The Celebrity Everyone Likes, but Nobody Loves Part 1

I have wrestled with writing this post for weeks now. I know that whenever you are this specific in giving a Word from the Lord, there will be a prophetic backlash. But I love this brother with the love of the Lord, and God has for many years been warning me of something impending, giving me many details along the way, so I must share this Word of warning. I have decided to not use his name, but it may be obvious to some, who I am referring to. My purpose is not to shame him because even though I don’t know him personally, I have interceded for him for many years and I still feel a connection to him. I can’t explain it, but I feel a sense of spiritual responsibility (as an intercessor) to him if that makes sense.

A few weeks ago, I was watching the Dr. Phil show on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) and a commercial for a show called Ambitions came on. The OWN network can be notorious for playing the SAME commercials over and over again. I usually mute the TV and a lot of times look away because the commercials can be on the explicit side. The commercials for Ambitions are that way and when I saw a shower and bedroom scene the Lord spoke to me and said: “This stuff is corrupting those who watch it”. Not surprising to hear, but in my spirit, I knew the Lord was very serious about what he had spoken.

³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37 (ESV)

You see some stuff is WORTHLESS. It carries no value and is not edifying to your spirit or soul, so you need not even watch it. It’s designed to corrupt you.

So recently, I saw this celebrity, who professes Christianity on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) and he also spoke at Joel Osteen’s Church in Texas. The messages were very positive, encouraging people to follow their dreams. What was striking to me was that this celebrities’ last movie was his first R-rated comedy. When he talked about his reasoning for the R-rating, he seemed to talk as though this decision was out of his control. Like there was no way he could make a clean version even though he has COMPLETE creative control. Then I saw this same man on a couple of talk shows using profanity. Yes, cursing. It kind of surprised me because my mind went back to years ago when he wore the following shirt on his movie set:

Even though he wore this shirt many years ago, clearly, something has changed and this was is longer his conviction.

Below is my go-to place for movies (christian site) and here is what they said about the Christian celebrities last movie.

Plugged In review:

“This Director gets his share of grief from movie snobs, but from a Plugged In point of view, his stuff can be pretty interesting—even he typically makes us reviewers work overtime. Many of his movies are filled with all manner of sexual and violent and drug content. But many of them have some positive lessons they want to convey, too. And given that he is a Christian, his movies can often be overtly and encouragingly spiritual.

But his latest comedy, unfortunately, is not one of those films. This R-rated raunchfest is stripped of any real spirituality and largely free of positive or redemptive lessons. And that frees me from having to say, “Well, the movie’s terrible, but at least it had this going for it.”

No, this movie’s just terrible. Terrible aesthetically, terrible ethically, terrible in every which way a movie can be. For discerning moviegoers, it’s an assault on their eyes and ears and better standards.

Perhaps the Director made this movie with us in mind, knowing how hard we at Plugged In work to count swear words in his films. Why even this film’s title does some of our work for us: Nobody’s Fool? Nobody should be foolish enough to see it.”

So why do I say that everyone likes this man, but nobody loves him? Because with the exception of this review, nobody is telling him the truth. In my next post, I am going to share why I believe this man is in grave danger even though he is at the peak of his success, and why I think he could lose it all.

Christianity Today Part 1

Burning Sage

Crystals

Recently I had a discussion with a co-worker and he was talking about his church, but there was only one problem; he seemed to despise his church and everything that was going on there. I asked him how he felt about his church and why he wouldn’t leave if he was unhappy. Well he’s young, so he explained he was only there to keep his grandmother happy!

Astrology

Long story short, I found out this young man who is an elder at his church is not even saved!! He is into Buddhism, Yoruba..some of everything. This got me thinking about Christianity in today’s world.

I keep seeing celebrities talking about Christianity and I realize a lot of them have been exposed to Christianity or have been in the church, but a good deal of people don’t have a clue what true Christianity is all about! I noticed a celebrity recently talking about Jesus and praying, but in the next breath she was talking about burning sage! This is why people are so confused and why the state of  the church is so weak.

As I get older I can see that the we are getting away from the Bible and anything goes. You know longer hear any preachers talk about winning the lost, salvation, being baptized in the Holy Spirit, and the big one is Hell. People don’t talk about judgment, the penalty for sin, holiness or the rapture. Basically, today’s Christianity is about positive thinking, getting what you want from God and having a good life. It’s a lot of fluff.

Recently, a man posted on Facebook and exposed one of the popular “Prophets” for sleeping with his wife. This “Prophet” has a long rumored history of fornicating with women all over the country, yet he continues to “minister” all over the country. There is also another story of another minister who got a parishioner pregnant. He denied being the father, but after he was proven to be the father, he told the young lady if she didn’t abort the baby God would judge her. Can you believe that??

The truth is the church is suffering from the lack of true leadership and truth. Sound doctrine is absent from the church today, so people think their brand of Christianity is right. People only preach the easy stuff and hardly anyone is preaching righteousness. Personally, I want to hear a message that challenges me to change. I don’t want to only hear messages that make me feel comfortable all the time. I want to hear the MEAT of Gods word because I have long since graduated from the milk. God help us to get back on track!!

2 Peter 3:17-18 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁷ Therefore, [let me warn you] beloved, knowing these things beforehand, be on your guard so that you are not carried away by the error of ^[a]unprincipled men [who distort doctrine] and fall from your own steadfastness [of mind, knowledge, truth, and faith], ¹⁸ but grow [spiritually mature] in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory (honor, majesty, splendor), both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

It’s My Time/And Yours Too!

Have any promises of God that you are waiting on? Tired of waiting? Hardly believing anymore? Well I want to encourage and tell you that it’s your time.

I’m starting to a see a glimpse of light at the end of a very long tunnel. Some of you have been blessed to have seen many breakthroughs. I am happy for you! But there are those of us who have waited and waited and waited some more and I tell you it’s not fun.

Lately, I am seeing a little bit of a breakthrough in the area of work. For me the struggle has been real and as I look back I realize that some people are 9-5 people and others are not and you have to find your niche. I have never been a 9-5 office type person. I realized recently that I wanted to be like my mom. I wanted to get married, have 6 kids (yes 6) and be a stay at home mom. But it never happened and I didn’t really have a back up plan. But don’t feel sorry for me. The one thing I am proud of is that I answered the call of God on my life and put other things secondary. But now I am seeing a change.

So my biggest breakthrough has been being able to work from home. Some people need the office politics and banter and so on and so forth, but I have always wanted to work from home and last year, my brother started paying me to do research for his business right from my home!! I am so happy. And right now I am training for another position at another company doing social media research, right from home. Honestly, I am living my dream right now. No travel, no care fare, no office drama. Not for everyone, but it’s for me. And there is more to come!!

I realize that things are really beginning to change and it’s all about coming into your Kairos moment. That is that opportune time when God is manifesting what you want. It’s your set time. Your appointed time.

It’s been a long time coming and I’ve often wondered if I missed God and maybe I have missed some opportunities, but I just know “It’s my time!” And it’s yours too! Don’t give up!!

Stay tuned! There is more to come!

Psalm 102:13 New International Version (NIV)

¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
for it is time to show favor to her;
the appointed time has come.

Things Are Not What They Seem

“But, you have to know that things are not what they seem to be.” I was just reading an old post and those words just stuck out to me.

Sometimes what looks like something good is not necessarily good. So you may see a situation and from all appearances it appears good, but it’s not.

Let God work your situation out the way he wants to, even if it means someone else gets where you want to get first.

Just be happy for the person. If they get to Paris or Dubai first, rejoice! You’re next.

I knew God was reminding me that I am about to see something that is going to appear to be good, but it is not going to be anything like what I think. And this Word may apply to you. Don’t forget..Things are NOT always what they seem!

Three Warnings/I Missed Them All

What a day! A friend of mine is here in Florida from New York because of her job and we were supposed to meet up for dinner this evening. So another friend offered me the use of her car so I could meet up with my visiting friend and honestly I had already planned to take the bus, but I accepted the offer to use her car. Big mistake.

Long story short I had an accident in Walmart’s parking lot and hit someones car as I was backing out of the parking spot. The car that I was driving sits up a little higher than what I am used to. It’s a Nissan Rouge and strangely enough the car has rear view cameras and I still didn’t see the person I hit! But it is what it is and now I will more than likely end up having to come out of my pocket to pay for the repairs. But that is not what I am upset about.

You see, God gave me 3 warnings to get me to avoid this accident and I missed all three. I know this may seem strange to some people and to other’s you may be able to identify. Warning number one: When my friend offered me the car and I got off the phone after accepting her offer, I felt troubled in my spirit. I mean heavily burdened. I recognized the burden, but didn’t get a clear understanding of what the burden was for. But I did get a fleeting thought that maybe I shouldn’t use the car.

Second warning: On the morning of the accident, I was going to Bible Study before my work from home job and I felt led to ask the lady who usually picks me up, to do so anyway even though the car I borrowed was parked down stairs in the parking lot. But I felt guilty for asking her to come to get me when I had the use of a car. But the Lord was prompting me to do so and I didn’t listen.

Third warning: I pulled into Walmart’s parking lot because I needed some cash back, but immediately felt to pull out the space and leave BEFORE I went in the store, but I ignored the prompting. That was my last warning because when I came out I backed out and hit another car. Bummer.

Of course no one wants to have an accident, especially not while using another persons car. I believe this was a learning experience and a reminder to be more sensitive and to pay attention to the still small voice of the Holy Spirit and obey!

1 Kings 19:11-13 New King James Version (NKJV)

God’s Revelation to Elijah

¹¹ Then He said, “Go out, and stand on the mountain before the Lord.” And behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; ¹² and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.

When We See No Reason to Change

Last Friday, I was sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus to go to work and I have noticed that many of the older people who live in my building, congregate at the bus stop to smoke. I think many of them have done it for so long that they don’t even realize that there is a sign that clearly forbids smoking.

Another thing that is so annoying is that few will even ask if the smoke bothers anyone else. So even though I may have been sitting there minding my business and waiting for my bus, I usually end up having to move because someone always starts smoking with no consideration for anyone else.

So, last Friday, someone started smoking and I got up and another man asked me if my bus was coming and I let it be known that I was moving away because of the cigarette smoke. As I stood and waited on the bus, I heard the smoker tell everyone at the bus stop that everyone was trying to get him to stop smoking. But he was adamant that he was not going to stop. He had been smoking since he was 10 years old and he said it was his only vice. I would put his age at between 75-80 years of age, so in his mind there was absolutely no reason for him to stop smoking now.

As I listened to him it was eye-opening. The warnings about cancer and emphysema and all the bad things that could happen to him meant nothing. After smoking for 60 plus years, there was no reason to change. He probably did not care if he died.

The man only walked with a cane and although I know nothing about his health issues he sounded like he did not believe that smoking was a problem. It was enlightening.

But isn’t that like most of us. If we don’t see a problem with our sin we won’t change. We often don’t change unless we see a reason to. And sadly, it often ends up being something negative that forces us to change.

I don’t want to be like that man. As a Christian we should desire to grow in grace and let go of our sins and anything that hinders us from serving and hearing God. It shouldn’t take consequence to sin to make us change. It should simply be the Word of God that motivates us to change.

There are areas in my life that God has been speaking to me about for years. I am starting to put more prayer on those areas because I WANT to change. I am smart enough to know that there will be consequences if I don’t.

The man at the bus stop may not know it, but he may have already shortened his life. Or he may end up spending his last days suffering for years of smoking. I don’t know. But what I do know is that I don’t want to be forced to change. I want to change because it pleases God. No more excuses. It’s time to change.

By the way, the smoker got up from the bus stop and apologized to me. He said he didn’t know that the smoke bothered me. I told him it was okay. I guess it never occurred to him that he was affecting those around him.

Colossians 3:5-14 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵ So put to death and deprive of power the evil longings of your earthly body [with its sensual, self-centered instincts] immorality, impurity, sinful passion, evil desire, and greed, which is [a kind of] idolatry [because it replaces your devotion to God]. ⁶ Because of these [sinful] things the [divine] wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience [those who fail to listen and who routinely and obstinately disregard God’s precepts], ⁷ and in these [sinful things] you also once walked, when you were habitually living in them [without the knowledge of Christ]. ⁸ But now rid yourselves [completely] of all these things: anger, rage, malice, slander, and obscene (abusive, filthy, vulgar) language from your mouth. ⁹ Do not lie to one another, for you have stripped off the old self with its evil practices, ¹⁰ and have put on the new [spiritual] self who is being continually renewed in true knowledge in the image of Him who created the new self— ¹¹ a renewal in which there is no [distinction between] Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, [nor between nations whether] ^[b]barbarian or ^[c]Scythian, [nor in status whether] slave or free, but Christ is all, and in all [so believers are equal in Christ, without distinction].
¹² So, as God’s own chosen people, who are holy [set apart, sanctified for His purpose] and well-beloved [by God Himself], put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience [which has the power to endure whatever injustice or unpleasantness comes, with good temper]; ¹³ bearing graciously with one another, and willingly forgiving each other if one has a cause for complaint against another; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so should you forgive. ¹⁴ Beyond all these things put on and wrap yourselves in [unselfish] love, which is the perfect bond of unity [for everything is bound together in agreement when each one seeks the best for others].