Destiny Value- Brenda Lewis

Hey everyone sorry that I have not written a blog in awhile that's just because God has been doing some amazing things in my life from the past couple of weeks. Now I get to share with you and hopefully you can take something from it :)
the past week we had an amazing Women of Christ come to our school and talk to us about Destiny I didn't think it would get me as excited as I am now

• Its not about you its about what God has placed in you that he wants to pill out of you once you're fully surrender to Christ you're fulfilling your call of God on your life

now something we have to get straight is a career is not a calling its part of it BUT a calling is what you do with the career so don't be afraid to dream big do not place God in a box and say I cant do this for it says in

Jeremiah 29:11

New International Version (NIV)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

2 callings 
1. call to intimacy with Jesus
2. Call to purpose of Gods dreams for the world

Value

Destiny- calling, eternity, end goal, passion, purpose of creation, fate

a question that was presented to us is do we have more Value than an object or an animal and why? we all said yes. Brenda explained to us that there is someone people out there that like to argue that we all have the same value and when people say that to her she fires back if there was a baby and a puppy in the middle of the road and a truck was about to hit it which one would you save?
everyone wants to know are they worth it and are they loved Brenda went through a bunch of religions sharing that Christianity is the only one that you have value because your God loves you just because he loves you just because he loves you.


1.Science/Naturalism- all you see is all there is, All physical
if everything is equally valuable everything is equally  valueless

2.Pantheism- many Gods "All is God"

A) Hinduism- circle of life reincarnation
B) Buddhism-mind over matter
C) New Age- eastern with me on the top all roads lead to God, truth is whatever I say it is
these religions show that you have to earn your value

3) Post Modernity- "All is whatever"

science+ spirituality
the value is lost because you believe whatever about it

4) Monotheism- One God

A) Islam- " All is Allah"
martyr = instant paradise
no forgiveness and definitely no place for unconditional love
B) Judaism- "Relationship"
Gen 1:26 "we are made in Gods image"
this meant we were made for relationships to love and be loved, eternal, but also gave us....
Minds- ability to think
Will- ability to choose
emotions- ability to feel

C) CHRISTIANITY - this is the only true place you find your value its unconditional nothing you can do or say will stop God from giving it to you it was set before you were born. We dont serve him to be accepted by him we serve him because we are accepted by him

10 Commandments
1. No other Gods
2. No other Idols                                            first 4 protects Gods Value ( LOVE GOD )
3. Do not say The lords Name in vain
4. Honor the Sabbath
5. Honor your mother and your father
6. Do not murder
7. Do not commit Adultery                               Last 6 protect our value ( LOVE OTHERS)
8. Do not steal
9. Do not lie
10. Do not  covet

Love and Identity

 love is wanting the highest Good for someone 
emotions  follow thoughts so don't let you thoughts destroy you take them captive 

Jesus was tempted in all the ways thoughts that are evil and wrong and you have no idea where they come from they are sometime not your thoughts they could be of the world so once again to take them captive and don't allow them to own you

Q. If there is a God why do the innocent Suffer if he is so loving?
A. If there is a God what makes them innocent and who cares if they suffer?

how do we know if anyone is innocent or guilty it comes from our Law or moral code the BIBLE
why do they have value because God loves them?

Lynn Toney's Sheet for overcoming Shame

Action: the cycle I want to stop. No more shame.
My shame symptoms include:
I know I am in shame when I fell_________________________. If I could taste shame, it would taste like_________________________. If I could smell shame, it would taste like___________________. If I could touch shame, it would feel like___________________.

shame has physical symptoms. These might include your mouth getting dry, time seeming to slow down, your hear racing, twitching, looking down and tunnel vision, These symptoms are different from one person to the next. If you learn your physical symptoms, you can recognize shame and get back on your feet faster

I want to be perceived as ______________ _____________ _____________
I do not want to be perceived as _____________ _____________ _____________

Actions: The person I no longer want to be.

what are you hiding behind? what masks are you wearing?

Actions: who I want to be!!
write a word or short phrase representing what you want, claim what God intended for you to be 
example: In my heart I will be content In my mind I will be positive

In my heart
In my Mind
In my Actions
In my soul
In my life
IN my walk
In my dreams
In my Days
In all things
In touching others
In singing praises
In passing time
In breathing
In play
In devotional time
In visions
In the beginning
In this season
IN the future
In the Past
In this day
In tomorow
in all my days

Shame

hey everyone this week has been so heavy and emotional draining, Yesterday we talked about forgiveness and its really hard for me to write a blog about it because its such a rich subject and would take several pages to cover all that lynn talked about.

Numb

when you feel numb you feel nothing...
why do we make ourselves numb? self defense, no pain, copycatting, tragedy, control, rebellion, fear, escape, self hatred, lies, insecurities, anger, over-whelmed, desperate, coping, stressed, abused

when we numb we want to take away usually one area of emotional but we don't work in that way. we end up numbing all emotions which unfortunately end up blocking Gods love and teachings 

we numb ourselves with drugs drinking technology sex.

where does it start why does it start? ... Shame ...

Shame

• shame is the state of our souls in a deep sickness. Its a painful feeling of humiliation or distress caused by consciousness of wrong or foolish behavior. a loss of respect of self esteem, Dishonor. 
• its a painful feeling of believing your a reject and feeling of unwanted and unloved 
• society convinces us that the less we talk about shame the more control it has over us.

people always associate shame and guilt together so let me shine a light of the difference :)

Guilt= I did something bad, its a behavior it does not define who you are God may use guilt to open your eyes to the wrongs you have caused by saying hey lets make this right and lets repent about it.
Shame= I am bad, its who I am It defines me. comes from the devil (I believe)

How to get out of Shame

we have to live and be real authentic and vulnerable 

Romans 12:2

New International Version (NIV)

² Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

Ephesians 4:22

New International Version (NIV)

²² You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;

Colossians 3:8

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

Romans 6:6

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,^[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin—

its 1000 little choices you have to make of not allowing your mind to go places

watch your thoughts so they become words watch your words so they become actions watch your actions so they become habits watch your habits for they become your character watch your character for it becomes your destiny what we think we become.

Week 5 Lyn Toney

"I want you to get it"

well first of all we have to figure out what it is.. IT is different for a lot of people but the big picture is that it is freedom

Freedom at its basic form is Gods love do you get it?

some times its extremely hard for people to expect this since there view of love is really distorted  this video really helped me grasp Gods love for me if you have the time no MAKE time to watch it! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgzXXKjaPZA
its call the Inheritance By Graham Cooke

4 types of Love <3

Agape- Love, expressed in action, Unconditional love, Its the highest level we humans can understand. Its what it does its not how it feels Matthew 5:43-48 describes this kind of love

Matthew 5:43-48

New International Version (NIV)

Love for Enemies
⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor^[a] and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? ⁴⁸ Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Eros-not in the bible its erotic love its no longer beautiful and pure more or dirty and ruined.

Phileo- friendhsip love, emotional, to have interst in someone or something, strong connection

storage- Family, parents, siblings, spouses, protection love 

all these four loves get distorted by the world and become something they are not suppose to be. They are suppose to be safe and healthy :)

The Lords Prayer broken down

9 Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

I acknowledge God as Father, And being Christians we represent Gods name so when the say holy be thy name that means help me learn to honor your name. like when your parents say you're a Smith act like one!

 10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.

these two lines mean the same thing. It means rule and reign of God. Let us act like how we would act in Heaven and keep us safe like we would be in heaven.

 11 Give us this day our daily bread.

give me what I need not what I greed

 12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

I want no relationships to stand in the way of God and myself. If someone owns you you have a problem! you need to ask God to release you of that sin and forgive 

 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

God will never tempt you with evil but he'll however test you but you do get stronger with resistance :)

Hearing Gods Voice and Praying

We live in a world filled with Facetime Facebook instagram twitter we are constantly in communication talking to our friends and love ones there is no silence and when there is we consider it awkward because we are not use to it... So when it comes to hearing Gods voice we usually get ticked off because we think our relationship with him is non existent because he doesn't reply quickly. we need to calm down sit and listen to God

-We need to have a heart of a champion
-have a pencil ready
-eyes of a hunter
-and ears of the prey

we also need to consider is it in fact Gods voice what we are hearing? these are two tools to know

1.If its not something out of love its not from God
2. And does it Follow scripture

Be still and know that I am God  Psalm 46:10

from this passage we can learn a lot about prayer and hearing Gods voice. When its says be still and know IAM  its meaning praise him, its different than thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is for what he does praise is for who he his. I know God when I see sunrises I know God when I see mountains and rainfalls I know Gods love when people hug me or I hear sermons
Be still and know. that is a call to the truth, Be real and honest God already knows who you are why not get real with him? When I scream and cry to God what I give up to him he replaces with peace

-Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 and lastly what we can learn from this passage be still and know that I am God is that its alright just to be and rest wait upon the Lord.

Week 4

This is just the notes from today take what you like from it :)

The glory of God is man fully alive, are you? are you trusting in God with everything you have?
Stop worrying he is on your side follow his path!
trust in the lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding

What does it mean to walk with God

W - Worshiping God
A - approaching God daily with prayer in a set time for him
L-loving other Christians
K- knowing the word of God
I- investing in the kingdom of God
N- nurturing
G- giving your life to serve God

-we are worried to win and be victorious but we so often pursue the wrong trophies. the ultimate prize is God :)

-I will never be the woman I am suppose to be unless I devote myself to God and trust in his plans he has for me

Dioko is the Hebrew word for pursue and I had a weird realization today what if i pursued God as hard as i pursue Patrick (sorry Patrick this is not a bad thing :p) but what would happen then this blows my mind :) 

God is so big and all knowing why would you not trust the creator or the earth and the stars 

"know for this part do not assume i am telling you that you don't have to go to "church" that's not what I am saying I am saying that should not be your main focus"

worship is not about where you worship but who you worship its not about the fact you go to church "A building" but who you love...Christ Jesus, its your heart behind it. you could go to church and completely miss the point of Christianity to know God on a personal level.

This is for all you ladies reading this ;) a main part of worshiping God is being okay with your body you can't love God and hate your Body. If you're a strong Christian and your ripping yourself apart that's slapping God in the face!! he created you how he wanted to. And if you say well I have died my hair I have broken my nose or gained a lot of weight that's the devil trying to ruin your life TRUST IN THE LORD! he knows your life he knows your heart and you are beautiful. I was reading the Book captivating that my friend Stacia gave me and it talks about Women having stressful beauty.. you're are probably thinking what the heck is that lol ? well that's when some on is constantly trying to watch what the eat work out like crazy and nit picking at everything they don't like about themselves when in fact they are gorgeous its just stressful to be around.. have you ever met someone like that? where you don't feel great leaving a conversation from them. What about have you ever met someone where they are just filled with the holy spirit and have such a pure and joyful heart that beauty flows from the inside out and its rejuvenating to be around them :) I have I have loads of people in my life like my Mom, Carolyn, Stacia, Katie, Kaitlin, and Brittni so so much more women. sorry if I forgot your names.

But i am so stocked for this week God has already taught me so much!