Lifestyle of the ______________!

If asked to fill in the blank to the title, what lifestyle would you write down?

Would it be…the lifestyle of the rich and famous—the broken and down trodden—the jealous and envious? Or maybe you have a lifestyle of work to you drop, sickness versus health, or is it trying to keep up with the Jones’?

All over the world you will find people spending most of their waking hours striving or working for a particular lifestyle. But America is pretty bad in how it tries to sell us a bill of goods as to what type of lifestyle we are entitled too. Even if that translates into being up to your eyeballs in debt. Debt that consist of student loans (you may never live to pay off), or being so cash poor because of an outlandish mortgage, car note and designer clothing and accessories on maxed out credit cards.

In my 62 years, I have yet to meet anyone who didn’t want their version of a good lifestyle, (whatever that might be).

My mother came from a family of 10 kids and they were poor! All of them worked hard and strived to have a better lifestyle not only for themselves but for their children as well. So it seems that for years, each new generation (for the most part) did better than then their parents, except this current one today.

I recently read an article on how today’s generation is the first in America to not be doing as well or better as their parents were when they were the same age. For one, it didn’t cost an arm, leg and kidney and in some cases your soul to attend college. And if the average college grad owed $2,000.00 dollars in student loans, that was considered a lot of money. But it was doable to pay back. Today, young people are so bogged down in steep debt, that they are unable to buy houses, new cars or in many cases even live on their own.

Their troubles began when they bought into (or were pushed into) striving for a lifestyle more conducive to the “rich and famous” or at least something close to that.

People work hard to have nice things and live in a nice place, and they have no problem sacrificing time with family and friends to get them. But most of all we seem to also have no problem sacrificing time with God. This is one of the biggest downfalls of the Believer.

Here's an excerpt from Gloria Copeland's book “To Know Him”...“Of course, even after you make Jesus the Lord of your life, it takes more than a few causal contacts with God to learn how to be an overcomer.  It takes a lifestyle of communing with Him and spending time with Him.  If we truly want to see what God can do, we can’t be content to run to Him only in the hard times or when we’re in desperate need.  We can’t be satisfied just to work Him into our schedules when it’s convenient.  We must build our schedules around our time with Him. We must seek God in prayer and the Word every single day—when things are hard and when they’re easy, in good times and in bad.”  (Great book by the way!)

There goes that word again, lifestyle. The definition for lifestyle is very simple and straight forward…the way a person lives—period! Therefore, as a Believer, and child of the One true King….what should our fill in the blank say?

Lifestyle of the Believer! Lifestyle of the Healed! Lifestyle of the Forgiven! Lifestyle of the Loved! Lifestyle of the Blessed! Lifestyle of the one who loves Jesus! Lifestyle of the meek and humble! I could easily fill up a page of what we have the right to say and live because of who we are—but! That’s right, but! But, too many of us don’t know what God given rights we are entitled to because we don’t have (or see the need for) a lifestyle built around communing with God.

We are quick to run to God when we get a bad report from the doctor—lose our jobs—husbands walk out—children act up. And it doesn't seem to phase us that we've been remiss in developing a lifestyle of walking in love, forgiveness and building up our faith for the bad times.

The truth is, most of us will never be “rich and famous” well, not according to the world’s standards that is.  And that should be okay, because we have the propensity to be rich as part of the Kingdom of God! And I’m not talking about in our afterlife, but right here, right now!

You see, rich in the Kingdom has nothing to do with money. In fact, money is the lowest rung on the ladder of prosperity. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.” 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)

It is better to be poor financially and your soul prosper, versus be rich and lose your soul? Click (Matthew 16:26)

When we read the Good Book, it is loaded from the beginning to the end, about what prosperity (or riches) looks like for those who serve God. Of course it looks nothing like what the world has to say it is, but one must spend time, and desire to cultivate a lifestyle of Kingdom living to know all that it offers. 

We are already famous—our Father knows the numbers of hairs on our head, at any given day or hour—the beginning of our lives and the ending of our lives. Can we get any more famous than that?!

Seeking a lifestyle built around time with God is the only lifestyle worth pursuing! And I say that because, God (Creator of everything) knows what is best for us and He has all the answers. Time with Him will lead you to a lifestyle you never dreamed—and I'm not talking materialistically either!

If someone handed you a slip of paper and asked you to fill in the blank to “Lifestyle of the _____?” asking what lifestyle you live or are pursuing, would your answer be one that truly serves God? Or would it be one that serves manna or your own soul? Be honest in your answer to yourself. It is the only way for change.

Sisters, it’s time to get real with ourselves and God. Because you wouldn’t want to be one of the foolish virgins who gets caught without oil when the Bridegroom comes—now would you?  Click (Matthew 25:1-13) 

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie

Stereotypes and Preconceived Ideas (Myth Busters and Myth Makers)

As a woman of color and an American, I have been exposed to many stereotypes and preconceived ideas about my race of people and my gender. Coming up, it was we were a shiftless and lazy bunch of folks. Today it’s…all young black men are thugs and uneducated and our young girls are welfare recipients and baby making factories. The problem is the “all”!

But not many get a free pass on some type of stereotype being tagged on them. I was raised in the city of Philadelphia, and I grew up thinking that all Italians were part of the mafia, now if that is not a stereotype, then I don’t know what is. I’ve also been tempted to stereotype French and Asian woman. Why? Because I have had such negative experiences with them and it would be easy to put “all” of them in one basket.

Stereotyping people leads to the pool of preconceived ideas and notions of who they are and what they are, whether true or not. 

Stereotype, verb: typecast, pigeonhole, conventionalize, and categorize label or tag.

Preconceived idea, an opinion formed beforehand, a personal belief or judgment that is not founded on proof or certainty.

My new roommate is Caucasian and I just knew she would enjoy the fact that I had such a great range of “white mainstream music”. But too my surprise, she likes to listen to “soul (black) mainstream music,” which she also thought I would like…LOL! I enjoy listening to Barry Manilow songs, and she really doesn’t like him that much. On the other hand, she likes music I grew up with but no longer care to listen to. Stereotypes and preconceived ideas happen all the time—even with friends.  

While shopping at an open market in Honduras, my daughter encountered the enthusiastic call and and shouts from a vendor. He had something she must come and see. Well, when she got to his stand, he proudly showed her watermelons. He was so excited because he just knew he had a sale, but the sad thing is…she can’t stand watermelon. LOL! Her initial thought was, he must have been watching old movies where we are stereotyped as people who only love watermelon and fried chicken. L

I had a friend who traveled extensively  all over the world  for her work, and she told me that American woman are perceived as sluts and very loose women in many countries and black men are gold wearing gangsters. Which comes from them watching American television shows and Hip Hop videos. And they have put us “all” in one basket.

It would be nice if this just happened in matters of the world, but Christians are stereotyped and many people have preconceived ideas about us and it is not for the good either.

There are so many reasons people perceive Christians as being flakes and nuts, that I don’t have time to cover them all. False prophets, and make-believe preachers who are fleecing the flock, people claiming to belong to Christ (for their own gain), hate groups covering themselves with the name of Jesus and the list goes on! But today I just want to focus on those of us who are truly of the Household of Faith. 

Over the years in ministry, I have encountered so many people who have such a bad taste in their mouths about Christians, especially the ones whose parents kept them in church All day on Sunday! Somewhere during that torture, they made a conscience decision, never to go to church again when they were old enough to say, "No more!". But it was also the hypocrisy they experienced that went along with it. And there are the ones who came to church looking for love and support, only to be wounded even the more. And too many to count are tired of being beaten up emotionally by the bible tooters. 

We picket abortion clinics, but shun the girl’s or women in our church who become pregnant out of wedlock. (And often spend more time gossiping about them then we do praising God for His goodness.) We throw big showers for the married ones we like, and shun the others. Oh, we can be so messy and it shows in the opinions of those in our everyday lives.

When you look at the life of Christ, he always had something to give—mostly love and compassion.  He healed, He fed, He raised folks from the dead, He forgave and then He dealt with their sin. Jesus didn’t browbeat people with their sin; in fact, his biggest problem was with the leaders of the church. I don’t see anywhere in the Bible where He called anyone expect them, “Vipers and whitewashed tombs!” And that was because they were abusing their positions.  God loves people, it is sin that He hates. But we sort of get that backwards.

It's our job to be myth busters! We are to be a light, not a joke or someone people run away from. 

When people meet us and spend time with us, they should see we are not stereotypical in anyway. They should see something different about us, because “Love” never fails.

Now I am not guiltless, by no means. I look back over my life and I can see where I missed the mark and left people with the wrong impression or reinforced the bad one they already had. But, like Paul says, “When I was a child, I spoke as a child; I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things.” (I Corinthians 13:11) I'm grownup now.

Sisters, we need to stop telling people in the world what they need to stop doing and what they are doing wrong. We have to be more like Jesus and offer them love, because in relationship, God opens doors for conversations that are good seeds and vast waterings.

No, maybe as individuals we will not be able to change the preconceived ideas of the masses, but all God asks of us is, "One person at a time!"

Jesus is our example of how we are to represent and He left us all the instruction we need. All we have to do is read it and make the decision to do what He commands of us. I don’t know about anyone else, but I remember my hay days of sin, and it wasn’t people telling what a sinner I was that drew me to Christ. No! It was the love and kindness of God exhibited through a co-worker and his wife.

How do the everyday people in your lives perceive you? Are you a myth buster or myth maker?

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie

Time!

Today is the 14^th anniversary of 911 and at sundown, we come to the end of the Shemitah year and the beginning of Elul 29. Now you might be wondering what exactly I am talking about and why have I put the two events together? And I can understand that because many Christians are not up on our “Jewish roots,” but it is important that we know what is going on and get prepared for what is to come.

Here is a clip “Rabbi Jonathan Cahn” from Tuesday’s broadcast on the 700 Club, please, please….please watch. Mystery of the Shemitah (click) This 20 minute segment is a short summation of the Shemitah, and will give you good information and something to really think about.

I have a few more chapters to read in The Mystery of the Shemitah, and I hope by time I post this blog I have finished. And I do suggest you get the book, because even if you only read the beginning, it will change your world and understanding about God and what His intent has always been, and it was never for the rich to get richer and the poor get poorer. And most of all, it has always been about our dependence on Him. Amen!

Sisters, things are about to change and not for the better.  You might ask, “What is it we can do?” Well, for starters, we can make sure we are in the “Will” of God! This is the safest place any of us can be right now. And we need to desperately pray for those we know who are not. I think we all know someone who claims to be a Christian but are not living a right life. We all probably know someone who was once on fire for the Lord, but now is lukewarm. And above all else, we all know people who are in danger of spending eternity in hell’s fire if they do not accept Christ as their Savior!

In Paul’s letter to the church of Corinth he advised them to judge themselves! Let us take his lead. Some of us already know what’s wrong, because we have made the decision to do things our way and not God’s way. But some of us have been lured into a false sense of “Everything is okay and I am fine with God.” But in truth you’re not.

Do you know that unforgiveness keeps us out of the will of God? I ask this because personally I think too many Believers for some strange reason do not know this. And I say that because so many of us refuse to forgive and let go. Disobedience period is a deal breaker for us in the Kingdom no matter how you slice it, but the refusal to agree with God to forgive—is a biggie. Why? Because like cancer it spreads (metastasis itself)! It affects how we filter everyday aspects of our lives, it causes us to involve others, and after awhile it turns into hate, which is the opposite of love. Unforgiveness is a nasty bugger.

But we can’t stop there; let’s talk about our idols (those things which come before God). They are a great downfall for us too. As we take time to judge ourselves, we should ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any idols we have erected and are blind to.

The new TV season is upon us and we are chomping at the bit for certain shows or sports events to return. Do you realize that TV can be an idol? Yup, because we can put TV shows before spending time with God. Ouch! I know I just stepped on a toe or two. In fact, I’m getting ready to make a few of you mad, but that’s okay if it will prompt you to stop and think.

The morning after Scandal, How to Get Away with Murder and Umpire broadcast, my Facebook feed is flooded with extensive commentary from women as they watch the show. And, from sisters who say, “Jesus is Lord” in their lives. Some even make it an event, “I got my wine, cheese and crackers!” I’ve even seen posts a day or two later, because it was set on the DVR. I am not trying to be the TV police, but all 3 of the above named shows (and I can name many more) are not what the Word says we are to be feeding off!

But not only that…these sisters give more praise (on Facebook) on a weekly bases to these show than they do God, Himself! And here lies your “idol”! How can we justify watching that which God has deemed sin, (He did not design sexual intimacy as something to be watched) and call it entertainment? We can’t if we don’t want to contaminate that which is good inside us.

Anything that gets more attention than God or reading the Word should be weighed as a possible idol in our lives. What is the first thing you do in the morning—check your phone—get on the internet—or read your Bible and spend time with God?

And I cannot leave out those of us who are watching porn, (in what we think is secret). God sees and the Holy Spirit is with you. Same goes for those of us who are fornicating or having adulterous affairs. I don’t care who you are…we are not in the “Will” of God when we practice sin. We do not get a free pass on, “Well God understands.”

Sisters, I beseech you (beg and plead with you) to be about the business of making sure you are in the “Will” of God and in the safety of Yeshua, the Messiah.

I am not trying to scare you, but I am warning you that NOW, (not tomorrow, not next week) is the time to get right with God, make sure your house is in order and diligently start seeking Him on behalf of the lukewarm, the prodigals and the lost.

Forgive, ask to be forgiven, reconcile with those you have been separated from over foolishness, and let go of any sin you are holding on too! The Blood of Jesus has set us FREE from sin—so just let go!

Do not allow another day to pass where you don’t read the Bible and spend quality time with God. It doesn’t matter what you have to do to make it happen…just do it girls. Your life could really depend on it. Amen!

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie

What's Your Reflection?

While skyping with my daughter Tovah (who’s teaching in Honduras), last Sunday her principle stopped by her classroom to drop off material for Monday. She skypes from her classroom because the Wi-Fi is much better and it also affords us the privacy for heartfelt conversations. Okay, let me get back to my original thought…I ended up meeting her principal!

At first when she asked if he would like to meet me, I immediately thanked God I had washed my hair and looked pretty good…LOL! But, I quickly found out that it was more important what I looked like through my daughter’s reflection of me to others, versus my physical appearance.

Her principle said the most wonderful things that every parent wants to hear about their kids. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, and I already know you are a great woman, just by the way you raised your daughter! She is very kind and sweet,” he said. Wow! No, it’s not the first time I’ve been complemented on the good job I’ve done with my girls, but for some reason it all came together for me in a new light.

My new roommate also shared that because of my daughter, she felt we would get along right away—and—we do! They have worked together the past four summers at Trader Joe’s and she always admired how sweet, kind and hardworking she was. “It had to come from somewhere?” she told me. And because of my daughter’s reflection of me, I got to move into a really nice place with a fantastic woman.

But sisters here is my Ah-ha moment—this is the way it is supposed to be with us as Believers and Followers of Christ!

When the Messiah walked this earth…He (was) the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible] (Colossians 1:15a Amp). Now that He is seated at the right hand of the Father—we are to be the visible representation of the invisible God. Amen!

We all feel good when complimented on our children, especially when it is the light and love of Christ that people are talking about, whether they realize it or not.

Tovah is becoming friends with the maid who cleans her classroom, because she often stays late to prep for the next day. The maid (let’s call her Maria) speaks very little English (but wants to learn) and Tovah is a little rusty on some of her conversational Spanish—so they help each other.

I’ve raised both of my daughters to be respectful of people and to be kind and generous. And last week Maria (who is a new convert to Christianity and on fire for Jesus), told Tovah she sees the love of Christ in her and she knew she was her sister! But she also went on to say, “There are many here who say they belong to Jesus, but they do not tell the truth, because I see no love in them.” And Maria speaks the truth, because some of the things my daughter has encountered from particular people there, would make one wonder if they really know Christ at all and this is a Christian Academy.

But the saddest part of all of this is—it is just too common place—period! Too many claim to be followers of the Messiah, but there lives don't lineup. 

As any parent, I am pleased to hear good things about my daughters that are a direct reflection on how they were raised, and yes it not only makes me feel good, but makes me look good to others. But on the flip side, we are disappointed and sad when we see or hear of our children doing wrong. And especially when they were raised to know and do better! Well guess what! The same goes for God.

How must He feel when we live so beneath our privilege of being daughters of the King?  Or when we beg Him for things He has already given us, through the Cross. 

I often wonder what it’s like for Jesus, as we read His words and instructions for living for Him, (I miss that most Bibles no longer print His words in red ink.) yet we pick and choose what we want to do? He says, "Forgive!" But we say, "Not today Lord!"

Maria is able to see the fakes from the real thing because she is studying and growing in the things of God. The world does not read the Bible, instead they read those of us who say we belong to Him—and they are not seeing the “love” of Christ as they should. God is not getting the glowing reviews our reflection of Him should bring. And as parents we can relate to the bad reports. And even if you are not a parent you can still relate to seeing someone you love not do as well as they could in Christ.

We have no control over what people do or say—but we can have control over how we respond or handle things. And our response should be the love of Christ. And yes, there a many times it is easier said than done, but since it is a command, it is most doable for sure.

The best place to start is, studying the Bible for ourselves. Front to back! Not picking and choosing what we want to believe or do, but all of it…the good, the easy, the hard, and the excruciatingly painful. All of it!

I love that technology allows me and Tovah to text each day, play Words with Friends, and have a face-to-face 2 hour skype date on Sundays with no extra cost to us. As a parent—I am thrilled we can do this! But you know what sisters—same goes for us spending daily and quality time with God, our Father. He is thrilled when it happens too!

There are no three steps or five keys to a better Christian life. There is only taking the time to cultivate and grow our relationship with God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. That is all we need—Amen!

Thought for the day...do people see the reflection of Christ when they look at you? And if not...why?

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie

FAMILY

Before sitting down to write this blog, I did a google search on famous quotes about family…some were wise and others, I guess where meant to be humorous. They ranged from Benjamin Franklin, C. S. Louis, and Mother Teresa to Jerry Seinfeld. And one of my favorites is, “What can you do to promote world peace, go home and love your family.” Mother Teresa. I think I like it because Jesus says, “Charity (love) begins at home and then spreads abroad.” He also tells us that people will know that we are His, by the way we love one another.”

When I think back to how my family was growing up to how fragmented it is now, I see that we did have a matriarch who made it her life’s work to keep us together and involved. (My mother’s older sister Josephine.)

Family and family gatherings were very important to her and she worked hard over the years to keep us connected. In fact, I think she worked too hard. Her fabulous Christmas dinners was something we all looked forward too, when we were younger, but once we (meaning us girls) were old enough to help, it than became work—too much work if you ask me.

When I was a young girl, it was fun to spend time with my aunt polishing silver (dreaming of my own one day) and learning how to bake sweet potato pies. But as the years passed it ceased to be fun or enjoyable.

I sometimes wonder if that’s why we are so splintered today and only seem to get together for funerals versus just to have fun and check in with each other.

And just about every family has that one person you dread seeing at family gatherings. You know the one who starts the agreements or is forever bringing up old stuff and getting people all riled up! Sorry to say, my mother was the one in our family. SMH! But her sister’s love for her ran deep, so even though my mother had the capacity to offend a room full of people in 10 minutes or less—they never left her out.

But now most of us have an even bigger family to consider. I like the way Richard Bach puts it, “The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but respect and joy in each other’s life.” Yup, our Jesus family. And you know what; sometimes they seem like too much work too!

Please don’t think I’m leaving myself out of the loop, because I’m not. (I used to be a piece of work and still have the propensity to be one at any given time.) But from my aunt I learned that love is an action word, which takes a lot of work and determination.

Families can be messy, unforgiving, loving, deranged, horrible, endearing, mean spirited, ruthless, caring, liars, cheaters, generous, selfish, self-centered, self-sacrificing, despicable, uncaring and forgiving. There are many more adjectives to use, but you get my drift.

When you read the above paragraph were you nodding in agreement as to your natural bloodline or did one or two of your brothers, or sisters-in-Christ come to mind?

Because of sin everyone does not get to grow up in a loving two parent household, with grandparents and aunts and uncles who adored them. Many of us grew up in very dysfunctional (and in some cases, criminal) families and foster homes, which wounded us deeply. And we lug all those deep  hurts into our Christ family. Only problem is—no one knows our history—no one will know the pain until we let them in. But, can they be trusted?

There is one who can be trusted with our secrets…and that is God Himself! Of course God already knows everything about us, but nonetheless we find ourselves living as though we have secrets He is not privy too.

Father Knows Best and The Brady Bunch were all make believe and there is no such thing, but Jesus shows us what those in His family are to look like…

…people treating each other as we want to be treated, giving without looking for things in return, honoring our mother and father and helping our brothers and sisters in need. Lavishing love on those who have offended or hurt us by holding no record of their offense and forgiving as we want to be forgiven. Treating each other with great kindness and respect. Sharing generously and lifting one another up. Celebrating each other’s successes (not envious) and consoling one another when life is hard. We are not to rejoice when another missteps or messes up, but stand in love until they come through. And we are to be patient with the difficult ones.

Yet, too many of us are at odds with family members (natural and spiritual). We are still holding on to past arguments, fights and unforgiveness. Not letting go of things we had no control over, vowing to “forgive” but never to “forget”. And jealousy.

You see my dear sisters; family is loving, endearing, caring, generous, self-sacrificing and forgiving…and yes—a lot of work!  

When God requires us to do something, He gives us everything we need to succeed, and Jesus has not left us hanging on how to love one another as He commands.

Here’s His measuring stick for us to check ourselves on our love walk. Click, I Corinthians 13:4-7 (Amp)

When we love like Jesus, “Love never fails [never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end”. I Corinthians 13:8a (Amp) Love is a decision, followed by action. Just as I witnessed my aunt’s love for my mother, others are watching to see what kind of witnesses we are for Christ.

Learning to love, forgive and let go, is one of the greatest healings we can receive, and then we are able to shower it on others to help them heal and be whole.

Sisters, we are living in some crazy times and we need to strengthen our love walk. And there is only one way to do that—spending time in the Word, prayer with God and being a true follower of Christ!

We are to live in peace, as long as it is within our power. Amen!

Until next week...

Blessings and Hugs,

Ponnie