Bliss and Blisters

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There is life beyond the grave

During my reading this morning I was struck by this simple but thought provoking statement, “There is life beyond the grave”. For many of us, we fear the events that will get us to this ‘beyond’ point. Even the many Christians that know the joy ‘beyond’ still have a healthy fear of dying. I wonder why this is? Do we not really believe, do we simply fear the unknown, or maybe it’s a combination of both.

As a Christian my main goal on earth should be to tell everyone about the love of Christ, encourage them to receive His love and repeat the cycle again but now with a team mate. Again, for many Christians including myself this is our main goal only a small portion of the time. If my thoughts could be displayed on the screen, it would look more like I thought life was only now. My heart craves things that have no real significance. So while I live my life only partially changed, my dear neighbors may find that life beyond the grave is not rosy.

What good is my faith if it has no works? What good is my faith if my fruit are sour, dried up, or plain ‘ol rotten? It can be difficult to stop thinking about ourselves in order to help others but it’s what Jesus and the disciples did for us. If we truly cared about what God cares about then maybe our nation wouldn’t be in such crisis. Maybe there wouldn’t be 147 million orphans. Maybe I would have a church home well-suited for my child that has special needs, maybe.

Jesus was never preachy. He met the people where they were and shared relatable stories with them. Yes, his stories had a message to share but for their benefit not the benefit of the building fund. He healed them-physically, emotionally and otherwise. He didn’t beat them over the head with the ten commandments. He led them, He fed them…He loved them.

There is life beyond the grave will you be proud of your legacy when you get there?

 

Because He Lives,

 

Kisha G.

We American women have it easy...

As an American born woman, my mind cannot comprehend what it would be like to live in a land where I am considered less valuable than an animal.  I find it appalling, a spit in the face of women's rights and more so human rights that women in Iran are forced to hide their God given beauty and be subject to less than treatment.  In recent news, a woman in Iran is now on 'death row' for committing (alleged, read link below) adultery.  Adultery is a sin, yes.  It is an act that is selfish and you sin against your own body, yes.   It should not be tolerated but 'death row', really.  This is coming from a land that allows the 'men folk' to have 3 to 10 wives if they so please.  I am screaming inside because these women are subject to being buried up to the necks and having stones chucked at them for their alleged acts of adultery.

My heart breaks for these women for two main reasons.  First, these women are losing their lives and missing out on their God given destinies because of false religion and men ruling over them without integrity & equality.  Secondly and more importantly, these women die an agonizing death and likely leave behind daughters destined for the same torture and none of them know that Jesus loves them and He died an even worse death so that they could live an abundantly, free life in Him.

It's not right.  It's oppressive, it is slavery.  It's just not right.  I am a mother of five daughters.  I try to teach them independence, discipline and Godly submission.  I can only imagine the callings, happiness, pursuits and the passions that are strangled out of these poor women...

If your heartaches for these women and you would be interested in helping them get the Message, please contact me at kishag@live.com.  I'm not totally sure of what we can do but I am passionate enough to find out.

Romans 15:20 (Amplified Bible)

Thus my ambition has been to preach the Gospel, not where Christ's name has already been known, lest I build on another man's foundation.

Link to article: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2010/07/11/iran-judge-says-woman-stoned-time/

The Bible Belt Is Bloated

We are bombarded with more weight loss gimmicks, more Bible conferences, and more gym’s with more churches opening on every corner but we are producing fewer followers of Christ and increasingly more overweight adults and children.  What is wrong with this picture?  Simply put we lack discipline, self-control and gumption.  Shouldn’t some of this faith drive us to want to please our Creator in ALL areas of our lives?

 

I point the finger first at myself.  I’m currently overweight.  After baby 5, well, I just got lazy and gave in to every emotional moment with food.  I also put myself on the back burner, spending too much time over nurturing my babies and Facebook.  I’m making change though and I definitely don’t allow my children to be victims of my poor choices.  You know the saying, “do as I say…not as I do” for now that is.

 

Is it possible that our desire to have more, do more, and be more has crowded out our ability to apply Biblical principles that would empower us to discipline our flesh?  We know better but we choose not to do better.  We are so religious but many of the children of today aren’t interested in our faith…it’s all for show.  Our talk doesn’t equal our walk; kind of like this overweight fitness trainer.

 

So what’s my solution for this madness?  Here it is: 

Embrace The Now’s’ 12 Steps to Fat Loss & Fabulous Faith

1. Admit that you are addicted to religious practices and false food.  Your fitness &/or faith walk is unmanageable and not producing the best fruit.
2. Believe God, the ultimate power is ready to lead you into your best life, your most happy prosperous and productive life.
3. Made a decision to turn our will (cravings, poor choices, etc.) and our lives fully & completely over to the care of the almighty.
4. Check yourself!  Write a journal of your values, your dreams, your emotional triggers, your thought life and so forth.
5. Admit to God, to yourself, and to another the exact fears, secrets and cover-ups that got you to where you are.
6. Be ready to adhere to the leading of the spirit that will empower you to change.
7. Prayerfully & Humbly ask the loving Father to remove road blocks, stumbling blocks and hindrances.
8. List all the people that you’ve negatively impacted because of your lifestyle and make it right with them i.e. your children, your spouse, followers, and the like.
9. Make direct connections with people who are fit, healthy, and practicing real religion according to James 1:27 and Isaiah 58 and Titus.  Eat together, read together, do life together on purpose….schedule it.
10. Recognize your shortcomings and have confessions ready to combat the old and make way for the new!
11. Pray intentionally, fast regularly, and seek that the Lord guide you into His will for your life and pray for the power to carry it out.  God is always with you ready to speak with you.  Pick up the Word, listen to good teaching, lay quiet before the Lord…expect great things.
12. Reach others that you see in need.  Don’t be afraid to save someone.  Carry out your new life loudly.  The blessings of abundant life are for now living.

 

Lastly, I implore some of you trainers that our truly committed to seeing people get healthy to give a little.  Give some of your time and talents in a free workshop.  Host a fitness challenge.  Gather health food through networking and disburse them in impoverished areas.  Just do something other than swell your pockets all the time.  When you give to others in need it will come back to you immeasurably in ways that your marketing efforts could not have accomplished!  Try it!

 

To read the latest health news report with state obesity information follow this link: http://health.msn.com/health-topics/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100261061&GT1=31036

My greatest ambition

If I’m not seeking acceptance from Christ, deepening my relationship with Him and sharing the gospel then I have to ask myself what has taken priority over Him. (Exodus 20:3, Matthew 6:33, Luke 16:13)

 

More often than I like to admit I find myself letting life’s cares take priority over deepening my relationship with the life giver.  What an oxymoron that is!  My greatest heart’s desire is to not only do things out of obedience but to do things because I desire to be with Him, because I passionately want to hear what He has to share with me and because I sincerely want to accomplish His agenda each day not my own.  Being the human that I am…I must admit that lately this has been my heart’s desire however life experience has taught me that we all go through lows and highs in just about every area of our life, wouldn’t you agree? 

 

Life is just better when we can find the ultimate pleasure in Him.  Everything else is like a teaser!  When we second place our relationship with Him, whatever is in first place leaves us wanting more of ‘usually’ an unhealthy thing.  At the end of the day, I am most fulfilled when I can sense that He led my day and I willingly followed!

 

And I leave you with 1 Timothy 1:15-19 (The Message version)

Here's a word you can take to heart and depend on: Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. I'm proof—Public Sinner Number One—of someone who could never have made it apart from sheer mercy. And now he shows me off—evidence of his endless patience—to those who are right on the edge of trusting him forever.

 

Nakisha R. Guzman

On Luke 9:10-16

Verses 10-16 tell Dr. Luke’s version of the event when Jesus fed 5000 + people when he originally only had five loaves of bread and two fish.  The Bible tells is in verse 16 that Jesus looked towards heaven blessed the bread and began serving the people.  Verse 17 goes on to say that they all ate and had 12 baskets of food leftover.   Now, to my human mind this seems a bit unbelievable.  How about yours?  However, when I use my spiritual heart & being, I am amazed at our loving Creator and dumbfounded by the disciples lack of creativity!  What do I mean by my latter statement?  Well, let me tell you.  The disciples had been with Jesus for a while at this point and even had personally experienced the power to heal the sick, so why didn’t they think to exercise the power of God in this situation?  Earlier in verses 12 & 13 they told Jesus to send the crowds away and made gestures about how did He expects to feed all them.  Hindsight is 20/20 though, right?  The reality is that most Christians today operate just like the disciples did in this event.  You know, having faith for some things but not others.  I think we’ve all done it.  I think they call this “putting God in a box”.   I guess it’s a symptom of our fallen nature.  We need Him but we just want to do it on our own and tell God what to do, how to do it and what to give.

 

Ok, Let’s go back to verse 16 for a minute:  Jesus looked toward heaven, blessed the bread and began handing out food.  Jesus knew the need, thanked His Father for what He had, and acted on faith.  Wow!  Imagine the results we could have in our lives and the lives of others if we fully trusted our Creator and put our thoughts, dreams and goals into action.  The heavenly Father knew Jesus thoughts, He knew Jesus needs and in this instance no words were needed the only thing needed was faith and action.  How many more hungry people could be fed, if we simply acted?  How many more business could be established for the Kingdom?  How many bodies could be healed?  How much more peace, happiness, and fellowship could be happening if all the followers of Christ thought more about the eternal instead of the internal?

 

I challenge you today to ask the Lord how you can be a blessing to Him?  How you can make an eternal impact?  Stop thinking only about simple things like homes, cars, clothes, and money.  Yes, these things are nice and good to have but they cannot be priority in our lives.  They cannot be the reason why we exist.  Our Creator wants us to have good things but He first want us to have a great relationship with Him and heart that desires to serve others.  Good things will be given to those who give and serve others.  I speak from experience I tried it the wrong way and lived a large portion of my younger years miserable, always seeking, searching and never happy.  Now I make it my mission to stay focused on the eternal rewards.  I’m human, I falter at times but I know what I know and the more I seek to deepen my relationship, the more I give to others and the more I act on faith…the sweeter life has been!

 

Trust, Give & Grow,

Kisha Guzman

 

 

New Life By Grace & Mercy

Sometimes you need to be reminded in the worse way of where you came from and who you used to be in order to regain correct perspective on where you are, who you are, where you are truly planning to go and why you do the things you do.  These reminders not only make you bite your tongue from talking bad about others or looking down on others but they also help you see the work that needs to be still be done in your life and the lives of those entrusted to you either via child birth, siblings, or community connections.  Keep your head level, stay with God, meditate on His Word, appreciate your NEW life in Christ and live to give God glory.  The world wants glory for the evil they do; crazy thing is not matter how evil the deed the Lord will always love His creation and want to see them in eternity…it’s really, truly up to the individual!  Choose this day who you will serve! 

 

Nakisha ‘Kisha’ Guzman

Proverbs 7 & 8

Proverbs 7 & 8

Proverbs 7 again creates a strong mental picture of how dangerous sexual sin can be.  The warning against this particular sin is so prevalent in the book of Proverbs; I am sure our heeding these warnings will be to our great benefit.  When we study, we receive greater understanding and with understanding we have the power to make better decisions.  Study The Word and grow in Christ.

Proverbs 8 speaks to the need to seek God in all we do…everyday.  It is really vital to our success, our peace of mind and our spiritual growth that we spend time in the Word, in prayer & fasting, and in fellowship with other believers.  We are not meant to live this life alone.  The more I seek the Creator instead of the creation the more I excel, the clearer my purposed becomes, and the less selfish I am.  Seek wisdom, get understanding and flourish.

Proverbs 6

Proverbs 6

This chapter really speaks to those free-loaders that want to do nothing but gain everything.  They want the good life at the expense of others ‘brow sweat’.  You know, it’s those folks who always have an excuse for why they haven’t paid their bill, gotten a job, gone to school and can never tell you what happened to the money you gave them last week.  I can’t say it better than verse 11 NLT (New Living Translation)-Poverty will pounce on you like a bandit.  Further down in this chapter the very wise Solomon tells of the 7 things the Lord detests (hates very much) they are:

Proverbs 6:17-20 (Amplified Bible)-“¹⁷A proud look [the spirit that makes one overestimates himself and underestimates others], a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, ¹⁸A heart that manufactures wicked thoughts and plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, ¹⁹A false witness who breathes out lies [even under oath], and he who sows discord among his brethren.”  Life is can be sweeter when we seek to please God and follow His guidelines for living. 

 

The remainder of the chapter gives some tips and warnings.  The tips are simple listen to the advice you parents give.  You can avoid ‘making your own mistake’ when you heed the tips of those that have been there and done that.  Lastly, it warns again to watch out for the lure of sexual relations with anyone other than your spouse.  It always leads to tons of hurt, loss, and even death.

In His Power,

Kisha G.

Seasons change, things can't remain the same

Most things in life are just for a season, a time period.  When seasons change, things around us change but sometimes it's hard to accept the change and other times it's hard to recognize the change.

The thing about change is that we must learn to adapt to it and thrive.  It's been the way of our world for well, forever.  Change will usually help a person to grow, teach them new things, test and stretch their comfort levels, and lead them to new beginnings hopefully better beginnings.

When we ignore our new season we can find ourselves working harder but not getting ahead, being very stagnant, unhappy, depressed, and ultimately in a state of confusion until we succumb, accept or embrace the change on the horizon.

I will be the first to admit, change is not always easy in the beginning but most of my change, well actually all of it has taught me something new, helped me to grow in different areas of my life, stretched my levels of comfort, and gave me new beginnings.

Recognize your season and embrace it...

In His Power,

Kisha G.