WHAT THE CROSS MEANS TO ME? BY Rashek Chandler

What The Cross Means To Me?

 

I give an honor to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for the opportunity to speak with you today. I pray that by sharing what the cross means to me it will enhance your faith as well as an opportunity for you to understand my life.

 

I was born here in Long Beach, California. My mother was never married to my father. However, my mother did marry a man that would beat her, keep us in a room, and make sure that my mother suffered for any wrong she did. I saw what hatred looked and smelled like as I tasted fear as a kid. My mother’s husband tore us apart mentally, emotionally, and painfully.

 

Due to my mother’s inability to care for her children we became wards of the state. My brother, sister, and I had to go into foster homes. This is where I learned to rebel. This is where I learned that love meant to be pushed away, abandon, mistreated, and abused.

 

As I became older, I hated. I dwelt with personality issues because I was too afraid of the real me. I was afraid that if anyone saw how hurt I was inside they would mock my weakness. But I was weak. I was alone. I wanted attention. But the more I wanted love I got hatred either by my peers or what I told myself.

 

Out of so much rebellion, fighting, and getting kicked out of schools-I would go to jail on November 16, 1994. I was 14 years old. Within jail, I would learn everything this world had to offer. I learned to lie better, think faster, hate myself more and condemn anyone for crossing me. I spent 10 years in jail. Ten years I can never get back. Years that many of you experience with friends, family, and just being a teenager I will never get those years again.

 

Yet, my pain wasn’t over. January 6, 2012 I was shot in Chicago, IL. I was wounded in the right leg. The bullet did not break a bone but destroyed an artery that runs to my ankle. I was given a risky operation that I could have lost my leg because of the infection and blood clog I received.

 

So, what does the cross means to me: It means that our Lord found favor in me. It means that I was given a chance, after chance, even if I rebelled, slandered, hated, and was bringing myself faster to an earlier death-God still found favor in me.  Even through my darkness, my ignorance, my God saw something in my heart that I never could see.

 

Yet, he looked passed all that I have done by forgiving me: Because in Luke 23:34 he says “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” He for gave me in my ignorance and blindness. He for gave me for running to lies instead of the truth. He for gave me for being the nail that penetrated his wrist. He for gave me for being the whip that scared his back from years of mockery and deceit. Even though I blamed him questioning my trust in him saying “If you are the son of God do something about my pain when I failure to realize his cause for dying, he still for gave me.

 

So as you take part in communion today brothers and sisters, I urge you to remember 2 things. 1.) Why Jesus died on the cross for you? And 2.) How he delivered you from darkness? If you are visiting with us for first time-I ask you to look within yourselves and question your salvation. Are you still sleeping on the bed of worldly pleasures decaying slowly in your slumber? Or were you awaken by the words that were spoken making a decision to get with someone and study bible?

 

Because for me, it’s Galatians 5:1 where the bible says

 

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery

May God be the Glory

Recovering Biblical Womanhood by Paul Washer

Your Adversary, the Slanderer - Charles Leiter

AMEN!

Practical Advice on Daily Bible Reading - Tim Conway

Practical Advice on Daily Bible Reading - Tim Conway

Ancient Susia

FACT-FAITH-FEELINGS BY Garrett Holthaus

https://soundcloud.com/illbehonest/fact-faith-feelings-garrett

EPHESIANS CHAPTER 1 BY PAUL WASHER

http://www.sermonaudio.com/search.asp?seriesOnly=true&currSection=sermonstopic&sourceid=heartcry&keyword=Ephesians&keyworddesc=Ephesians

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS

Ancient Semitic/Hebrew chart

Every Relationship Right - Mack Tomlinson

What is a Cult?

NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER MAY 2, 2013

I thank God that America still appreciate the power of prayer!

Jesus In Every Book of the Bible

When you gaze upon the sun—it makes everything else dark; when you taste honey—it makes everything else tasteless. Likewise, when your soul feeds on Jesus —it takes away the sweetness of all earthly things; praise, pleasure, fleshly lusts, all lose their sweetness. - Robert Murray McCheyne

JOEL 3:2

"I will gather all nations and bring them down to the Valley of Jehoshaphat. There I will put them on trial for what they did to my inheritance, my people Israel, because they scattered my people among the nations and divided up my land." Joel 3:2- God will deal with the nations the same way the nations deal with God’s people.

Bow Down - Bishop Paul Morton and Full Gospel Fellowship MC

This song was placed in my heart. One of my favorite worship songs.

WITHOUT ARMS AND LEGS

UNWANTED

I made this post on my Google plus. I hesitated to share this on my blog because, when I wrote this, I was full of emotions/hurt. I was pouring out my pain to the church. I decided to go ahead and share this because I need for the church to understand some of the things that are going on with the members of the church and not to ignore it. It is time for the church to actively handle these types of matters appropriately. 

I have to get something off my chest. There are too many church folks who are more concerned about ceremonies/church service and not enough about the souls of the people in the church! Most are not even paying attention to the behavior and the treatment (among the members) that are going on in the church. I received a disturbing call (to say the least) from a friend of mines, who said he can no longer go to church because he have been teased and talked about. He's been to different churches but this one hurt the most because just when they called him their brother, came to his home to talk to him, baptized him, are the same ones who distance themselves from him and talked about him when he got too excited during a church outing. They talked about him so bad, that he left heartbroken...once again, another church hurt him. My friend is autistic and he is having a really hard time in his life. (By the way, this month is Autism awareness month; I encourage people to educate themselves on this issue since there is an increase number of a child born with Autism, including my grandson.) He at one point turned to a life of sin because he was not accepted into the church. My brother and I are always in constant contact with him because of his condition and we try our hardest to look after him. He finally got out of the sinful life and started going back to church. Well, two weeks ago he left because the church talked about his behavior. It wasn't violent but he can get excited sometimes. So now he feels like he doesn't belong in any church. I believe that he is right. Unfortunately, I don't know where my friend can go where I know he will not be talked about or mistreated because too many churches are RELIGIOUS and not SPIRITUAL. It hurts my heart to know that he feel that he does not belong anywhere. I have made it my mission to find a place for my friend. It will not be a traditional church but a place where there are people who are like him, "riff raffs in some people's eyes" who love the LORD and who are struggling and just want to worship God in a place where they feel they can fit in and fellowship with other believers. This young man maybe autistic but Jesus died for him too. How dare the people of God mock another brother or sister to the point of making them feel like they do not belong. There are so many people today who do not go to church for that reason and the Christian people don't even care about it. I'm not talking about sinners or lost souls, I'm talking about other brothers and sisters who feel unwanted by the church. I'm talking about people who had a bad past but are living a clean life but the church still mock them. I'm talking about people who have no money and afraid to go to church because they have nothing to wear or nothing to give. I'm talking about people who look different due to illness or maybe deformed. I'm talking about God's children that the holy rollers think they are so above them. Well this is what I have to say to these types of people, EXAMINE YOURSELVES TO SEE IF YOU ARE STILL IN THE FAITH! The Bible says you know who belongs to us by the way they love (show love towards one another). If I had to compare some people by that, well let's just say I don't want too. It is time to change! It is time to wake up! I wasn't always right either but I know now. It is time to be who Christ commanded us to be! It is time for us to be like Him. It is time to stop playing church and playing Christian and be THE CHURCH AND BE CHRISTIANS! Is God doing a work in you? Is God's work complete in you? Check yourself! I just had to get that off my chest and now I am going to find a place where my friend can worship and not be talked about.

I love you; God bless you.

Angela

EXAMINE YOURSELVES

I never forgot one of the things my mother taught me when I was young. She talked about the dangers that the Israelite fell into whenever they were slaves or shared land with the non-believers because it would sometimes lead them into becoming partakers with the world or pagan people. They start to ignore God's law and therefore forget all that was taught them and became more and more sinful. It scared me so much so that I never wanted to get to a point where I was so involved with the world (not realizing that I was), that I would forget how I am supposed to live. My biggest fear when I was young was to become insensitive to sin. I thank God for my mother who was always teaching me not only by words, but also by example. I tell people all the time that my life changed when I read 1st and 2nd John. It was my first self-examination and I didn't like what I saw. I thank God for showing me and this is why I want to share this with those who are saved. I want everyone to be provoked to examining themselves with true honesty. And when you hear it; Note: PAY ATTENTION TO THE WAY YOU LISTEN. If it offense you then that is good. That means there is something to work out that you didn't know about but don't ignore it. If all is right, then continue to do right and share with others because this is too important not to share. I love you, and God bless you.

BLIND MAN VS MAN WITH SIGHT

Someone asked me a really great question yesterday; is a blind man's sin worse than the sin of a man that can see? Great question because that is how the world sees it. How is it that someone who is not perfect and who has sinned tells a blind man to stop when they can't stop? Bottom line question is...what makes our sins more forgivable and their sins unforgivable? Well, the answer is simple, JESUS! God did something extreme because the disease called sin that we have is extreme. It took extreme measures for God to deal with the issue of sin. On the cross, God poured out His entire wrath against us and put it on Christ. With His death, Jesus Christ paid in full our debt. With Jesus resurrection, God showed us that He accepted Jesus as the sacrifice for our sins. Our debt has been paid in full thanks to the love of GOD. I was once blind to sin, not knowing that I was an enemy of God by the way that I lived. Not knowing that my destiny was hell. But, once I found Christ, I was able to see the true person that I was, I repented of my sins. Christ came into my life. The Holy Spirit dwells within me and now, that I can see, I know what to do and what not to do. I have discernment. I have spiritual judgment and I have authority, by the Holy Spirit, to judge sin so that I will not fall into it. I now know what it means to live a life that is holy and acceptable to God. Now, because I still have this flesh that I am daily at war with, there are times that I will mess up. But I not only have the Holy Spirit that corrects me and get me back on track; I also have someone in heaven, Jesus, who is my direct mediator. God also places people in my life to help me if they see me fall. I have pastors, people that I can call brothers and sisters because those who are in Christ are my brothers and sisters. And most of all, because I have the Holy Spirit, I am sealed until redemption. A person who is blind only have his own judgment and the world to go by which is all the things that are against God. Not only does the person sin daily, but the person IS sin. All sin will be punished by perishing forever. So, is a blind person's sin greater then a person that can see? Yes. But it doesn't have to be that way. There is only one way to get to the Father, and that is by the Son. Without the Son, there is no forgiveness of sin. Without the forgiveness of sin, the blind will parish forever, and ever.

THERE IS A ROOT TO EVERYTHING

 Why is it that some people are born gay and some are not? Why is it that some people are more flamboyant than another? Why does it seem that God can get all the other creations right that was made including get our nationalities 100% correct but can't seem to get the gender's straight mixing up body parts with the wrong person? And most importantly, why is it that some people believe this? There is a root to everything. A beginning to everything. If it is clear that God created Adam and Eve and through them (man and woman) were commanded to come together and multiply, then when did people become gay? Who was the first and why? Well, the answer is in the Bible. Paul explains in Romans what happened to man. I will break the verses down for you so that you can see plainly what happened. Romans 12: 18-31 18 God’s anger is revealed from heaven against every ungodly and immoral thing people do as they try to suppress the truth by their immoral living. 19 What can be known about God is clear to them because he has made it clear to them. 20 From the creation of the world, God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly observed in what he made. As a result, people have no excuse. 21 They knew God but did not praise and thank him for being God. Instead, their thoughts were pointless, and their misguided minds were plunged into darkness. 22 While claiming to be wise, they became fools. 23 They exchanged the glory of the immortal God for statues that looked like mortal humans, birds, animals, and snakes.***So we see here that in the beginning, humanity knew all about God, not only by word, but by obvious observations of everything that exist tells us that there is a God and that His nature is divine. But, there came a point when some of humanity did not want to worship God anymore, acknowledge Him for all that He has done or follow His rules. To add salt to the wound "sort of speak" they started to create images (Idols) and worship what God created instead of worshiping God who created all things that was made. ***Cont. Romans 24 For this reason God allowed their lusts to control them. As a result, they dishonor their bodies by sexual perversion with each other. 25 These people have exchanged God’s truth for a lie. So they have become ungodly and serve what is created rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen!***So we see here that homosexual acts and other unnatural acts started out as a ritual act to their false gods. This act is man made up, not God made***Cont Romans 26 For this reason God allowed their shameful passions to control them. Their women have exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 Likewise, their men have given up natural sexual relations with women and burn with lust for each other. Men commit indecent acts with men, so they experience among themselves the punishment they deserve for their perversion.***At some point, God gave them what they wanted by taking away what they once had, to know the difference between right and wrong(right is man and woman), and let their lust for each other be who they are (homosexual) so that their wrong will ultimately lead to their total destruction. This is the root to homosexuality. Don't be deceived, no one is born gay. ***Cont Romans 28 And because they thought it was worthless to acknowledge God, God allowed their own immoral minds to control them. So they do these indecent things. 29 Their lives are filled with all kinds of sexual sins, wickedness, and greed. They are mean. They are filled with envy, murder, quarreling, deceit, and viciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, haughty, arrogant, and boastful. They think up new ways to be cruel. They don’t obey their parents, 31 don’t have any sense, don’t keep promises, and don’t show love to their own families or mercy to others. 32 Although they know God’s judgment that those who do such things deserve to die, they not only do these things but also approve of others who do them.***It is clear that they knew the rules and they knew the punishment for disobeying the rules. This also tells us that obeying God keeps us from falling into these sinful acts. But, not only have they fallen into it, it possess their mind/thinking. So you see, as a result of some of humanity rejecting God and His ways, they have falling into all kinds of sinful acts.  Now I don't want someone to say, well why is it that homosexuality is always targeted and not the other sins? I want to tell you that I am an equal teacher of exposing all sins. I don't just target one. The reason why today I am focusing on homosexuality is because the greatest sin that someone can make is to deny who God is by lying about who God is. To say that something that is evil is from the hands of God is to call Him a liar, fallible, and a lover of evil. Oh how horrible it will be for those who call good evil and evil good!!! I pray that anyone who struggles with this or any other sin, that they will repent. You can't repent if you don't know that it is a sin. That is why I am exposing sin. We all have our struggles but we must know what to do with it. Give our burdens to God, for he cares for all of us. Obey God and deny the flesh desires. God is faithful to forgive those who sin against Him and repent, turning away from their sins. I love you and God bless you all.

HOW I ESCAPE SEXUAL IMMORALITY

When we are in the ministry, a lot of times people get tired of hearing some of the things that we (who are no better then anyone else) say because, in their thoughts, they wonder if we are living up to what we preach. They usually wonder this because they are struggling with it (doing the act of sexual immoralities) and assume that, since we are human, we must struggle too and yet we are speaking as if we are perfect. I can understand why they would wonder that seeing how the world is today and all the exposures from ministers and people in the entertainment business who says they are Christians, but their lifestyle shows something totally different. I don't call myself a minister by title but I recognize that I do minister when I communicate with others either verbally or through social network. People want to hear more than what we read from the word but they want to know about the giver of the word as well. So, here is what I had to say to someone who had a question for me:


Someone (who know me and my background) asked me a great question today; how did you escape sexual immorality?

My answer to this person was I substitute my desire for sex for my desire to please the LORD. Being that I am not married, commiting fornication is a sexual and immoral sin. My walk with Christ is extremely important to me so much so that I am willing to suffer physically to please God spiritually. It is more important than anything. The Bible says, the thing that you think about the most, is where your treasure is. God is my treasure for He is always on my mind. Not only is He always on my mind but pleasing Him is always on my mind. There's a post I put up by Benjamin Franklin that says, WELL DONE is better than WELL SAID. How great would my words be if I speak on it only and do not live it? If it means nothing to the hearer then imagine what it would mean to God who is all knowing, all powerful and everywhere at the same time. I use to say to people who talk to me about the word is that "I don't play a Christian, I am a Christian." Part of being a Christian is living a righteous life. It doesn't mean living a perfect life because perfection doesn't take place until we receive our new bodies given to us by God at the end of this world or age. 

I don't take credit (pat on the back) for having the ability to abstain from sexual immorality; it is God that give me that ability thanks to the Holy Spirit. Without Him, I would not be able to be strong enough, smart enough (wisdom, knowledge), be able to address it (counsel), having the fear of the LORD, to fight every day for righteousness.

Because I am not perfect, I may stumble, but I get right back up turning towards God. I can't live in sin and walk with God at the same time. There are some things that God takes control over and there are some things He has given us charge to take over. We have charge over our members (body) to bring it under submission to God's will. James 4:7“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” I am a witness of this, also in 1 Corinthians 9:27GWT says; Rather, I toughen my body with punches and make it my slave so that I will not be disqualified after I have spread the Good News to others. 

So these are things that we have to do to make it possible to walk with God and to live a holy and acceptable life. This is an everyday battle that I face and I can never let my guards down just because some days I am stronger than others. The devil is always looking for a weak moment to attack. I can't keep falling for the same tricks. That would make me a fool. This is why I do not brag about being strong nor will the Spirit approve of me doing that. I am so looking forward to the day when I have my true body, a body that matches with my spirit and soul. 

PRIDE

God had to show me, in a dream today, the log that is in my eye. This log is called pride. I was scamming through the Christian videos to get "encouragement" and "enlightenment" you know all that good stuff and I came across pride. Now, in my hidden selfish heart, my plan was to watch this video so that I can see where people fall under this so that I can have some good back-up. As I am listening, it was not at all what I was thinking I was going to hear. This video was not supposed to be about me...but the more I heard it, the more I kept hearing me. It got to the point where I wondered, how can anyone live and avoid running into this pride that he is preaching about. That would mean that everything I do is driven by pride. Could this really be true? How can I be saved and have this quiet pride dominate me? Maybe this man is over doing it with his message. Well, as usual, God put me to sleep and guess what my dream was about??? The whole dream was stupid, to me, until I woke up and realizes what it was all about and what God was showing me. The dream went from one scene to another so fast where in real life, I shouldn't have been able to keep up but in a dream, each one seems like all day. Each scene showed me acting, responding, thinking with complete selfishness. That's what drives pride. I had an excuse for everything that I was doing but I was being convicted after doing it. These were everyday simple things that I do that are normal (to me) that God was showing me, its pride. Pride had me take the attention off of the people who were doing wrong and put it on me by saying, "I'll be honest, I probably would have done it too". Instead of showing them the way (to God). Pride had me get a woman fired for being rude to me and I enjoyed it for a minute. Instead of forgiving her. Pride had me join a group of people who would accept me because I dare not step out of my comfort zone. Instead of going to all people to share the word of God. With all these things going on in my dream, I realize that pride is easily driving me. Pride makes me silent when I should speak up, and pride makes me speak up when I should be silent. Pride makes me point out others sin that I feel is far worse than me because they made me mad instead of edifying and exhorting them. This is not always but it's enough. If I was edifying or exhorting them, I would give the correction along with encouragement like a parent or a friend does. I am so thankful that God stepped in and showed me where I can understand plainly. I woke up with a bad migraine because so much was going on in my dream and God woke me up abruptly.

This is the thing that God showed me: When we were born, we were born selfish, and self-centered. We were born wanting to eat. Okay, we were born needing to eat but all babies quickly learn that when they want something, they want it now and will scream until they get it. When they get a little older, they know how to throw a "tantrum" until they get what they want. When they are in a store, it doesn't matter what mommy said that she doesn't have the money, they will pout, make a mean face, stump their feet, do whatever it takes until the mom, or dad, changes their mind because the child/teenager do not care about the financial woes, as long as the parent give them what they want. I can go on but we get the picture. Then, we found out about Jesus and become saved. Although our hearts are changing, we still have the flesh. We still know what to do to get what we want and sometimes, without even being conscious of it, we act (nag, pout, give the silent treatment, ignore others pain etc) out until we get what we want, whether it's from our parents, our friends, and our relationships. Our wants come above what they got going on. That is called selfish.

Selfish is the main ingredient in pride. We lie because of pride. Examples: We don't want anyone to know that we are not doing well in life so we will do whatever it takes to cover it up. But a person can only cover themselves for so long because people eventually find out what you are doing. And how can God use someone else to bless us if we continue to cover things up? I'm not talking blasting your problems to everyone but what I am saying is to not try to lie by hiding either. You keep doing it long enough and you will end up becoming someone you never wanted to be. Pride wants us to look low at everyone else so that we can feel better about who we are. There is more but I will not use up all the room on this page. So, what do we do about this pride? Well, first thing is, we must take away all thoughts about what we want and concentrate our attention to what God wants. We must evaluate our life and see if we are pleasing God by the way we live and behave. Our lives reflect God and everthing we do must glorify God. So we must check to see if we are glorifying God in the way we live and in all the things we do. We must be willing to give up and leave behind the things that are not pleasing to Him, even if it means quitting our job, leaving our friends behind who are hindering us, ending a relationship/not marriage, getting rid of things in your home like music, movies etc... that will hinder your walk with Christ. Pride and selfishness will have a major problem doing this but you first must be aware of it and then get rid of it. We want God to bless our lives and our families. He also want to bless us. We have to get off our high horse and become a servant. When you are low (humble), God will lift you up, but when you are high (prideful), God will bring you down. The word of God teaches that pride comes before the fall. I hope what I shared will be a blessing or a help to you. I love you all, have a blessed day.

Thoughts That Have Helped Me Upon Cancer and Death - Bob Jennings

This is very encouraging and inspiring. No one knows the date of their death but this man, whom at the time was dying of cancer, wrote down his thoughts that helped him during that time of his life.



Thoughts That Have Helped Me Upon Cancer and Death - Bob Jennings

Fred Hammond - He Lives Remix (Disc 2)

I'll Be Honest | Christian Videos | illbehonest.co...

CHRISTIAN RELATIONSHIPS : I'll Be Honest | Christian Videos | illbehonest.co...: I'll Be Honest | Christian Videos | illbehonest.com

Cover Me with Fred Hammond, Smorkie Norful & J. Moss by 21:03

Cover Me with Fred Hammond, Smorkie Norful & J. Moss by 21:03

If Not For Your Grace by ISRAEL HOUGHTON

If Not For Your Grace by ISRAEL HOUGHTON

HOLY DESPERATION

http://www.holydesperation.com

GUARD YOUR THINKING

The mind is the "gateway" to your heart, and it is therefore essential to guard your thinking by immersing yourself in the truth... Fear comes from believing the lie that God is not in control or is unable/unwilling to help you... "Not losing your mind" therefore means being grounded in what is Real, and it therefore means understanding your identity and provision as a child of God. "God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power (גְּבוּרָה / δύναμις) and of love (ἀγάπη), and of a "sound mind" (σωφρονισμός), lit. a "delivered" mind, "healed" from fragmentation (2 Tim. 1:7). The Greek word "sound mind" (σωφρονισμός) comes from the verb sodzo (σῴζω), meaning "to save," from saos (σάος) "safe," in the sense of being under restraining influence of the Spirit of God... NO FEAR, chaverim - whatever may be. Because of Yeshua, "All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well." 

From the Hebrew4Christians

What is the history of Christianity in Africa?

I wanted to share this information to get rid of the rumors that the Europeans, during slavery, were the ones who introduced Africans/African Americans to Christianity. 


What is the history of Christianity in Africa? 

 The history of Christianity in Africa probably began during the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, two thousand years ago. The New Testament of the Bible mentions several events in which Africans were witnesses to the life of Christ and the ministry of the apostles. It is possible that the history of Christianity in Africa began when these Africans shared what they witnessed with other Africans. 

The Gospel of Luke records that a Cyrenian was compelled to bear the cross for Jesus, prior to Jesus' crucifixion. Cyrene was located in North Africa. The book of Acts records that, on the day of Pentecost, Egyptians and Cyrenians were among the crowd, and heard the apostles proclaim the Gospel in their native languages. Acts also records the conversion of an influential Ethiopian eunuch to Christianity. Finally, the book of Acts records that following the apostles missionary journey to Cyprus, new converts from Cyprus and Cyrene preached the Gospel to the Greeks of Antioch. 

The spread of Christianity throughout Egypt and Northern Africa, during the first five centuries was rapid and intense, despite the prevalence of false teachings, persecutions and martyrdom. Some religious scholars believe that Christianity was introduced to Africans by way of the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Reportedly, the city boasted a very large Jewish community, which was located in close proximity to Jerusalem. It is believed that African Jews in Alexandria were converted from Judaism to Christianity following a Jewish revolt in A.D. 115 that all but extinguished Judaism from the region. 

North Africans were the first to receive and embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The early church in North Africa went through severe persecutions A.D. 64 thru 311. In response, the church established the Catechetical Schools of Alexandria, among other similar schools of Christian instruction. Many significant leaders of the faith emerged from the early African church. 

Persecutions in Egypt resulted in the dispersion of Christians to the innermost regions of Egypt. Egyptian churches spread the Gospel in the Coptic (Egyptian) language and planted churches throughout the interior of Egypt. However, Christianity, in the region, was weakened by theological and doctrinal controversies. 

At the start of the seventh century, the Coptic Church had established itself as the national church and had penetrated every region of the country. Although Christianity began in North Africa several centuries before its introduction in Egypt, the church in North Africa did not grow as quickly because the North African church used the Latin language in its services and literature, rather than the language of the people. 

An influx of muslins into the continent of Africa, during the Middle Ages, resulted in an exponential increase in Islamic converts, which forced many African Christians to flee to Europe. Missionary efforts by the Roman Catholic Church and the European Protestant church reclaimed some of the African continent for Christ, however Islam remains the predominant religion on the continent, with Christians comprising just over thirty percent of the African population. 

As always, I love you and God bless you

Angela R. Ingram

GUARD YOUR HEART:

Jesus is speaking regarding the parables.

18 “So pay attention to how you listen! Those who understand these mysteries will be given more knowledge. However, some people don’t understand these mysteries. Even what they think they understand will be taken away from them.” Matthew 10:7-8 GWT***When you read this it almost sound like it's repeating the same thing. Key note: PAY ATTENTION TO HOW YOU LISTEN! Be completely aware of how you are hearing and receiving the truth! LISTEN: You are totally responsible for how you receive the truth! Some don't want to receive the truth, especially if the truth hurts or it shows you what you are lacking. Pride steps in and takes away you receiving and accepting the truth. So watch yourself. Jesus also made it known, in one of the parables, that it is Satan who is THE thief, stealing the truth away from your heart...if you let him.

These verses immediately grab hold to my attention because we are always taught to be careful as to what we say, how we live, but not necessarily in so many words as to how we listen.

In some schools, a teacher would prefer if you were never taught on the subject that they are teaching for fear that you received the wrong information and they would have to first, take everything that you thought you knew out, (you had to be emptied of all previous knowledge) so that you can receive only the facts or truth. It was easier for a teacher to teach someone who knew nothing (so they will not mix in what they think they know along with what new thing they are learning). 

Sometimes we might find ourselves receiving things based on our background, culture, fables that were taught, how we were raised and disciplined. This can make it difficult to receive the truth when you are not willing to give up your culture practices, or the brainwashing you may have received from others instead of from GOD Himself.

You have to get to a place where you are after (chasing) GOD. You have to be open to receive GOD. And you have to accept what comes with knowing GOD. To know GOD is to change your whole entire life to become a new person. We are a new creation, nothing like what had already existed (Black, White, Asian, Indian, Mexican, etc...) because, we are living just like Christ lived and no one else. We are all one (child of GOD) just like GOD is one.

Of course this drew my attention because I am in the learning process of Hebrew. There is so much information being feed to me and sometimes it can be overwhelming. I had to get to a place where I was willing to accept the TRUTH even (hypothetically speaking) if it is contrary to everything I thought I knew (understood). Even if it means that I will find out a lot of things about myself that are wrong. And, even if (in the past) I read the word to fit how I wanted it to be so as to not be guilty or so it will not seem difficult to do, I humbly and with trembling (very carefully) accept the truth completely so that I can truly walk with GOD (in his direction), and live a life that is pleasing to GOD (holy) with the HOLY SPIRIT being THE teacher, confirming what I am receiving. I do not live for myself any longer; I live my whole life for Christ. I do not belong to myself any longer, but I belong to Christ. I HAD TO COMPLETELY UNDERSTAND THAT AND I HAD TO ACCEPT THAT.

Those who do not understand (do not have the ears to hear), try to understand things in the natural. It is impossible to understand it because spiritual belongs to spiritual and natural belongs to natural. It's just as difficult to explain spiritual things in a natural way. Or to translate a word in a different language to someone who does not use the same word or phrase in their language, how do you get them to completely comprehend? GOD set things up in such a way that He is after those who are after Him and He is faithful to show Himself to those who truly seek HIM. Those who don't (seek GOD) will never get it and will continue to try to figure things out over and over.

Note: No one will ever exhaust the knowledge of GOD because it is infinite but GOD has given us HIS spirit (HOLY SPIRIT) so that we can know and understand these things but it is all up to you and your heart! So...pay attention to how you listen!

Amen!

God bless you, and I love you

Angela Ingram

This is a poem written by a dear friend of mines. He has been through so much in his life including battling homosexuality. He gives all glory to God for the strength to overcome all the obstacles and evil forces that blocked him. His poems use to be from a dark place but now, he writes from a heart that has received Jesus.  Please pray for my friend that he will continue to be strong and continue to grow as this is all new for him. God bless you.

Poem: Jesus is lord
By: rashek Chandler
I'm watching these religious groups point fingers and talk
When half the world lost and young folks bodies are traced in chulk
Unbelievers don't believe in He would died on the cross
Fools teaching false teachings
Preachers preaching about riches and instead of repentance
Listen
Matthew 28 verses 19
Therefore go make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit
Never once did he mention go make Muslims, Catholics, or Protestants
Yet, false doctine is becoming more accepted than the true meaning of Christianity
And they say "the truth shall set you free"
Well, they persecuted Jesus indirectly for his honesty
Forced him to wear a crown of thorns
And they call themselves modest
When these fools themselves blaspheme the true laws of Moses
Separating their souls from heaven like the red sea
So who do we believe in when there is no Danial to confess our dreams
Or no Isaiah to envisionize what shall come to past
No Peter to question our hearts
Or John to baptize our judgements
But the moment is coming
When the ground shakes from earth quakes
Trumpets screaming
Angels throwing arrows of fire
And God thunders his anger
While every head, knee, and creature will bow to confess
Jesus is Lord

THINK on these things: Philippians 4:8

The LORD has given us (believers) something wonderful. We have the spirit mind of Christ in the form of the Holy Spirit. 1) The spirit of the LORD 2) the Spirit of wisdom and of 3) understanding, 4) the Spirit of counsel and of 5) power, 6) the Spirit of knowledge and of 7) the fear of the LORD-- Isaiah 11:2.

12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.c 14The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment:

16“For who has known the mind of the Lord
that he may instruct him? 1 Corinthians 2: 12-16

With this wonderful gift that was given to us, it helps us to be effective in our Christian walk on earth. For we cannot produce any good thing without Christ. **"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5. Therefore we get our spiritual nourishment directly from God.

In the situation with Chris Dorner, for what we have heard, he felt he was unjustly punished. He got so angry that evil thoughts formed and with him continually dwelling on those thoughts produced bad fruit. ** 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. ***Jesus Christ is the producer of good fruit but those who produce bad fruit, get theirs from Satan. Regarding Chris Dorner his thoughts were wicked and he was consumed with revenge. In the end, he lost his life.

One of my favorite scriptures is Phillippians 4:8 8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Whenever you are put in a situation where you become angry, stop and think on the things mentioned in Philippians and act on the spirit that was given to you. We do not want to ignore the warning that God gave to Cain when he was angry and jealous. Gen 4:7 If you do well, won’t you be accepted? But if you don’t do well, sin is lying outside your door ready to attack. It wants to control you, but you must master it.”** Although, according to Chris, he did nothing wrong, but, his thoughts of revenge consumed him and sin attacked him and he did not control those thoughts and therefore sin took over him while he was being feed and malnourished by Satan's lies.

The mind is very powerful and we must always keep our minds on Christ!!!

God Bless you. I love you

Angela

SELF AWARENESS PART 2 my breakthrough

SELF AWARENESS PART 1 my breakthrough

Sorry for the poor video quality. I use the Windows movie maker and I don't know how to adjust the picture. The original video is clear but once I saved it under this movie maker, it become fussy. I wanted to share this message with you because I want to dedicate this year to self awareness. By the way, I was off on the time between my divorce and me reading my diary. It was about 1 or 2 years after my divorce, not 5yrs later.