What is the highest praise to God?

For years we have heard that HALLELUJAH is the highest praise. After coming through the bible, I was unable to find evidence as this being truth. I found the word 'alleluia' only referenced in the bible four times. And they were all in Revelations.

Rev 19: 1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God:

Rev 19: 3 And again they said, Alleluia. And her smoke rose up for ever and ever.

Rev 19:4 And the four and twenty elders and the four beasts fell down and worshipped God that sat on the throne, saying, Amen; Alleluia.

Rev 19: 6 And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of mighty thunderings, saying, Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.
It comes from the greek word halal which means to praise or glorify.

BUT, in Nehemiah it says Then the Levites, Jeshua, and Kadmiel, Bani, Hashabniah, Sherebiah, Hodijah, Shebaniah, and Pethahiah, said, Stand up and bless the LORD your God for ever and ever: and blessed be thy glorious name, which is exalted above all blessing and praise.

The glorious name is Jesus. If Jesus is the glorious name that is to be exalted about all other blessings and praise, this means JESUS is the highest praise.

For Colored Girls, pt 1

Five things you need to know about Tyler Perry's For Colored Girls:

1. It's based off a book of poems.
2. It's not for entertainment.
3. It's truth.
4. It's not against men.
5. It's a mirror for 'some' women.

Destiny

I know my destiny. It's overwhelming. It's so much work. I am going to be tired. I am going to be tested. It takes a lot of study. It takes patience. It takes trusting people. It takes learning new ways of communication. It takes me getting out of the way and allowing God to speak, live, love, and teach through me. I am ready on purpose.

Lessons about relationships

Church on Sunday was extremely educational. So much so I have discussed the details with anyone who would listen. Because the information was so relevant, I am including it in my blog today. I make no claims to any of this information.

Disclaimer: Any of these characterizations of men and women can be interchangeable. For instance, a woman can go into a cave.
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When issues arise, men compartmentalize (put in a box) situations and issues.

• If a man's manhood is challenged (perceived or real and a woman uses her woman card (I know he wont hit me), the man must redefine what manhood is. He must learn to RUN away.

Without the correct definition of what a man is, he may respond in the wrong way when challenged. No matter if provoked, the response is still wrong if its harmful (verbal or physical or emotionally)

No one should be provoked to wrath

• Women should not follow him to make him deal with it (this provokes the man)
• Men should not leave the issue in the box (this provokes the woman)

Think about this: When was the last time a woman has ever seen another man confront her man, block him from leaving a room, or step to his face to yell, scream, or fight? Men do not challenge other men. Likewise, a woman should never put herself in the position of a man to control, challenge, or provoke her man. This will cause him to either redefine what being a man is (not being physical) or react in a verbal or physical manner.

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Women want to work until resolution or an action plan is in place. Women want to know WAWGTD (what are we going to do). Not knowing the answer to this affects a woman emotions, health, and sex life.

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 The way a man interprets love, his primary needs, and his motivations are via respect.

• If a man does not feel respected, a negative energy of shame overcomes him.
• When a man feels shame, his thoughts are centered around 'something is wrong with me'.
• Men deal with shame through suppression, ignoring the issue, denying the issue, anger, or isolation

The way a woman interprets love, her primary needs, and her motivations are via security.

• If a woman does not feel loved, a negative energy of fear overcomes her.
• When a woman becomes fearful, she attempts to take control of the situation.

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When issues arise in a relationship, they should be handled in like manner:

Issue ----> Dialogue for resolution ---->Action plan

If there is a disagreement:
Option #1:
Issue ----> Disagreement ----> PAIN ----> Gain self control

• When a situation becomes a disagreement, pain is revealed
• the pain is not related to the current disagreement
• the pain appears because past circumstances have proven a person cannot be trusted to resolve or follow through

Option #2:
Issue ----> Disagreement ----> PAIN ----> Cave ----> Gain self control

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The CAVE:

• When men do not want to deal with pain (fear or disrespect), they retreat to the cave to gain self control
• The cave can be food, internet, the gym, tv, alcohol, drugs, etc
• If a man stays in the cave too long, it can result is addiction or affairs
• When a man wants to excuse himself to gain self control LET HIM. Never attempt to force a man to deal with an issue
• When a woman follows a man into the cave it is because he has a track record of returning from the cave with the issue still in a box. In order for a man to be respected to retreat to the cave he must have a track record of returning to the situation ready for dialogue for resolution and the creating an action plan.
• The woman's fear is increased while he is in the cave because she is still dealing with the issue.

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A silent man gives place to the enemy to work in the woman's life

• Adam was silent when Eve ate the fruit

Allow your spouse to disagree with you. It is better to hear criticism from your spouse than an outside party.

It is never good enough for anyone to say I GOT THIS. There must be an action plan on how resolution will be reached. This will help the woman respect the man and the man love the woman.

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I Peter 3:7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with [them] according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.



Analogy: If men and women are boats, her boat is the weaker vessel. This mean she is not created to carry (physically, emotionally, etc) as big a load as her male counterpart.

When a woman becomes afraid an issue will not be resolved, she attempts to take control. If her vessel is not meant to carry the load, it will affect her emotionally, sexually, and physically. She will stay sick and always in pain (because her boat is not meant to carry such a load).

Philippians 4:8 - Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.


When issues arise and there is a disagreement, the man and woman should think on any positive attributes related to their spouse. They must find at least one honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtue, or anything worthy of praising them prior to going to discuss a situation. This will keep them in the right frame of man during the conversation.



Randomness v1

Sometimes I wonder if people really care. I mean, go to any church. There can be thousands of people there or just a few. No matter the number, we all say we love God. We all say without Him we couldnt make it. Some of us church so much we have our own language. We say things like:

• slain
• abba
• shondo
• hiya
• mercibocuyeslord
• didnt our hearts just burn

Truthfully, I know heart burn and it's not a good thing.

Anyway, back to my original point. I often wonder if the people sitting beside me have a fear of  hell as I do. I fear hell. I am not afraid to say it. As much craziness as I do, say, and watch on TV, I fear hell. I wonder if the people sitting around me live their life with a good healthy fear of going to hell. I wonder if they consider the consequences of hell in their words and actions.

Lets break this down:

Every weekend millions of people go to church. Millions of people testify about the goodness of God. Millions of people take communion. Millions have Mass. Millions pray Hail Mary. Thousands run up and down the aisle praising God for His goodness. Millions pray for God to move in their lives, families, workplaces, and even the world. I mean MILLIONS each and every weekend.

Yet. When I turn on the television, computer, and even the radio, what I hear and see does not line up with our weekend activities. I mean. Well. Let me say this. If anyone is offended by this I truly don't care. These are my thoughts. Now. This is what I don't get. How can a person partake in such spiritual and anointed weekend activities, pray, praise, believe, ask, receive, etc and then take no shame in sin? Now, some may ask 'what is sin'. I believe sin is anything that 'could' separate us from God. Not the love of God. But God. God will love us in spite of our situations but He does not love what we DO.

I dont get how a person can on one day sing the praises of God. Scream hallelujah and praise the Lord and then turn around and cuss like they never knew right from wrong. How does that happen? Does it happen because there is no real fear of God?

Okay, let me try another one. How can we do our weekend activities and have routine sex with a person we are not married to?

No, what about this one... How can we do our weekend activities and constantly backstab the people around us?

I mean, I am just thinking to myself....I laugh a lot. I say funny stuff. In all I do, it is NEVER my desire to hurt another person. It is never my desire to live in a way to discourage another. It is never my desire to see the kingdom suffer. I make mistakes. I don't study my bible as much as I should. I procrastinate about so much. I know I watch too much television and truly am on the internet too much. These are the things I am yet battling. We all have battles and we all have troubles and struggles. But my question is..when is it too much? When do our struggles and battles become to great they start to identify us? What separates us from the world? I mean, if someone needed prayer, can they look our our lifestyle and believe we are a person who believe and practice our belief and trust in God?

My heart hurts for God's people. I truly do not believe God ask for much from us. He wants us to love each other and love Him. He wants us to live holy and separate from sin. Why do we struggle with this so much when we know the consequences?

Philippians 2:12 says Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,

This indicates it takes work for us to live holy. Just as with a job, we dont get it right unless we practice it. If we only go to church as a routine or tradition, but do not use it as a manual or guide for our life, what are we really living? Well. I will keep posting until He gives me some direction...to do otherwise...or some answers...

Just thoughts..

I see you.

When I see you I hurt. Not because you are ugly to me but because you are ugly to yourself. I hurt because your heart hurts. Not because it is diseased but because you welcomed people into the sacredness of your heart and they didn't cherish their presence there. I hurt because your eyes are tired. Not from enjoying a full day of laughs but from suffering through a full night of ridicule and judgement. I hurt because your muscles are tight and pained. Not from a great workout but from stress, tension, and yes, even a hit or two. Yes, I see beyond the forced smile. I see beyond the lies about your great weekend. I see beyond the excuses of you being too busy to enjoy a girls night out. I see beyond this mental escape you have created for yourself. I see beyond you. Stop. Take a moment and see what I see. See you walking into a place of peace. See your home being your sanctuary, not your prison. See your eyes being filled with tears because of the overwhelming amount of love cast in your direction, not because of the overwhelming desire to please someone not interested in being pleased by you. See your body being relaxed enough to curl up on the couch to enjoy a program you want to see, not tense from sitting through yet another episode of something you don't understand.

Look in my mirror. Look at what the world sees. Look at what your children see. Look at what your students, cousins, and yes, even your parents see. The mirror is speaking back to you today. What is this mirror saying? Listen for it. Don't run away because it is painful. Pain got you to this point and yes, pain will give you the strength to get out. You need to hear this. Are you ready? Take a deep breath. Here we go. Here the mirror speak these words to you..

You are beautiful. You are worthy to be loved, cared for, and respected. You are beautifully made. Every hair on your head was created by a wonderful Creator who loves you and desires nothing more than for you to be happy. You are strong. You are a survivor. You are independent. You can make it. You are able. You are loved. You are ENOUGH.

The mirror will continue speaking love into your life as long as you are willing to listen. The decision is yours. Will you trust yourself? Will you believe in yourself?

We are waiting for you.

Lessons from below

Can you imagine being stuck in a place for 69 days? Not knowing when you were going to be freed? Not knowing if the technology would work in time? Can you imagine having to depend on strangers for your every breath? Imagine being in this dungeon with your co-workers? You may or may not even like them. Of course, this is a small portion of the story of the miners in Chile.

Time line of the callapse (with thoughts to ponder):

• August 5th- mine collapse
• August 8th - works start digging holes trying to find the miners
• Imagine being in such a dark place in your life people don't even know how to reach you.
• August 22nd - rescue workers hear tapping below
• Over 2 weeks after the mine collapsed, the miners hear their first signs of rescue. Would you have given up? Would you have even been listening for the sign of life?
• August 23rd - workers send down food. Miners are told it could be months before they are brought up.
• How do you respond when you are in a dark place and your earliest breakthrough is months away? How do you decide on who is going to eat? How do you keep smiling and having faith when there is nothing between you and the rock? What happens when you realize your hardplace is the rock?
• September 17th - the drill reaches the miners
• Can you be still knowing God is making a way for you? Can you trust God when you can't see His method of escape? What if you are the one making the rescue? How do you keep your hope and faith alive knowing there are 33 people and thousands of family members depending on you? How do you continue the slow pace that you know works and not cut corners to speed up the process? Can you keep working for someone elses deliverance even when you are tired, hungry, hurting, and seeing no results?
• October 9th - the escape shaft is complete
• What happens when you finally see your means of escape but realize there is still work to do? What happens when you can see, smell, and hear the voices of life but yet, they are still so far away?
• October 12-13th - miners are brought to safety
• What do you say to people who have spent millions for you to survive? What do you say to the one responsible for your captivity? Can you forgive? Do you hold a evil thoughts? What do you say to your family who have stopped their lives awaiting your return from below?
• October 13th - the rescue workers are brought to safety
• How does it feel knowing all the work you've done to help someone else live will bring them glory, but people may never know your name? What demeanor must you have when you arrive back to life above ground and the flags are no longer waving welcoming you?

The answers to these questions reveal the good, bad, and ugly of who we are. But overall, what is the lesson? How do we apply a situation that happened across the world to our personal situation?

LESSONS:

• Never give up on yourself.
• Never give up on God.
• When darkness is surrounding you, trust God for your deliverance.
• When you escape your bondage, leave bitterness, regret, and blame behind.
• When you are helping someone else try to find their way back to light and life, be patient.
• When one method of escape doesn't work, don't lose heart, try another method.
• It's okay for people to never know your name. God knows your name and your heart.
• Share the lessons of your experience with others. What you know may help another avoid a collapse in their life.

BIGGEST LESSON: Your bondage doesn't have to be a collapsed mine. It can be a collapsed job, relationship, loan, health, or even decision making. DIG YOUR WAY BACK TO THE LIGHT!