Stand Up Or Stand Down

My friends, I pray all is well with each of you. I can't help but to wonder why it is difficult to find suitable family shows on the television anymore. It is worse if a family only has the basic channels. I bring your attention to what I perceive as degradation of women on television. I know this is not anything new, I know it is no surprised, but what is astounding to me is that believers are the top supporters of many of these television shows. I dare say that some of these television shows that degrade women are watched and enjoyed, even Tivoed by women of God. We are looking for entertainment, we are looking for a good story line, a good ending, a good laugh. However, I do believe that what we watch on television should be no different than what we read or what we speak or how we walk.

I am calling attention on shows that are having great ratings because of the women. I am talking about shows such as Scandal, Revenge, Smash, Desperate Housewife, Basketball Wives, The Game, Housewives of Atlanta and DC and New Jersey and New York. Not to point to any one show, but I do know that "THE GAME" is a No. 1 show on the BET network. This BET's hit show follows the lives of professional football players and their significant others as they navigate fame, family and friends. However, the show is laced with women calling each other "Bitch" like it is an everyday word and a part of the regular vocabulary. Scandal, the new hit show on ABC which stars Kerry Washington, is one that has no shame about marital affair, adultery and deceit. Friends, I know that we are not perfect and that this world is not perfect. Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God." (KJV) I know that we all have some kind of kryptonite, some weakness, some struggle that we have to pray about each day. However, I do know one thing, and that is, that there is a holiness that God requires of us as believers. Would you agree with me that we are corrupting our minds when we watch these types of programs? The people who need a Word will continue to be neglected by us who call ourselves believers and followers and evangelists and ministers of the Word. We are filling our minds and hearts with those things that are not pleasing unto God. 2 Corinthians 6 tells us, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?" (KJV) There is an old saying which says, if we do not stand for something, we will fall for anything. Well, falling for anything is definitely a problem. As we keep on professing Christ as our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we must stand for HIS Word, we must stand on HIS Word, and we must stand for what HE is, that is, holy. Friends, we must stand for something that is God's holiness.

God bless, Therese from Belize

Troy Sneed - My Heart Says Yes

WIMPY CHRISTIANS ... REALLY?

Greetings, in the name of Jesus. Last Friday, I challenged a sister to a month of "prayer for workplace protection and no complaining". She told me that she already know that she cannot do this because she is just sinful by nature. Oh, how my blood pressure raised when she made the comment. I had to go in prayer to bite my tongue and I also prayed for her because obviously she has lost hope in Christ. The sad thing though, she is not the only one these days that are giving up or have given up on Christ. I would venture to say that there are a lot of people professing to be believers and followers of Jesus Christ, yet living in despair because they choose to not rely on the promises of Christ. Friends, 1 Peter 2:24 reminds us that, "Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." (KJV) Hallelujah. By Jesus' stripes, we are healed, yet, we choose to discount Christ.

I call such "wimps". The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines as wimp as "a weak, cowardly, or ineffectual person." (2012 Merriam-Webster, Incorporated) Believers are wimps when choosing to complain instead of pray; believers are wimps when choosing to walk in darkness even though God had brought us out of darkness; believers are wimps when we do not even give Jesus a try; yet we want to receive HIS blessings and favor. My friends, is it only me that is experiencing negativity among believers? Believers who are knocking down suggestions in progressing the church; believers who are not showing up at church, but showing up elsewhere? Believers who are giving in to the enemy? Help us Lord. These issues should cause us to praise God now, praise God today, and praise God for tomorrow, for we know not what it holds. As for me, personally, I am NOT a wimp. God has redeemed me, HE has placed my feet on solid ground, and so I know where my help comes from. I have learned to lean and depend on God. This has not always been the case, but when I decided to follow Jesus, hallelujah, no turning back, no turning back, I put my hope in Christ. I am a sister walking on the narrow road to freedom.

In Paul's letter to the church in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Paul wrote, "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God." (KJV) My friends, I pray that as disciples of Christ, we go to the Lord in prayer, for HE is the Lord of mercy and comfort. Being a wimp will cause us to miss out on God's wondrous blessings, even miss out on HIS instruction and assignment for our lives. We must keep praising God through good times and in bad times. 1 Peter 2:25 confirms that "For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls." (KJV) Amen. We are indeed children of God, we have been redeemed, and we are putting our trust and hope in Christ. Be blessed, stay prayed up, keep hanging on to the hem of Jesus' garment and TRUST GOD. This walk is NOT for wimps. Your Sister In Christ, Therese from Belize