagram the other day and saw a picture with a very powerful quote that got my attention…

“It’s best to wait for God’s very best. Because second best is not good enough for His daughter.”

Wow…I read that and was touched. Why? Because we live in a society (not all of it) that makes our women believe that they deserve anything but the best. But to truly understand what is best for you, one must know what it is that God wants for you and how He sees you.

Since God is our Father, what father wouldn't want what is best for his child? Then again, what father wouldn't want what is best for his little girl? To all you girls, women and ladies out there, God cherishes you and loves you so much!!! In my opinion, one of God's greatest creations, if not the greatest, is the woman. Why? Because you are just beautiful, strong and awesome! Let no one tell you otherwise!

God doesn’t want your existence to be defined by anyone but Him. We live in a world where we give women the idea that they need a man to be someone in today’s society. But that isn’t true! And far from the truth I might add! There are countless women who have excelled without the presence of a man in their lives and even those that do have a man in their lives, still strive to not conform to this way of thinking. For example, one of the women I respect the most, my older sister, is one of those women. To make a long story short, losing both our parents at a young age was tough but not once did my sister call it quits. She strived to prove everyone wrong and where did it lead her? She is happily working and has her own house and a successful career. She did that without necessarily needing the help of a man. I am not saying that being dependent is wrong. No. What I am saying is that instead of seeking the attention or the presence of a man to define you, lean on God. He is the ONLY one I know that can heal you when you are broken, give you rest when you are tired and fulfill your needs when you don’t even know what they are. Instead of needing a spouse and, in some cases, kids to find your worth as a woman, realize that success is measured only in following God and making the most of where He has you in life. With God shaping your perspective, there's no such thing as failure.

But how does the Bible see or portray women though? Well you will be shocked…IT COMPLETELY DOES THE OPPOSITE OF WHAT SOCIETY TELLS WOMEN THEY ARE! (Did you like my sarcasm?…No? Not funny? Okay…I tried…)

Proverbs 31:10-31 "A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. 11Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. 12She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. 13She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. 14She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. 15She gets up while it is still night; she provides food for her family and portions for her female servants. 16She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 17She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. 18She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. 19In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 20She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 21When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 22She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 23Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 24She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. 25She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. 26She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 27She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. 28Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29“Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.” 30Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 31Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”

Yes, the renown proverb recited by many and even used as a model by most women around the world. The Bible acknowledges and celebrates the priceless value of a virtuous woman. Pay attention to verse 10 though: “She is worth far more than rubies.” So basically, to back my claim that women are one of God’s most amazing, (if not the most amazing) creations, Proverbs 31:10 states that women are worth far more than this very precious, expensive and valuable stone! When someone tells you that you are worthless, remind them that you are worth more than rubies but that no amount of money can buy you! Know your worth! The Bible rightly exalts women against cultures that distort, degrade, and debase them. But like I stated, not everyone sees this…

It is sad because women are actually used and abused more today than at any time in history. How so? Well trafficking women, making them sex salves and trading them like animals for sexual slavery is something that is very much alive and visible in the world that we live in. Literally selling women for money or favors is allowed today. Prostitution is one of the world’s most infamous sources of revenue. There is also the pornography industry that turns women into objects and victims. Here in America, the so-called more "civilized" places, men routinely use women for no-consequence, no-commitment sex only to leave them pregnant, without care and support. Even ancient cultures were no better...some Greek philosophers, yeah, the ones considered to have the brightest minds of their era--taught that women are inferior creatures by nature. Woah…what?! These people TAUGHT others that women, one of God’s greatest creations were INFERIOR…!!!!??? This has got to stop! But it can only stop when women understand what it is that they are TRULY worth! KNOW YOUR WORTH!!!

Enough of the negatives, let’s revisit the positives again because there is still so much!!!

In the very first chapter of the Bible, if you pay close attention, we are taught that women, like men, bear the stamp of God's own image (Genesis 1:27; 5:1-2). So basically, men and women were created equal! The role that women play is a VERY IMPORTANT ONE! Wives are seen as venerated PARTNERS and CHERISHED companions to their husbands, not merely slaves or pieces of household furniture (Genesis 2:20-24; Proverbs 19:14; Ecclesiastes 9:9). Even in the 10 commandments, God commanded that children are to honor both father and mother (Exodus 20:12).  

Jesus Christ, God Himself, loved and respected women. Jesus’ disciples included several women too. Don’t believe me? Read Luke 8:1-3. What did it mean to be a disciple though? It meant that you were a personal follower of Jesus during His life on Earth. For example, the twelve Apostles. But they weren’t the only ones to follow Jesus. His disciples that were women consisted of Lazarus’ sisters (Mary and Martha), Mary (His mother), Mary Magdalene and the list goes on. This was a something almost unheard of among the teachers of His day. Being the revolutionary that He is, Jesus even encouraged their discipleship by showing everyone that their service was something more useful than staying at home (Luke 10:38-42). When I think about it, Christ even revealed His own identity as the true Messiah to a Samaritan woman (John 4:25-26). We should follow His example because He always treated women with the utmost dignity--even women who might otherwise be regarded as outcasts and rejected (Matthew 9:20-22; Luke 7:37-50; John 4:7-27). He blessed their children (Luke 18:15-16), raised their dead (Luke 7:12-15), forgave their sin (Luke 7:44-48), and restored their virtue and honor (John 8:4-11). Thus He exalted the position of womanhood itself. (http://www.gty.org/resources/articles/a265/the-biblical-portrait-of-women-setting-the-record-straight)


To finish up this post, I just want to say that the most significant women in Scripture were influential not because of their careers, but because of their character. It doesn’t matter how much money you make because that doesn’t define you. It doesn’t matter who you date or marry, because that doesn’t define you. It doesn’t matter what you have done in your past, that doesn’t define you! Regardless of what the world tells you, that you need makeup to be beautiful, or you need to dress a certain way or your body needs to be a certain way, don’t buy into that! God is an artist. He creates masterpieces. True works of art! Be proud and embrace the fact that you ARE ONE OF HIS MANY PIECES OF ART!!! That is why God doesn't want you guys "testing waters" before finding your "Mr. Right” for example. He wants you to stay focused and pure while He prepares you to embrace and receive your other half. Ladies, a father does not want his daughter with just anyone. He wants his daughter to be with the BEST! And what is the best in this case? Someone who is a mirror image (at least tries to be) of God. Be vigilant though! What you might think is best for you at the moment, may not be what God wants for you. Why would He let you compromise following Him for someone who will make you stray away from Him by doing things you shouldn't? Stay blessed, God wants the best for you ladies and know your worth!!!


"True feminine beauty is not about external adornment, "arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel"; real beauty is manifest instead in "the hidden person of the heart...the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: RINSED OR FULL? :::::.....

Have you ever been to a restaurant and before your food arrives, they served you water? Have you ever looked at the glass before you drank? I do. Sometimes, not to criticize them, but the glasses aren't always spotless. I do believe that sometimes they wash these glasses in dishwashers and not by hand. If cleaned by hand, they would be thouroughly washed. That is why not all stains are removed. No one likes to drink from a dirty glass.

If I may, lets visit the Scriptures. In Matthew 23, Jesus speaks about the religious leaders. But He says something very interesting in verse 26. He says: "Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean."

Jesus condemned the Pharisees and religious leaders for outwardly APPEARING SAINTLY and holy but inwardly remaining full of corruption and greed. Living our Christianity merely as a show for others is like washing a cup on the outside only. When we are clean on the inside, our cleanliness on the outside won't be a facade. The question that I would like to ask is have you been truly FILLED with God or RINSED by God? Have you allowed yourself to be throughly cleaned or just rinsed? There is a difference. Someone who is FILLED is changed completely. They live for Christ and not matter how hard times get, they do not dare to go back to the life or the things that once defined them because they know their identity lies in Christ and they are a new creation. But the one who is RINSED seems clean and holy on the outside but their insides haven't been cleaned. Which are you? Forgive me for asking....

(This post is actually inspired by a sermon I heard from Pastor George Morisset Jr.)

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: LOOK AGAIN AND THINK :::::.....

If there is one thing I love to do-it is to read. Reading reveals so many mysteries. I started reading this devotional book a while back called: "My Upmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers and edited by James Reimann. If you ever lay your eyes on a copy of it, I highly recommend you buy it! In it I found the following and wanted to share a little exert with you. 

To worry is to give way to anxiety or unease; allow one's mind to dwell on difficulty or troubles. Do you worry? Jesus tells us not to worry about the things God promises to supply. Worry may cause you to damage your health, consume your thoughts, disrupt your productivity, negatively affect the way you treat others and reduce your ability to trust in God. Do your very worries cause you to drift away from Him? Forgive me for asking…stay blessed and in faith!

"[…] I say to you, do not worry about your life…" Our Lord says to be careful only about one thing-our relationship to Him. But our common sense shouts loudly and says, "That is absurd, I must consider how I am going to live, and I must consider what I am going to eat and drink." Jesus says you must not. Beware of allowing yourself to think that He says this while not understanding your circumstances. Jesus Christ knows our circumstances better than we do, and He says we must not think about these things to the point where they become the primary concern of our life. Whenever they are competing concerns in your life, be sure you always put your relationship with God first.

"Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" (Matthew 6:34). How much trouble (worry) has begun to threaten you today? […] Jesus tells us not to worry about any of these things. Look again and think. Keep your mind on the "much more" of your heavenly Father (Matthew 6:30).

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: DO YOU REMEMBER THE TIME? :::::.....

Do you remember the time when you fell in love with Jesus Christ? Do you remember the time when you first met Him? Do you remember the time when you were kind to God, or were you only expecting God to be kind to you? Do you remember when everything you did in your life was to please Him, or did you constantly complain because things didn't go your way? We love it when a friend keeps his or her commitments but we are disappointed when they fail to keep their promise. Do you remember the time you first fell in love with God? Are you as filled with overwhelming love for Jesus Christ as you were in the beginning? That time where you went out of your way to prove your devotion to Him? Sin distances us from Him but how bad do you want to return to that place and time where it was just you and Him? Think about your original commitment to obey God, and ask yourself if you are remaining truly devoted.

Jeremiah 2:2 - "Go and proclaim in the hearing of Jerusalem: “This is what the Lord says: “ ‘I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved Me and followed Me through the wilderness, through a land not sown."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: ARE YOU HIDING YOUR TRUE MOTIVES FROM JESUS? :::::.....

I was reading the book of Matthew (when Jesus taught about serving others) and it hit me...we tend to come to Jesus with requests only when we need something. What do I mean? We come to Him a certain way but we hide our true motives. For example, if I say I will serve Him but in the back of my mind it is only to receive a certain position or something from Him. Same went for James and John's mother in the Bible. She came and kneeled down and, asked Jesus a favor. She asked Him to ensure that her sons would sit by His side when His kingdom came. WHAT A REQUEST!! She did give Jesus worship, but her real motive was to get something from Him. Get it? Too often this happens in our churches and in our lives. We play religious games, and we actually expect God to give us something in return. True worship means adoring and praising Christ for who He is and for what He has done. My prayer for you today is to be transparent with Jesus. He knows your motives beforehand. He is not a fool. Serve Him in truth and in spirit. Then will you see that everything else you need, and not want, will fall into place. Have a blessed day!!!

Matthew 20:20 - "Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of Him."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: DO YOU NEED A MIRACLE JUST TO BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST? :::::.....

A miracle is an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs or a divinely natural phenomenon experienced humanly as the fulfillment of spiritual law. In Matthew 16:4, the Pharisees and Sadducees came to Jesus and tested Him by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven. Many people, just like these so called leaders say they want to see a miracle so they can believe but Jesus knows that even if some of us were to receive the sign, we would still be skeptical. Nonetheless, Jesus had feed thousands, raised the dead, and healed plenty but they still wanted Him to prove Himself. Do you doubt Christ because you have yet to see a miracle? Jesus said it Himself: "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." In the Bible, there is 2000 years worth of such evidence. Those who won't believe are either too stubborn or proud. Pray to have faith and believe in God! Count on Jesus! I will pray for you! Stay blessed!!!

Matthew 16:4 - "A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.” Jesus then left them and went away."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: THE PARABLE OF THE HIDDEN TREASURE :::::.....

I don't know about you but when I was younger, I would always play outside and discover things (even if they were of no monetary value). I dreamed of finding something cool...treasure that I could call my own. Ironic though, in the Bible, Jesus tells the parable of the hidden treasure. It compares the Kingdom of Heaven to a treasure hidden in a field. A man finds this treasure, hides it in the earth, sells all he has so he could keep the treasure and the land it was buried in. Why is this relevant you ask? In ancient times it wasn't out of the ordinary for men to hide their treasures in the earth. During the era in which Christ was on earth, it was not uncommon to discover in neglected land old coins and ornaments of gold and silver. In the parable the field containing the treasure represents the Holy Scriptures and the Gospel is the treasure itself! The earth itself is not mingled with golden veins and filled with precious things as is the Word of God. The treasures of the Gospel are said to be hidden from those who are wise in their own estimation, who are puffed up by the teaching of vain philosophy! The mystery of the plan of redemption can not be perceived by them. Many have eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they can not hear; they are smart but they can not make sense of the hidden treasure. God doesn't conceal His truth from men but it is by their own course of action that they make it obscure to themselves. Please let that sink in...

Matthew 13:44 - “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: 3000 :::::.....

We at Spread4Christ wanna take this time to thank our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for everything that has transpired in the past 2 months. We started a blog. The purpose of this blog was to spread the love and word of Jesus Christ one post at a time. Keeping those who followed this blog up to date with devotionals, prayer request, music, and news as well as other things. I am glad to say that we have gone past the 3000+ views mark! God is good!!! Thank you to those who support, subscribed and shared! I wanna thank the team!! I wanna thank Jean Jean and his team for allowing us to review their concert. And so many more! It's surreal! Thanks guys and let's continue to make Jesus Christ known!!!

.....::::: WHILE YOU DENY, OTHERS DIE FOR WHAT THEY BELIEVE IN :::::.....

DID YOU KNOW? So many of us refuse to believe and accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and continue living life as if it was a game. But news flash, there are people that aren't even allowed to mention Jesus' name in their homelands and even get killed doing so...Sadly, North Korea tyrant Kim Jong Un has reportedly ordered that 33 Christians believed to be working alongside South Korean Baptist missionary Kim Jung-wook be put to death. They were killed because they have reportedly started 500 or so underground churches...

There are those that DENY Jesus Christ, even go as far as saying He doesn't exist but then there are some that die for His cause. Do you turn your back or stand firm?! Pray for their families!!! (www.charismanews.com/world/43068-report-north-korea-orders-execution-of-33-christians-working-with-baptist-missionary) You can also follow this post onwww.spread4christ.blogspot.com

Matthew 10:22 - "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved."

http://www.christianlifenews.com/images/stories/2014/kim-jong-un-salute-facebook.jpg

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: EVEN WHEN WE ARE UNCLEAN... :::::.....

Have you ever thought that you were too sinful (dirty, unworthy and undeserving) of and for Jesus Christ's love? What of those who are physically repulsive? Though we are all these things, that's what makes us eligible as well!!! Good news right?! In Matthew 8:28, Jesus sends demons into a herd of pigs from two demon possessed men. These demons inhabited these two men. They were violent and unapproachable. Demons are fallen angels that chose to rebel with satan against God. The demons recognized Jesus as God's Son. The amazing thing about this scenario is that by "ceremonial laws", these men were UNCLEAN in 3 ways: they were non-Jews, demon possessed, and they came from a graveyard. Where am I going with all this? Though they were these things, Jesus STILL cared for their well being. Later, the demons' action proved their destructive intent. Jesus' action on the other hand, shows the value He places on human life. We should NEVER turn our backs on those that are repulsive to us by society's norms, who violate our moral standards and religious beliefs. We SHOULD realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, whom needs to be touched by His love. Please let that sink in...

Matthew 8:28 - "When He arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met Him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: DO YOU FORGIVE ME? :::::.....

To forgive is to give up resentment of or claim to requital for. Forgiveness is one of the core messages preached by Jesus. In Matthew 6:14-15, He says that if we refuse to forgive others, God will also refuse to forgive us. Why though? Because when we don't forgive others, we are denying our common ground as sinners in need of God's forgiveness. We should forgive others because we know what it is to be forgiven. If it is easier to ask God for forgiveness, but difficult to forgive others, something must be done. Have you forgiven the people who have wronged you? Forgive me for asking...

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: HUSBAND & WIFE UNDER GOD :::::.....

Marriage is a real serious issue! It is not like when we used to play boyfriend and girlfriend in the old days. Or even when we were teens and jumped from one person to another in the span of a week. Its a communion, an engagement and most importantly, it's the very picture of the relationship between Christ and His church! It's a holy union, a living symbol, a precious relationship that needs tender, self-sacrificing care. Now the question is how should a MAN love His wife? He should be willing to sacrifice everything for her. His priorities should be God and her well-being. He should care for her as he cares for his own body. Loving someone like that can only cause them to love you the same in return. We need to stop looking at the relationships we see on tv and seek the relationship God has for us with Him and our eventual spouse! Please let that sink in...

Ephesians 5:28-30 "In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: PURE LOVE :::::.....

Valentine's Day is one of the most commercialized holidays known to man. It's up there with Christmas in my opinion. Its a holiday about love. But what is love exactly? The love we celebrate every February 14th is one that society gets us to think truly exists. But God has something and gave you something far greater than a bouquet of flowers. His love is not static or self-centered; it reaches out and draws others in. When you love, you should love freely to the point of self - sacrifice. Every Valentine's Day rose has its thorns but Jesus wore a crown of thorns so you can know what love truly is. God's love is not limited to one day but demonstrated throughout an eternity. I won't call Jesus Christ my "Valentine" but I will call Him my Savior. His love exceeds the calendar boundaries of February 14th. His love is demonstrated 365 days a year + the rest of eternity. Please let that sink in...think about it...

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

°°°° PAUSE MUSICALE: LET'S GO (NOUVEAUTÉ 2014) °°°°

Je vous présente le dernier HIT de Osmann intitulé "LET'S GO" (Feat. Godson). Ce sont des jeunes remplis de talent et de passion pour Dieu. Allez faire un petit tour sur ces liens. Vous n'allez pas le regretter!

Allez également consulter leur pages facebook afin d'en apprendre un peu plus sur eux et leur ministère.

Voici:

 Osmann - LET'S GO (Feat. Godson)

(Francais / French)

Page Facebook de:

•  Osmann
•  Godson
•  Dreez Beatz
• Godson Productions

.....::::: P.R.I.D.E III :::::.....

Pride is such a nasty emotion. Believe me, I can tell you. Pride can keep older people from attempting to understand the youth and it can keep the younger generation from listening to the teachings and advice of the older generation. In the Bible, Peter tells us to be humble and serve one another. The young should follow the leadership of the older generation; who should lead by example. We should respect those who have more experience than us and be humble enough to admit that we can learn from each other. Pride can even lead us to stress about our positions or status. For example in a church or at work. We often want the recognition for what we do. God's recognition counts more than human praise. Humbly obey God regardless of the circumstances, and in His good time, whether it on earth or in heaven, He will lift you up. Please let that sink in...

1 Peter 5:5-7 "In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”    Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)

.....::::: P.R.I.D.E II :::::.....

Ever believe that where you are now, you got there because of your own effort? Ever believe that you accomplished something because of your talents? No one can claim to be adequate without God's help. No one can do the things God has in store for us on his or her own. Without the Holy Spirit, we and our talents can only go so far...We need to learn to humble ourselves. We need to stop comparing ourselves as well. When we compare ourselves with others, we begin to feel pride because we eventually begin to think that we are better than them. But if we actually took the time to compare ourselves to God's standards, we would realize how useless pride is. Stop looking to others or comparing, you are unique. If you don't see where God is bringing you, be calm and stay humble. Serve. It is when you serve that you realize what being served is like. Please let that sink in...

2 Corinthians 3:5 - "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God."

2 Corinthians 10:12 - "We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise."

(Devotions/ Devotionals)