Dwele is bringing the heat with this one, don’t be confused by the title Ladies. If I had a girl (which I don’t) I’d cheat just like Dwele is talking about!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWdrMBDW2Kw&hl=en]
This morning a fraternity brother of mine gave me some bad news about his church burning down. News reports state that the Prince of Peace Baptist Church which is located on 32nd and Berks Street in the Strawberry Mansion section of North Philadelphia has burned down and caused other neighboring houses to catch fire as well.
However let the Glory be to God because in this time of trials and tribulations, its members are not losing hope. A woman was quoted saying “”It’s bad seeing this happen,” she said, “but I firmly believe that in this God will get the glory. We have a crusade coming up in May. We’re not going to let this stop us. We’ll find a way.” My prayers go out to the community in which this church resides, the church itself and all of its members. They will get through this tough time and they will be blessed even more as they remain faithful to the word of God.
And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5: 10-11
After you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. I pray that this little while of suffering is not life and then I will be happy in the after life. I have heard scriptures be interpreted that way, I pray that is not the case. I think the Lord is saying I have given my all for you, I have been caused pain too by the sins of this world. Yet I have given my only son so that you can be strong, so that you may find a way to eternal happiness through the principles of love and peace that he taught. This temporary suffering is just that; temporary, and after you have suffered I will not only restore your original happiness, but I will make you strong, steadfast and firm.
We need opposition, we need tough times, we need them like we need those great moments in our life. We need tears, just like we need a beautiful smile. Common said “I guess knowing I’m weak is when I’m really being strong, some how through the dusk I could see the dawn”. It is at our moments when we feel our weakest, when we feel that the world is crashing down on us that we are exemplifying our beautiful strength that God has bestowed upon us. Why? Because we are still pushing, we are still hoping, despite whatever circumstances may be weighing us down we still have the ability to fight and push past these obstacles. Don’t be a slave to your vocabulary; suffering comes in many forms. It is not just physical pain or extreme heart break, no suffering is feeling inadequate about something, suffering is the mental anguish we deal with when things aren’t going the way we planned. But through faith in God and belief in oneself we can see the dawn. STILL WE RISE. Peace and Grace be unto you!
Many spiritual teachers - in Buddhism, in Islam - have talked about first-hand experience of the world as an important part of the path to wisdom, to enlightenment.
February 20, 2008
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the spirit the things of the spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
I had a conversation with someone this weekend and their words inspired me to think a bit deeper on the concept of RELIGION. Then I read this passage this morning and I was wondering what it said to me, what it would mean in my life. For to be carnally minded is death, sometimes the bible speaks in such metaphors that it’s easy to get lost in the interpretation and completely lose the message. It is my understanding that the flesh is more like the concept of sight over faith. Even more when we are committed to the flesh we are not committing ourselves to our spirit within. We can do wrong because we are doing what feels good and not necessarily what is right. To be spiritually minded is to speak with God, to allow him to resonate within you.
So in a world where being spiritually minded is under attack, I ask myself why is that; why is attempting to know oneself and the creator often shunned upon. Because it has become no different in the minds of those who follow the flesh, who blindly follow a preacher, or whatever they do to keep up with the Jones’. The concept of spirit has left many of us, whenever someone ridicules me for believing in God the first thing they point to is the fallacies within the church. The gossiping, the poor congregation yet the rich pastor, and many other scandals that go on in the church. But my charge to them and us is why are we so engulfed in the ways of a man or a group of people who may be just as much sinners as we are to gain our spirituality. Just because some of the people in my organization are wack does not make my organization wack, it does not make the reason, the principles and my beliefs wack. I think this dilemma that is going on in the world is spoken to with this verse, stop being slaves to the things we see and hear, turn off those negative images and be more concerned with the beautiful image within. Be more concerned with God and the right that he does and how if we are being misrepresented rather than bicker and ridicule, let us find a way to make those things right. So when people attack you because of your beliefs remember they are rooted in the flesh, if you are rooted within the spirit and all of the beautiful blessings that we receive you will continue to receive and as the passage says, life and peace. Peace ad Grace be unto you!
The fool speaks the wise man listens