Are you accumulating reward points??

Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Matthew 5:12 (KJV)

     All of us are familiar with the numerous reward cards available at many retail and grocery stores. These reward cards, when used correctly, result in a discount on products or accumulation of points that can be applied to future purchases with a reduction in price. These reward cards can be specific to products.

     Well each day of our walk with God is accumulating reward points. These reward points will result in the ultimate reward: Eternal Life and God esteeming us with a Well done thy good and faithful servant message. Our ability to accumulate a reward is completely dependent on our ability to walk in the love of Christ. In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes his return with the example of a shepherd and his sheep. Jesus explains how when he

Get Churched Out!!

     Its not about the fancy clothes, position, or the amount of people who can be seated in your sanctuary. Its about God and our relationship with Christ. Many Christians have gotten so caught up in "Church" and "Religion" that there relationship with Christ has fallen by the way side. To some, Christianity has been reduced to nothing more then judgmental people who act as if God has never seen them through anything.

     We need to be churched out so we can focus on a relationship with Christ. Galatians 6:10 says "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith." We cant do good if we are focused on our outward appearance, and not our inward relationship with Christ. 

Stop Beating Yourself Up!!

     In Matthew 26: 38-45, there is an account of Jesus praying in the garden of Gethsemane. Jesus took some of the disciples with him and asked that they pray since he knew the time was near when he would be betrayed and crucified. Jesus left the disciples three times and returned to find them asleep after he asked they pray his strength. Well this is just like us at times. How many times have you fallen asleep in an attempt to read your Word or pray. The disciples walked along side Jesus and had a first hand account of the signs and wonders Jesus performed yet they fell short.

It Wouldn't Be Labor Without Pain

Shall I bring to the [moment of] birth and not cause to bring forth? says the Lord. Shall I Who causes to bring forth shut the womb? says your God.

Isaiah 66:9 AMP

     Pregnancy is the fertilization and development of one or more offspring by a woman. The end result of a pregnancy is a painful delivery, but when the baby is born the pain disappears and a beautiful life pacifies any remaining indication that a pregnancy existed. If you have ever been pregnant or know someone who has you know that a lot of changes take place in a 9 month span of time. What starts out as a small fertilized egg turns into a functioning life. Pregnancy and child birth is a perfect example of the power and intelligence of God. Every detail of pregnancy is aw inspiring. Well this is the same thing with our life. We can not expect to come to Christ and not be developed because God fertilizes our faith as if it were an egg. Our life consists of trials that test and develop our faith thereby developing us

How much better are you then God??

"If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins."

Matthew 6:14-15 NLT

     Forgiveness is for you not for the person you are forgiving. Forgiveness stems from love. God loved us so much that he sent us Jesus, and through Jesus we have been forgiven of our sins. God doesn't place any stipulations on his love. If you accept Jesus as your Savior you are forgiven.....POINT BLANK! Forgiveness is defined as the act of excusing from fault or an offense. Matthew 6:14-15 is very clear concerning forgiveness. God has forgiven our sins, but his desire is that we walk in love and in order to make that walk you must forgive. If we choose to hold on to pain, fault, or offense toward others or toward ourselves we are expressing a superiority over God. Why?? If the God who shaped the world can forgive us for our mess, and I do mean mess, then what makes us so much better than God? Yes it is true, we want our feelings to be validated, but when it comes to forgiveness it cant be about the way we feel. Trust me when I tell you I have been hurt. Not just any hurt, but a hurt that pierced my soul and left me completely broken. Even after giving my life to God I was still broken . It wasn't until I allowed God to lay hold to my hurt that I was restored. I gave God all my hurt in the form of forgiveness.

Unequally Yoked....Why Not???

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?"

II Corinthians 6:14-15

"He or she seems nice."

"He treats me nice even though he isn’t saved."

It’s been forever since someone was interested in me...so what he doesn’t go to church?"

He said he believed there is a God....I guess that’s good enough!"

Do any of these statements sound familiar??

     I understand that there are times when we grow weary waiting on God's match for us. But I encourage you to hold on because your wait is for a reason. The last thing you should do is settle for someone just because they show some level of interest in you. An equal yoke refers to plowing fields during Bible times.

A Life Guide Knows the History of Every Landmark

"Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seats of the scornful; But his delight is in the law f the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper."

Psalms 1:1-3

     We have to know within our heart of heart where our help is coming from and who is guiding our steps. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." And Jeremiah 1:5 goes on to say "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." The world would have us to believe life is about luck, chance, or fate, but this is just not so. God has a will and a purpose for our lives that he is faithful to fulfill. We do not have to suck up to a manager for a promotion, obtain every degree and certification, or bend to the ways of the ungodly because God will prosper us through his grace and our faith.
     It is our responsibility to delight ourselves in the Word of God, and meditate on it day and night until it becomes apart of who we are. We should not walk with the ungodly, stand with the sinner, or sit with the deceitful for a so called blessing. This is a lesson that was made clear in my heart recently. I became so concerned with a promotion that I began to loose sight or whom promotion comes from. Psalms 75:6-7 says "For expectation comes neither from the east nor the west nor from the south. But God is the Judge: He puts down one, And exalts another." Instead of being persistent and standing on the Word of God I took measures to get ahead that were not the orchestration of God but of Kiva. In a sense my actions were saying God you are taking to long so let me go make some moves without you. I am transparent enough to admit my wrong, repent, and make it all about God's way. Why???

1.) My way got me no where close to a promotion, but unmasked the scornful nature of some people. People I was allowing myself to be guided by.
2.) Because blessings come by way of God no matter who you think you know, the brown nosing you think your doing, or the accolades you won! God is in control and our help comes from him and him only.
God's plan is precise because he predestined it long before we were in our mothers wombs.

     God makes no mistakes. He can see the detour that gets us around an obstacle. His plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. At times we can not see the potential drawbacks to our plans, but God can. So if we start by making God our first focus he can direct us into the path of prosperity. If we just delight in his Word we can internalize God's Word into obedience. Once we are able to do that we will be like the tree in Psalm 1:3. A tree planted by a river is lush and full of fruit because it receives the nutrients it needs from the river's minerals. This tree's leaves do not wither because it has a consistent water supply. This tree prospers beside the river. This is the same for our lives....
     Salvation is planted in us and watered through our delight in the reading and meditating on God's Word and also spending time in his presence. Though we grow weary due to the attacks of the enemy we are made strong by God's Word flowing in us like water. That Word keeps us from withering spiritually!! And because we have sought the counsel of God we are blessed and whatever we do prospers. Why does it prosper?? Very simple because our steps are being ordered by God who made plans for us long before we arrived. It is fantastic to know if we delight in God we have no choice but to be prosperous and blessed.

The glass is always completely full!! God bless you....

Kiva Thompkins

NEWS FLASH: Jesus didn't turn his nose up why are you??

Matthew 25:46  Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

      When I ask people why they are not a member of a church or why they have not given their life to Christ I usually get a number of different answers but there is always one popular answer....Snobby Church Folk!!! When we accept Christ into our hearts and our lives we come to him with our issues and mess. A Christian walk is a growing relationship with Christ and is governed by the Word of God that is manifested in the Bible and through the Holy Spirit. As a Christian we are responsible for loving like Christ did when he walked the earth, reading our Bibles and allowing God's Words to absorb into our hearts, and DISCIPLESHIP. Our lives are not all about what God can bless us with, but because of God's grace and mercy we are blessed. We are not perfect, and nor will we ever be because as humans we are subject to error. With that said....
     When was the last time your life and actions planted the seed of salvation and brought someone to Christ??
     When have you given to someone until it hurt your pockets but through your Faith in God you were abundantly blessed as a result??
     When have you visited the sick or imprisoned, fed the hungry, gave drink to the thirsty, clothed the naked, smiled and said good day to a stranger??
     Its my attempt to contain myself, but the very people who are responsible for being a reflection of Christ are some of the very people who are running away those people who need to know the love of God. Those people who God is pulling near to him. Those people that are crying out for help. I was a mess when I accepted Christ, and I am only one decision away from being a mess again. I don't want to get so "SAVED" that I cant testify to the glory of God in order to bring salvation into the heart of a sinner. There are people who need to hear that God loves the woman with two kids and has never been married. There are people who need to know that I lost everything before Christ but through him I gained those things back. There are people who need to know that when everyone else I thought loved me left he was still there.
     But I come across these "holier then thou" Christians attitudes, Snobs for Christ. Last time I checked that wasn't written anywhere in his word?! A snob is defined as someone who believes that some people are inherently inferior to them for any one of a variety of reasons. The only thing that we are supposed to be inheriting is eternal life through Christ...not inferior people! Many of these Christians act as if God has never delivered them from anything, and that they were whole and complete when Christ found them not knowing that with a attitude of anything else other then love they are still not whole or complete. Whenever I get the opportunity to witness to someone I make sure I am sincere because it is my desire that people know the love of God that I know.
     Our walk with God is not about prosperity, new cars, nice jobs, fame but rather it is about LOVE. Christ's life was an example of how we should live. Jesus did not judge any of the unbelievers they knew him to be a savior more so then the doubtful Pharisees and Sadducee's. Jesus fed, healed, and clothed the sinner and drew them to him through his actions and love. Are we drawing souls?? Our biggest witnessing tool is our life. Does our life reflect Christ or that of a hypocrite??
     Our society has become run by selfish desires, money, and the desire to not be accountable to anyone but ourselves. Well that shouldn't be the same case when you are a Christian. Our lives should be devoted to telling people about the goodness of God, acts of love, and drawing souls to God as Christ does. We shouldn't run off a church visitor because she isn't Easter sharp. How do we expect God to pour into her if we are halting her salvation when she enters the door. We shouldn't turn our nose up to the gay man new to the congregation because he has never been exposed to the Word of God until then. We should love and welcome everyone into the household of faith because it took time to get us to the point we are in Christ. Christ makes clear in Matthew 25:46 that what you do not do for the least of them you do not do for him. If we do not treat everyone with love we are not treating God with love. We shouldn't expect a babe in Christ to know everything to do in a given circumstance, but we should expect God to perform a work on their life as he did in ours.
     My desire is that we have a believers mindset and not a Pharisees mindset. The Pharisees were a driving force in the crucifixion of Christ because rather then walking in Love they questioned the miracles of Christ, demanded a sign of him being the Messiah, and used law to condemn Christ and the sinners. We should have a believers mindset that genuinely wants to gain disciples of Christ through salvation. We should give to those in need, and not let pride dictate our walk. A Pharisees mindset judges those trying to come to Christ, pridefully uses the Bible as a tool to personally judge the unbeliever, and are unappreciative of the unmerited grace of God.
     Our testimony and our day to day walk are tools we can use to draw souls to Christ. Our testimonies show how God can take our messy lives and use them to glorify his kingdom. If we are walking around like we never been through anything with our noses turned up at others God wont be able to use us. Christ exemplified love and a desire to save everyone despite their social standing. Christ saved the beggar, the handicap, the prostitute, and if we walk as he did we can change hearts the same way. We can touch the stripper, the prostitute, the beggar, the atheist, the single mother and father, the players, etc.

So put your nose down and walk in love. Glorify Christ with your life, and add disciples to your belt of salvation.

Kiva Thompkins

Know Your Worth and Wait on it!!

     It bothers me to see beautiful woman settling for less then they are worth because they choose to not follow the guidance of God, lack the ability to see the beauty inside themselves, and have not developed the patience to wait on God. Psalm 27:14 declares Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!" We have to clearly understand that God makes no mistakes, and can see the bigger picture concerning our lives. I am not so saved that I cant speak about my mistakes. I never thought I was very attractive, and let attention from guys dictate my feelings of attraction. I did not know myself, love myself, or value myself as a result of this I allowed myself to be in relationships with guys who treated me bad, broke me emotionally, and played me like Monopoly.
     When I gave God my life I was a mess. Not a little one but a super sized one!! I had issues of abandonment, no standards, and a lack of love for myself. God changed all of that and he did that by setting me apart from everything and everybody I was dependent on. He planted a seed in me when I was saved, and set me apart to cultivate that seed. He is still cultivating me. I made the choice to follow God's guidance in every area of my life. Ohhhh when I did that the guys that I used to be attracted to I wasn't anymore, things I used to take from those guys I refused to stand for anymore. God gave me value when he chose me and remained faithful in his love for me.
     I established values and worth, and I refused to compromise those values. Those values came from my allowing the Word of God to become rooted on the inside of me. If God loved me enough to accept me as the mess I was, and change my thoughts and perspective then why should I contradict God's love with unhealthy relationships. When you have the love of Christ on your side you wont settle for someone who doesn't walk in that same love. God will give you discernment that will allow you to see the heart and motives of people interested in a relationship with you.
     If you are waiting on God to bless you with a companion I cant promise you the wait will be easy, but waiting on God is so much more fulfilling then settling. During your season of being single God can speak to your heart, cultivate those areas that have been a issue for you in the past, and draw you closer to him through love. If your desire to be married, then the first thing you need to do is draw close to God because he is the only one who can lead you in the direction of that person.

So what am I asking:

1.) Create values for your life that are representative of The Bible and God.
2.) Focus on a relationship with Christ not a earthly relationship.
3.) Know that God has a plan for your life and knows what you need and want and is faithful to bless you with those things.
4.) Understand you are beautiful and should be loved as Christ loves.
5.) DON'T pursue a relationship with a man pursue a relationship with Christ and he will send you your husband. God doesn't need you to do his job!
6.) Carry yourself with respect and you will receive respect.
7.) Understand that waiting exercises your patience and keeps you in Gods will. Settling places you outside of Gods will and can put you smack dab in the middle of an unhappy relationship.
8.) Don't entertain temptation. Don't place yourself in a position to sin.
9.) Get to know God and what plans he has for you. There are things he wants "single" you to fulfill before he ushers you into "married" you.
10.) If a guy isn't talking commitment and pushes you away from Christ. Or if he is not saved with an intimate relationship with Christ----> God didn't sent him!!

     II Thessalonians 3:3 states, "But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one." God is faithful to his plan for you, he will establish you in his time, and he will always keep you from the attempts of the devil. Draw near to him, ask him for guidance, and know that he will keep you if you let him. Nothing is easy, there will be days when you have to ignore your feeling and depend on your faith. Walk in the Spirit, and the end result will be amazing!!

God Bless you and keep you!

Kiva

Pray Without Ceasing!

     Although we would like to make it seem like a complicated act, prayer is just communicating with God. We communicate with people daily so its not a foreign act only we make it that way because we cant see God. Prayer is a way of strengthening our relationship with God. If we have a spouse and never talk to them and they never talk to use how would we ever get to know them or understand them. The same thing goes for God. When we pray we develop a relationship with God where in we give him all our issues and mess, and he in turn delivers and blesses.
     There isn't a specific position we must be in for God to hear us....Remember God is everywhere. Matthew 6:7 says "And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathens do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words." This means God isn't looking for fancy prayers inspired by our vain thoughts. God already knows that we need so humbly speak to him. God desires that we pray and talk to him continuously.
     Continuous prayers keep us focused on God and his promise, and not on our feelings or circumstances. Prayer is our way of staying spiritually connected with God. Its all about relationship building. In order to get to know the intimate desires a person has you must get to know them. Prayer gets you to that point were you can allow God to correct those areas your weak in. God is able to give us guidance, and practical solutions to issues in our life.
     As stated in John 15: 7 "If you abide in Me, and My Words abide in your, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." God wants to pour out his blessings on our life, but he needs to know we are rooted in him. He knows this from our prayers. Imagine a relationship where you were getting to know a person. Once you began talking to that person you were able to pour your heart out to them, and they began to know what you like and have need of. Lets take it a step further and say the relationship is a serious one and you have a bill that need to have paid and the person your in the relationship with makes a way for that bill to be paid. That person is there when you need them and is always looking out for you. Well you don't need a boo to have that relationship like you need God. When you pour your heart out to God, and sincerly look to build a relationship with him you are abiding in him. When you begin abiding in him he will abide in you thruogh his Holy Spirit, so whatever you have need of or desire it will come to pass. There is a blessing in your prayer. There is healing in your continuous prayer. There is guidance. There is patience. There is everything you need.
     Prayer is the portal from which you build a solid relationship with God. Embrace that relationship. Embrace God, who will never leave or forsake you. His ear is always listening. Through prayer he will guide you, and make his path for your life plan.

It's all about relationship building so get to know God.

Kiva Thompkins

A Virtuous Woman's Checklist

     A virtuous woman is a woman of spirit, who has command of her own spirit and knows how to manage other people as well as her household. A woman of strength. Though woman are considered the weaker sex a virtuous woman is strengthened by wisdom, grace, and the fear of God.

Checklist

This quick checklist is designed as a tool to take a inventory of yourself and where you are in reflection of Proverbs 31:10-31. 

1.) Verse 11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

     Do you conduct yourself so that your husband/ God is confident that you will act accordingly in all your affairs. Understand that if you are single God is your husband! Isaiah 54:5 says, "For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth." How do you carry yourself day to day? Is it in a manner that a husband would trust your fidelity and intentions?

2.) Verse 12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.

     Do you do your husband/ God good everyday? Or is it when your in a good mood, some days, or every now and then. Is home a peaceful one or are you naggy at times? Do you give your husband/ God endearing words or do you wait for him to be the first to say something?

3.) Verse 15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion for her maidservants.

     Do you rise early to maintain your home or are you sleeping in from a long night of clubbing, dancing, gabbling, playing bingo, playing cards with friends, etc? What steps are you taking to maintain your household verses the steps you take to stay fresh to death and on the scene??

4.) Verse 19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.

     Are you working to contribute to your household? Are you working for God's household? Saving souls, volunteering at church, studying the Word? When was the last time you put in work for your household, community, and church?

5.) Verse 21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

     Do you anticipate the cold of life? Is your family prepared for a season of change? Are you saving for your families future or are you squandering all of your money on possessions? What plans does your household have for the future?

6.) Verse 25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

     Do you clothe yourself with strength and honor? Does your appearance express wisdom or confidence in a uncertain future? Or do you look thrown together? What does your outward appearance say about you and your spiritual journey?

7.) Verse 27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.

     Do you manage your household? Do you just let things be what they are? Are you idle watching TV when there is laundry or dished to be washed? Can your husband count on coming home to clean home and prepared meal? 

8.) Verse 28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her;

     Are you earning the respect of your husband and children? Do you do the things you entrust them not to do? Are you a hypocrite in your home?

Charm, beauty, a cute body, nice hair------> they fade but God's grace, a fear of God, peace shall be praised and rewarded. Really take a inventory of your actions ....do they reflect a virtuous woman?? God has the ability to take those areas of opportunity and make them virtuous if you acknowledge his desires for the woman of God.

God bless you!!!

Kiva 

YOLO for God!!!!

     So there is a popular song talking about living life to the fullest each day, doing what you please, and throwing caution to the wind. The song is called YOLO=You Only Live Once. I actually started hearing people talking about YOLO this and YOLO that. I had to do my research by listening to this song performed by rap artists Drake and Lil Wayne. Hmmmm.....YOLO huh??
     I have always heard people say be thankful for another day because tomorrow isn't guaranteed. Well last week I lost a close friend in a car accident, and it changed my perspective concerning life and death. See I was still looking at my waking up each morning through "worldly" goggles. The world says you plan for tomorrow expecting it is a guarantee, but it is by God's grace that we wake to see another day. No one truly knows there life expectancy. You can eat the correct calorie intake, run 5 miles a day, not drink alcohol or smoke, but if God sees fit your life can conclude the next day.
     Psalms 119: 77 says, " Let they tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight." We never know when our time is up so if we are going to live it up it should be by way of God's law written in his Word. When we live according to the Word of God he is able to pour out his mercies in our lives. God's mercy is what gives us an abundant life. If we do not allow God to rain his tender mercies on us we are not really living. When we submit ourselves to the will of God he can move in our lives and give us a life of abundance orchestrated by him. Psalms 37:4 makes reference to this abundant life by saying "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart." We shouldn't be delighted in the worlds fly by the seat of your paints lifestyle if God isn't in the mix. When we delight ourselves in God daily by worshipping him with our time, talent, and treasures it shows God he is a necessity in our life. Then he can give us the desires of our heart. God doesn't want to be common placed in our lives. He wants to know that he can abide in us because we have taken the necessary steps to abide in him.What are the necessary steps? Accepting Christ as the substitution for our sins, spending time in the presence of God, praying, reading the Bible.....relationship building!!
     God can give us a life far more spectacular and blessed then we can make for ourselves. He can pour out blessing in our lives that make these stereotypical music videos look like amateur cinematography.
     So Yes: You only live once but if you are going to live, live with a purpose, live with a plan! Jeremiah 29:11 makes clear that God has a plan for each of our lives this plan is to prosper us and not to harm us. If we YOLO for Christ we make the declaration for God I live and for God I die. We declare God is a necessary component in our lives and we are lost without him. We walk believing God directs our path, and he can and will prosper us. We walk knowing this life we live on earth if lived right will secure a eternal life in heaven. You only have the opportunity to live once for Christ....there will be a day of judgement when we must give an account of our lives and actions. That account can be a walk with God giving you access to eternal life in heaven or that account can be a walk of nonacceptance of God's law which leads to a eternity in Hell. Yeah some preachers, teachers, and churches want you to believe God is "only" a God of love, but truthfully God has given all of us the opportunity to accept Christ. If we chose not to the consequences is eternal death in the fiery lakes of Hell.
     So if you are going to scream YOLO let it be for Christ. Let it be a declaration that we only live once and we want that life to be reflective of God. So I boldly say I live for Christ despite my circumstances, opposition, lies, and life's ups and downs.

YOLO for Christ!!!!

Kiva Thompkins

Faith overrides your feelings!!

     Hebrews 11:1 is a definitive verse that states "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." But what does that really mean?? 

     Emotions are a contingency of being human. We will always experience feelings of sadness, loneliness, hurt, pain, insecurity, fear, anxiety, etc. But one thing we have to understand is that we shouldn't be controlled solely by our emotions. Emotions are constantly changing. We may feel someone is upset with us, but their not. We might feel lonely because we have no significant other, but we aren't because God is our mate. We might feel insecurities because of a upcoming bill that we have no earthly way of paying. It is not my attempt to act as if these emotions don't exist, but to accept these feelings without allowing them to get you off your spiritual walk.

     The enemy can use our feelings to allow us to take our eyes off God and focus only on our circumstances. Psalms 119:165 says "Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing causes them to stumble." We have to have peace, and peace is a state of untroubled tranquility, or a state of harmony or contentment with God. Peace says despite what goes on around me or how I feel I choose to focus on God. The Bible says to cast your cares upon God. God doesn't want us to get distracted by anything that will allow us to stop worshipping him. He wants to be your provider, your battle fighter, and protector. Our feelings can serve as a distraction! Feelings are just that a feeling. We must become dependent on our faith. Faith says no matter what I see or feel God is in control and will take care of everything.

     Romans 10:17 says, "so then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." This scripture is emphasising our need to get the Word of God inside of us as it waters our faith. Hearing the Word of God allows us to get it inside of us. By getting the Word inside of us we can focus on him and not the feelings associated with our circumstances. II Corinthians 12:9 says "And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
     When I can't seem to make ends meet I boast of the power of Christ. When I am feeling lonely and want a companion I boast of the power of Christ. When my friends turn their back on me or people lie on me I boast of the power of Christ. So what I am saying is rather than let my feeling dictate my mood, and get me in a place of depression I thank God that his Grace is all that I need. Why?? Because God's Grace provides for me, comforts me, keeps me safe, and keeps me as a whole. My feelings say "Oh whoa is me! I will never get so and so!" but my faith says by the grace of God my needs and wants are fulfilled.
     Practice your faith when your feelings try to bring you down. Abide in God's perfect peace because there you will find his grace and blessings. My favorite thing to say when I am sad, lonely, or upset is "Lord I know its not about my feelings, but about my faith. I believe you are working things out so I don't need to focus on my circumstances."

Thank god for His Grace!

Kiva Thompkins

Sex ain't better then God!

     Okay allow me the opportunity to vent just a little because I am seeing this craziness around me that I have to comment on.....
     Our bodies are a temple of God! We do not belong to ourselves. We have to remember that we were bought with a price. I'm not talking a few dollars I am talking a life. Jesus gave his life that we may have an eternal existence. This is evident in I Corinthians 6:19-20. "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are Gods." 
     When I finally decided I was going to do things God's way I thought the hardest thing I would have to give up would be sex. I will be honest with you I couldn't imagine not having sex. I had been conditioned to the worlds way of thinking, in which sex was not specially designated for marriage. I believed I would never have a successful relationship if it were not apart of it because every guy I came in contact with would flee when they found out I was not going to give myself to them. Completely ridiculous way of thinking, but I want to be honest so that God can get the glory out of my life.
     Well I wanted my relationship with God to be a serious one. I didn't want anything or anyone to get in the way of me truly getting to know the Lord. If there was a sin that prohibited me from being close to God then I wanted no part of it. So I prayed and asked God that he keep me. Though I was not convinced in my mind I pressed forward in faith that God would change my thoughts. The first month or so having made that decision I slipped, and had sex. I felt so bad, and for the first time had been convicted in my heart by God. After that feeling I knew that the Holy Spirit I read about in the Bible and heard people talk about was indeed real. I could feel him on the inside of me correcting my heart where I had fallen short, and that gave me joy! Never again, despite my falling short never again. At that point I felt I owed it to God because of the way he was pursuing me since I began to pursue him. So two plus years later God is still keeping me....AMEN!!!
     I am criticized for being celibate, and people make statement that I will be single forever unless I relax my standards or that I can't honestly expect someone to buy the car without test driving. LOL! Well yes I do expect the husband that God has for me to wait because that is the way God willed it in his Word. I used to get upset, but now I think its comical the way the devil uses people. I Corinthians 10:13 says, "So, whatever you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." It doesn't glorify God to have sex with random people who have not established as much as a commitment with you. I have standards for myself and take my walk with God very seriously. I know the value of my existence through Christ. We have to set standard for our lives and this comes by way of knowing your worth. We are worth so much to God, and he proved that with Jesus's life. I'm better then defiling my body with fornication, I deserve to be pursued as God pursued me. I require a marital commitment before allowing someone to make their way into my bed.
     I am standing on a promise that if I honor God with my life and my body, he has a husband for me. I don't get upset when a guy stops pursuing me because I'm celibate that just lets me know its not my good and perfect thing sent from God. Just imagine being pursued by a truly fantastic person only to be dismissed because of your unwillingness to live contrary to the word or God. That just means that the person God has for you is more fantastic then the one who walked away! That is intriguing and keeps me faithful to that God has someone just for me set aside for the right season. My desire is to do only God's will and I have a promise that God has established a plan to prosper me and give me the desires of my heart. Jeremiah 29:11 makes clear this plan by saying, "For I know the plans I have for you,' declared the Lord, "Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 
     My prayer is that you do not feed into the trick of the enemy. He wants you to believe its cool to have sex without a commitment of marriage. I'm sorry if I step on any toes, but there is nothing cool about sin or going to Hell. We have to make a decision. Give our whole life and body over to God so that he can deliver us from our sin or make a bed in Hell. Place value on your body! You deserve a commitment its not stuck up to require one.

Don't let the devil trap you up with what people say about your decision to abstain from sex. Stand boldly on God's promise that when you are faithful to his Word, he will pour out blessings in your life.

Your worth the wait!

Kiva Thompkins
Remember to follow me on Twitter @ksweet84

A Detox: From the World

     I'm sure you have heard of the concept of detoxification. To detox is ridding yourself of an intoxicating or addictive substance. In order to be intoxicated one must be excited or stupefied by some substance, generally drugs or alcohol, that is marked by a lack of physical or mental control. Like intoxication, addiction is characterized by the attachment to some form of substance. An addiction is a compulsive need for and use of a habit forming substance characterized by tolerance and by well-defined withdrawal. If you are persistently using some form of substance it becomes apparent physically, psychologically, or socially.

This is not a prelude to a episode of Intervention, but it lays the foundation of how a detox works.

     As humans we are raised in the world and when we make the decision to give Christ our lives we must detox ourselves from the worlds way of thinking and acting. II Corinthians 6:17 boldly states "Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you." God wants us to detoxify ourselves from sin. Separate ourselves from those things of the world that cause sin to rise in our fleshly bodies. When we made a declaration of salvation it didn't spill over into everything else in our lives. We still have fowl mouths friends, those taking part in sexually immoral acts, gossipers, catty talkers, and so many other things. We have to make the decision to separate ourselves from those things not of Christ, and things that do not edify God. If your around gossipers, drinkers, and sexually explicit people we are in a position of being tempted by those things we have made a decision to be free from.
     Before I was saved I drank, and I mean I drank LOL!!! It was my hobby. When I decided to give God my life the tendency to drink was still there. I had to separate myself from my partying friends, stop going places were alcohol was prevalent, and honestly give that area of weakness to God so I could be delivered. Praise God I was, but it took me detoxing myself from those people, places, and things that tempted me and fed my fleshes desires.
     All of us have issues, and ways that we can attribute to being apart of the world. So because I wanted to be whole and filled with God's love I began to read the Word, and welcome God in to my life. As I began to do that more and more the things I once enjoyed doing I didn't enjoy anymore, the places I used to go I did not have a desire to go to anymore, and I saw this change in every part of my life. I became celibate when I hit rock bottom so I made sure not to entertain music, television or any other portal that broadcasts Sex, Sex, Sex. I stopped watching many of my favorite TV shows that depicted drama, gossiping, fighting, and other things that didn't glorify God. The more I got the Word in me the less I desired things not of God.
     Proverbs 4:23 makes clear an important concept of detoxification It says, "Above all else, guard your heart, for from it flows the issues of life." This means that we have to protect our heart from things not of God because from our hearts flows all the issues of fornication, blasphemy, drinking, doing drugs, etc etc etc. To maintain a life pleasing to God we must guard ourselves from those things that do not represent God. Though we are apart of the kingdom of God we are still flesh, and flesh has sinful tendencies. We must be mindful to not feed into these tendencies or give them a opportunity to grow.  The key to a successful detox is to eat and drink only the things prescribed to you. Jesus directions for our Christian detox is found in I Corinthians 11: 23-26. Jesus says to "take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of me" and then says "This cup is the new covenant in MY blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."
     So what does this detox call for? Because we were once of this world we became conditioned to do things of the world. We were intoxicated with sin and selfish desires. Sin was our substance of choice. Sin caused us to form habits that were apparent physically, psychologically, and socially. We drank, had sex outside of marriage, smoked, cursed, coveted our neighbors belongings, and disregarded everyone but ourselves. We were addicts of the worlds system!!
     And then God shined his light in our lives in the way of a spiritual "Intervention." God said come out and separate yourself from the world. Aspire to be like Christ. God then gave us a detox diet by way of the Holy Bible and Christ's life. The instructions were to eat and drink life by way of Jesus broken body and blood shed. As a result we begin to be sober in the Spirit. Those things we once participated in no longer were appetizing because we had a new diet. We began to shed pounds of pain, sorrow, failure, guilt, sexual desires, and many other things that flowed from our hearts. Food like cursing, fornicating, lying, stealing, and gossiping our hearts spew out because we no longer have a appetite for these things.
     Its up to us to detox ourselves! We must be mindful of the things we are around, listen to, and allow to make their way from our minds to our hearts. We MUST guard our hearts to prevent a relapse into addiction. If you struggle with fornication no late nights at your boo's house, if you drank a lot steer clear of the bar! We must do our part to adhere to the detox diet God has created for each of us. When we do this our taste buds will change, and we will become more aware of those things that don't edify God.

God Bless you is my continuous prayer!

Kiva Thompkins
Please remember to follow me on Twitter @ksweet84

Commit to a Relationship with God

     This is for my single ladies and gentlemen. God wants you to pursue him, allow him to be the head of your life, and then he will bless you with his very best. Matthew 6:33 says, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." This means before we seek fortune, fame, a new car, a new house, impure relationships, etc. We should first seek a genuine relationship with God. How do we do this?? By accepting Jesus as our personal Savior as he gave his life in order for ours to be eternal. Once you accept Christ, God can come into your heart. When your desire becomes to please God with your life, your body, your heart, your everything then God can bless your life. If God doesn't know you will honestly place him first in your life then how can you honestly expect him to bless you with a mate??

Begin to commit to a relationship with God. Begin to date Christ. How can you date Christ??

• Spend time talking to him.
• Allow him to be your sole provider.
• Allow him to protect you from danger.
• Profess him as your own.

     Think back to a time when you were in a relationship.You and that person were stuck together like glue...late night conversations, a eagerness to learn their likes/ dislikes, a desire to be protected/ safe, a open heart, a willingness to change for the bettering of the relationship. Sounds familiar?? Well it is the same with God. Isaiah 54:5 says, "For your Maker is your husband, The Lord of hosts is His name; And your Redeemer is the Holy one of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth." DEEP!!!!
     I have the best late night conversation with God there I can pour out my heart to him. I search God's Word eager to find the things God is pleased and displeased with. I know that no weapon formed against me shall prosper because God is protecting me from harm and danger. My heart is open to God because he has been a constant force in my life even when I did not recognize him. And because I have opened my heart to God, and am constantly finding things not of him I welcome change in my life. I yearn to be righteous and found faithful in the sight of God.
     God wants to be your "soul" mate! He is your redeemer!!! When you begin to draw closer to God, spend time with him, and talk to him just as he was your companion then things will change. He will find you faithful, and bless you with his good and perfect thing (husband or wife) he made specifically for you. This is something you have to get a hold to and be relentless with. God is selfish when it comes to his relationship with us. And rightfully so because we were bought with a price, his son Jesus Christ. I can not imagine giving either of my daughters so that other people could have a abundant life, and watch as they make me last in their lives and choose the world/ sin over me. Not gonna happen, which gives you a idea of God's enduring mercy.
     I didn't know love prior to giving God my life, but I took the steps to let him into my heart. These things that I am saying aren't areas in my life that I don't also follow. I am not married, but I know my husband is out there. When God sees fit he will bless me with that person. But until God does I have made him my all. When I am upset, I talk to him. When I wake up in the morning instead of rolling over and saying good morning to a husband I say good morning to him. When I am in need of something, I ask God because as a good husband he provides. When I am alone I talk to God, and meditate on his Word and this comforts me just as if he was rocking me in his arms.
     Allow God to be your companion. Welcome him into your heart. He is a gentlemen, so he wants to be asked in his will never barge in on you. Show yourself faithful to have that companion God has for you.

God bless you,

Kiva Thompkins
Remember to follow me on Twitter @ksweet84

Working the Word!!!

         Remember the concept of light and darkness. Darkness cannot exist where there is light. I say that to say the Word of God is the light in darkness. As I look around I see all matters of darkness: senseless murders, sexual immorality, selfish desires exalted above God, etc. etc. The Word of God is the Light that directs our paths in a world so full of darkness. Psalms 119:105 declares "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." David started earlier in verse 101 by saying he walked restraining his feet from every evil way. The Word of God is a light that directs each of our paths, a map of sorts. With the Word we can speak healing, prosperity, and abundance in our lives. In order to do this we must follow the Light of the Word that permeates the darkness of sin that surrounds us in our daily walk. When you get the Word inside of you you can speak to your circumstances and they will change. We speak to our circumstance by humbly praying to God that the Word manifest itself in our lives. To humble yourself is to be modest in behavior, attitude, or spirit; not arrogant or prideful. 

     As we begin to read and meditate on God's Word we see areas we are weak, and are able to allow deliverance into our hearts. The Word shines a light on the dark areas in our hearts, and renews our minds. II Chronicles 7:14 states that "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sins and heal their land." God is asking for our humble prayers and our decision to walk aligned with his Word. When we do this and speak the Word into our lives we can be healed, we can prosper, and we can have our wants and needs met. 

Yes wants as well. The Lord is our Sheppard we shall not want right??? EXACTLY!!!

So how do we work the Word?

1. Get it inside of us! Read the Word, meditate on it, and commit it to our hearts memory.
2. Humbly bring your petitions before God. God is with us at all times. Treat him as a companion, and just have a conversation with him.
3. While petitioning God, put him in remembrance of his Word and promises. Isaiah 43:26 says "Put me in remembrance; Let us contend together; state your case, that you may be acquitted."
4. Count your prayers as done. This is where our faith must take hold. God is our father. When we ask our parents for something and they say yes we don't keep asking right?? How do we know God said yes you ask?? II Corinthians 1:20 says "For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us."

     So get the Word deep in your heart. Let it be the light that guides you through this dark and sinful world. Humbly pray unto God. Put God in remembrance of his Word. Count your prayers as done through the exercising of your faith.

     When you have done all of those things start thanking him then. Thank him that he is orchestrating the manifestation of your earnest prayers. I am glad about it and take joy in knowing God hears my prayers and is working things out for my good. 

     Keep in mind something I love to say...God's Word is a map. If we follow it we will be immensely blessed. Who needs Google maps when you've got God?

As always God bless you all,

Kiva Thompkins

Follow me on Twitter @ksweet84

Real Love Comes Only Through Christ!!

     We must be delivered from past hurt and pain before we are truly receptive to the mate God wants to place in our lives. God wants our hearts, and you can trust that he handles it with care.

So let me give a little of my testimony so you can see how far God can bring you:

     I was always looking for a man to complete me. A man to take me in his arms and say he loved me and refused to ever let me go. I thought a relationship was this "Magical thing" that would alleviate all the hurt and pain I had experienced and make me whole. As a result of this pattern of thought I settled for any guy who showed me attention, and invested myself sexually. Well sex was never intended for just anyone. Sex is a physical expression of love, and is only meant to be exercised via marriage. When you have sex with a person you create spiritual oneness with that person, which is the reason it is meant for a union made by God. Without a Godly unity sex has the ability to cloud a persons judgement, allowing premature emotions to arise.

     So as you can imagine I fell prematurely in love with guys who were not God's best for me. I jumped from guy to guy to guy, and in the end found myself with a 3 year old daughter and 4 months pregnant with another. I was at my lowest point having been left by my "true love." I found out the person I had given my heart and linked my spirit with was only playing me. I was the other woman, and had not been asked permission to take up such a demeaning title! He stood in front of me and his girlfriend and denounced me and my growing seed. My world was broken or so I thought. I cried, and cried, and cried out to God asking him why he would allow me to experience such pain and loneliness.

     In my hurt and despair I made the decision....NEVER AGAIN!! I had been saved years prior, but backslid in a major way. I had come to the point where it was all God or nothing at all. I was not capable of being solely responsible for decision concerning my life and heart. My decisions were the reasons for my being is such a low position. I had to swallow that and ask God to take the lead. I made the decision to establish a relationship with God, to allow him to heal my heart, and show me what real love was. I gave my heart to God.

     See the relationship I had been looking for in men could only be found in Christ. My concept of a real relationship was correct the only issue was my focus was off. God's love is more then "magical" its eternal. With all the mistakes I had made, and the sins I committed against my body, God still loves and accepts me. Man's love is conditional, and is subject to emotions. Man can say he loves you on one day then denounce your existence in their life the next day.

BUT God's love.....

     I Corinthians 13:4-5 says "Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy, love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil." God's love suffers long because when I was yet in my sins God didn't give up on me as so many guys had done in the past. God's love was what I had been looking for all along. A love that says "I love you and I refuse to ever let you go." Not a "magical" thing, but a "perfect" thing that will alleviate all the hurt and pain. God's love is so precise that it has the power to make us WHOLE.

     The abundance of God's love will take all manners of pain, and make them only a memory. God's love took my old heart that no longer beat and transplanted a new one in its place. I no longer  feel pain when I think about my past. I count it as a blessing to have been through circumstances that placed me directly in the bosom of God.

     When you feel God's love, and see it working in your life you can't do anything but praise him. If your single let the love of Christ be what you strive for in a relationship. Develop your relationship with God, and he will show you the way you deserve to love and who you are in him. Wrap yourself up so much in God's love and allow him to be your partner until he blesses you with his good and perfect companion. Receive God's healing and direction so that your new in him. Allow God to minister to your heart, and strengthen you in relationship areas you are weak.

     I'm no longer plagued with my past hurt, pain, and guilt. I'm free and I attribute that whole heartily to Christ. Remember I John 4:19, "We love him, because he first loved us."

God Bless You All,

Kiva Thompkins

Remember to follow me on Twitter @ksweet84

Let God shine his Light so you can shine yours.

     I'm sure just about everyone is familiar with the song This Little Light of Mine. Just as a refresher though it goes a little something like this:

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

This little light of mine,

I'm gonna let it shine.

Let it shine!

Let it shine!

Let it shine!

Hide it under a bushel? NO!

I'm gonna let it shine!

Don't let Satan blow it out,

I'm gonna let it shine!

Let it shine til Jesus comes,

I'm gonna let it shine!

All in my home,

I'm gonna let it shine.

     A very simple song, but one full of so much meaning. Our lives should be examples of Jesus's life and blood. Our bodies are a temple of God, there not our own, and should be treated as such. Day to day we should be reflecting God's love, peace, and kindness. One of my favorite songs is by Mali Music and is called Deep Blood Red. You can listen to it below, but my favorite verse says "so insight of embarrassment or rejection it didn't matter I could not be negligent or ignore this feeling I felt anymore. That's why deep blood red is all I see. Deep blood red is what I want to be. Oh how I'd shine Oh how proud I would be if when you saw me you would see deep blood red." Just think about that for a second......

     When people see you they shouldn't see the world there should be a separation, A CHANGE. Romans 6:4 says, "We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life." When you gave your life to the Lord he gave you eternal life, and made you new by washing all of your past sins away by way of the blood of Jesus. For God to care so much for us that he would make us new we should be willing to let our lives be our biggest evangelistic tool. An evangelistic tool that says, "Yes I have fallen short, Yes I was yet in my sin but God loved me so much that he accepted me into his family just the way I was. Yes I will fall short again, but he is making me new. He can do the same for you if you let him into your heart."

     People are watching, waiting, and listening for you to be an example of Gods Word or to relinquish your testimony. What do I mean by relinquish your testimony? Ephesians 4:26-27 says, "Be angry, and do not sin: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil." This means it's okay to have emotions of anger, fear, or to downright be upset, but it is not okay to sin. While your shining your light people are looking at you to see if you are truly genuine in this world full of so many phonies. Be careful of your actions and the way you are seen by people. How many times have you gone out with friends or family after church and seen Sister or Brother So and So cursing out their waitress or talking about all matters of ungodliness?

     Ephesians 5:8 says "for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light." When we understand that we are God's children and he has brought us out of darkness then it can and will change the way we carry ourselves. When you were a child and went somewhere with your parents you were expected to carry yourself in a particular manner. I would be foolish to think I could ever go anywhere with my mother, get mad at the car in front of me in traffic, and then start cursing at the driver. Or be rude to my server because there weren't enough hot rolls on the bar due to the after church lunch rush.
     Maybe this isn't clear to you so I'm going to break it down a little more. Wherever I go all knowing all seeing God is there, MY FATHER. Just like any good parent his expectations are that when I leave the house, church, etc. that I act the same way I did when I was there or carry myself with some type of, as the old folks call it "home training." There should not be a at church you and a at work you. God is a ever present parent who is watching and guiding you to insure your day to day life lines up with his Word. That means you have to crack the good book open to get his Word down in your heart so that it can lead and guide you. Romans 12:2 says "And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." Each of us have some type of issue some areas in our lives that God is developing and renewing. When you renew your mind with the Word of God it pushes out those things that shouldn't be there. Light and darkness can not exist together. The Word of God is light and as it shines on the inside of you it lights up those dark corners placing light where darkness once lived. That light is perfecting your spirit. There will be tests to prove you faithful in the sight of God. Tests and trials help you grow and see where you have been delivered. There will be moments:

You have the option of displaying love or catch an attitude.

An option to be peaceful or give into someones attempt to get you mad and in a position to sin.

You attempt to fix a situation instead of putting it in Gods hands.

Giving into sexual desires rather than allowing God to keep you.

    

     Your tests will determine your desire to do God's will and sine Gods light in those dark closets of your heart. So that little light of yours let is shine when your at work, let it shine when your on a date with your new boo, let it shine while your out with friends, let it shine when your pushed to anger, let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.

God bless you,

Kiva Thompkins

There is a Testimony in Every Fall

So I have heard a lot of people commenting in regard to falling short of God and I wanted to address that school of thought....

     The world will always be ready to judge you and make a determination if you are a "REAL" Christian or not. Well God has a testimony for you in regards to each time you fall. Proverbs 24:16 says "a righteous man falls seven times and rises again, but the wicked are overthrown by calamity (AMP). What that means is that God knows we will fall down, or sin in some way, but in knowing that he sent Jesus. Jesus took our place on the cross. He bared the weight of all our sins, so we could simply say....."I have sinned Lord!!! Please forgive me and show me how to be strengthened where I have fallen short!!"

     God is so merciful and great that he had a plan long before we ever fell short. Jesus was that plan, and for that I am glad!! That scripture also means in order to be righteous we must fall. We are human, and sin is in us and around us, but our sincerely repenting of those sins allows God to strengthen us in those areas we are weak. As believers we must be willing to give it all to God. 

     What is "it all?" All of our sinful nature, all of our talents, all of our hurt, all of our pain, all of our concern, all of the areas in our life that stress reigns supreme, etc. etc. etc. Once you have the Holy Spirit inside of you God is able to cleans those areas in your life that aren't like him. We all have shadows of darkness in our lives, but God is the light that shines on those shadows allowing his righteousness to penetrate our hearts.

     Someone once told me that we go through things and fall short so that our life can glorify God. I believe that whole heartily. My life was full of hurt. I had two daughter without being married, and am I left to raise them alone. I have been talked about, judged based on my mistakes, and written off by individuals I thought cared about me the most. But despite my failures, God never left me!! His arms were opened, and he whole heartily welcomed me into his kingdom. God has the same love for you as well....

     If you have made a mistake, and fell short of his glory he is saying "It's OK!! I love you. I have the power to make you white as snow. Just let me into your heart, your life, and your mind." Psalms 56:13 says "For you have delivered my life from death, yes, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of life and of the living" (AMP). This means by accepting God as your personal Savior you have been delivered from an eternal death. God will also keep you from falling in areas you give to him. Once again you have to be willing to give those issues over to him. Allow God to come into your life, blot out your failures, and use those experiences to testify of his goodness. 

     If I had never fallen I wouldn't know how good God is, and be able to passionately speak of the changes he has made in my life. This can be your testimony as well. Don't allow anyone to bring you down or make you feel less of a Christian because you made a mistake!! God plan for our mistakes.....if he didn't he would have never sent us Jesus!! A "REAL" Christian will make mistakes, they will grow, they will knock off the dead weight of pain, hurt, and disappointment, and they will become stronger in areas they were once weak. 

     You must fight the good fight of faith. This fight means you keep persevering toward Christ, no matter if you stumble. Our Christian journey is a LONG walk. Not run but WALK. Think about a time you had to walk a long distance, maybe a hike, amusement park, or marathon. Surely you can recall tripping on uneven terrain, feeling tired in your body, or even wanting to stop to rest. 

     WELL.....that is the same for your walk with God. We trip and stumble when we have rough uneven terrains in our day to day life. Those terrains can be finances, unexpected pregnancies, drugs, alcohol, etc. But despite that terrain we keep walking. If we should fall God has the ointment to heal any of our bruises and pain. All we have to do is ask him for it, and once applied any scares will disappear those areas of bruising will be like new. We feel tired in our walk as a result of fighting the enemy.We can combat that fatigue with praise. Psalms 51:10 says "Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me (NKJV)." With our praise God can renew our spirit and give us the energy and steadfast, firm and unwavering, spirit to keep moving despite our moments of being weary. We will have times when we have no energy and feel we can not walk on but God...Let me say that again BUT GOD!!! He will renew our spirits and he will do this when we seek out his Word, going before him in our personal prayer time, and combating the devil with the Word of God. Before you know it you will be able to look back at the hills and valleys you have climbed, and see just how far you have come in the Lord. God can then allow you to help someone through their hills and valleys with the promise that you have already been through it, and you are still standing. Allow God to use your falls and stumbles to glorify him in your life and the life of others.

God Bless,

Kiva Thompkins