A little bit of direction in your quest to reach out to your Heavenly Father and connect with Him in a special way? Then you've come to the right place!
The Reach for the Hem Blog is a new addition to The Hem of His Garment Free Bible Study Online Ministry. It's a place where you can come to refuel and build the faith and strength that you need for daily Christian Living.
I pray that you discover the Christian Inspiration that your soul thirsts for, and that you continue to Reach For The Hem!
If you watched Idol gives back last night, you too were blessed by the sound of American Idol finalists singing Shout to the Lord as the shows climax moment. But, even if you are not an American Idol enthusiast, I’m sure you can still appreciate the idea that millions of people were sitting at home last night, all with their hearts lifted up to Jesus, if just for a moment.
You know, I just sat there on the edge of my seat. All of them dressed in pure white, and many of them not just singing, but it was obvious that they were worshiping!
How much of an impact can that make?
Well, how many children and teens really do idolize the American idols. So, how much of an impact can hearing them with their voices lifted to the Lord really make - A pretty big one.
On top of that, though when we look around America, it is hard to tell, most Americans do believe in God. In fact, a large number of them believe in Jesus. The issue is that they have no connection or relationship with Him. But, to interrupt their daily routines and just open up a small window for the Lord to jump in and whisper to their heart, “I’m still here and I still Love you…” That is indeed priceless.
I want to share that video here for those of you who did not get to see it. Since it is only the day after the American Idol Shout to the Lord performance, the quality of the only video that I could find isn’t the best. But, you can still see the sincerity on their faces and watch as the confetti falls from the sky.
As an extra bonus, I’m also post Mariah Carey’s Idol Gives Back performance of her new song, Fly Like a Bird. Just a few of the lyrics of this song:
Fly like a bird
Take to the sky
I need you now Lord
Carry me high
Don’t let the world break me tonight
I need the strength of You by my side
Sometimes this life can be so cold
I pray You’ll come and carry me home
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me higher, higher, higher
Carry me home
Higher Jesus
Carry me higher Lord
I hope that these performances bless your heart as much as they blessed mine. Christians in America have been praying for a revival in our country. It’s little things like this that prove that God is quietly at work bringing it to pass…
American Idol Finalists - Idol Gives Back Performance of Shout to the Lord:
Mariah Carey’s Idol Gives Back Performance of Fly Like a Bird:
This won’t be your typical Christian Inspiration, but it truly inspired me!
I believe that every married couple should have a “thing.” Something that they do together on a regular basis that’s fun, entertaining, relaxing, and just plain silly! Well, my husband and I have several “things,” but one of them is American Idol.
I know what some Christians will say - American Idol is idol worship. But, I truly don’t think it’s any more idol worship than a football game or any other sport. I do think that, like sports, people can turn it into idol worship, but that is a whole different topic…and I digress.
My husband and I were watching this week’s American Idol and were shocked to hear the most controversial name in the world mentioned on one of the most popular TVs shows nation wide. No, that name was not Michael Jackson - It was Jesus Christ!
In our home we have a running joke. Whenever we hear someone say the Lord’s name on network TV, we always stop and look at each other - “Oooh, can you say Jesus Christ on Television?”
Why is it a joke? Because you can say Mother Nature, you can say the Creator, you can even say God, but you say Jesus, and people start looking at you a little funny!
Why is His name so controversial? Because it is the name above all other names. It is the name that separates Christianity from all other religions on the earth. Yeah, we can all say we believe in God, but the name Jesus reminds people that we AREN’T all worshiping the same God as they would like to pretend.
So, when two separate guest performers on this week’s American Idol showed up praising the name of Jesus, my husband reminded me that OUR God will find a way to be glorified.
He’ll creep into the world’s system when they least expect it, and remind Him who He really is.
Dolly Parton sang a beautiful song from her new CD called Jesus and Gravity:
‘Cause I’ve got
Somethin’ lifting me up
Somethin’ holding me down
Somethin’ to give me wings and
Somethin’ to keep my feet on the ground
I’ve got all I need,
Jesus and gravity
But I’m as bad as anyone
Taking all these blessings in my life for granted one by one
When I start to thinkin’ it’s all me
Well somethin’ comes along and knocks me right back on my knees…
On top of that, another guest performance by the Clark Brothers stepped out to show their faith and worship the name of Jesus. Their rendition of “This Little Light of Mine” included the old Gospel song “Jesus on the mainline, tell Him what you want!”
Oh, let me tell you, I was glued to the screen waiting for Seacrest to run on the stage and drag them all off by their ears lol!
Of course, I’m sure that FOX and the American Idol producers received their share of mail over the past week, but I know that I was definitely blessed! In fact, this week when things weren’t going as well as I would have liked, my husband looked at me and said,
Christian Meditations in a Minute: God’s Divine Protection
Today’s Scripture:
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me;
you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord,
and he answered me from his holy mountain.
I lay down and slept,
yet I woke up in safety,
for the Lord was watching over me.
I am not afraid of ten thousand enemies
who surround me on every side. ~Psalm 3: 3-6Psalm 3: 3-6 English: World English Bible - WEB 3 But you, Yahweh, are a shield around me,
My glory, and the one who lifts up my head.
4 I cry to Yahweh with my voice,
And he answers me out of his holy hill.
Selah.
5 I laid myself down and slept.
I awakened; for Yahweh sustains me.
6 I will not be afraid of tens of thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me on every side.
Heavenly Father, I trust You to be my Shield in every area of my life.
I know that I don’t have to constantly watch my back,
because You love me and will watch it for me.
Last night, I laid my head on the pillow.
I was asleep, unaware and powerless.
And yet, I awoke this morning to a new day.
Alive because You kept me alive.
Safe because You kept me safe.
So, today and everyday, I choose not to fear.
Why? Because You love me,
and I am learning to trust Your love.
I’ve decided to start keeping a Christian faith healing journal. I am going to use it to chronicle my the healing journey that God is leading me on.
I was actually very leery of doing this online because I did not want it to cause people to question God’s ability to perform instantaneous healing miracles. But, I feel God leading me to do this because there are so many Christians who are so confused about the nature of faith healing. They think that if they were not instantly pain and symptom free the moment they prayed that God did not heal them.
That is not so.
So, throughout my faith healing journal, I am going to list the different areas God is working on in my personal healing journey, and how He is restoring me to health. I will include any treatments that I am experiencing and the ups and downs that go along with those as well.
I am going to try and be as honest and vulnerable as possible here, in an effort to give you a real glimpse into one Christian’s healing journey.
I pray that it give you the strength and faith to follow God along on your own journey as He leads you back to living in His divine health.
Today I was asked an interesting question by a frequent visitor to The Hem.
She asked me, “Ameerah, how do I develop a passion for studying the Bible?”
This question really caught my attention because I too have struggled with this issue. In fact, I think all Christians who are willing to be honest with themselves will admit that they too have wrestled with it.
We want to want to study God’s Word, but, for some reason, the passion and zeal for studying the Bible just isn’t there. Then, we feel guilty for not studying as much as we know we should.
So, how Do you develop a passion for reading the Bible?
You read it when you have NO passion to do it what so ever!
One of the key things that we as Christians must remember is that we are 3 part beings:
We are a spirit
We have a soul (mind, will and emotions)
And we live in a body (our fleshly nature).
Sometimes we forget that we still have a fleshly nature. That flesh does not like anything that has anything to do with God. In fact, there have been times when I would try to praise God or read the Word, and my flesh would revolt so badly that I literally felt physical pain!
But, the only way to crucify the flesh and deprive it of its power is to starve it and feed your spirit. That means doing the things that will build up your spirit man - Especially when you don’t feel like doing them!
Why?
Because if we don’t do them before we feel like it, then we will NEVER feel like it - Period.
So, whether you feel like you need more passion for praise and worship or for studying the Bible, there is only one solution:
Do It While You Have Not Passion…And the Passion Will Come!
As Christians, we all want to glorify God, but when is God glorified? Is He glorified by how much suffering we can endure for His sake? Or is He really glorified when we bear good fruit in His name?
Here is the third installment into my Christian Joy Bible study notebook.
Date: March 20th, 2008
Scripture:
When you bear (produce) much fruit, My Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine. I have loved you, [just] as the Father has loved Me; abide in My love [continue in His love with Me]. If you keep My commandments [if you continue to obey My instructions], you will abide in My love and live on in it, just as I have obeyed My Father’s commandments and live on in His love. I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing. ~John 15:8-11John 15:8-11 English: World English Bible - WEB 8 “In this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit; and so you will be my disciples.
9 Even as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love.
10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and remain in his love.
11 I have spoken these things to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be made full.
I think that sometimes we as Christians get confused about how to glorify God. Many of us have been taught that God is glorified by our suffering. But that is not what Jesus tells us in this scripture. He says that our Heavenly Father is glorified when we bare good fruit for Him - When we are producing a harvest.
That is so significant to me because I know that I have been in churches before that preach a certain kind of theology that makes you feel like God is only glorified by our pain and suffering. Somehow I had internalized the idea that if I was enjoying my life that I was doing something terribly wrong. It was like I had to be miserable to be a good Christian!
When I read all of John: 15 I was actually amazed by one thing in particular. The entire scripture focuses on baring good fruit for God, and then Jesus adds in: “I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.”
His goal and intention for speaking with them about baring good fruit and glorifying God was not for His benefit, but for theirs - For ours. He wanted us to have joy and gladness that overflowed!
Where was that joy supposed to come from? From following the Lord’s commands, abiding in Jesus’ love, and baring good fruit.
Well, I’m not perfect, but I do try my best to follow the Lord’s command’s, Jesus’ love does abide in my hear, and I do try to bare good fruit.
So, I have to ask myself, do I have joy and gladness that overflows? Am I filled with God’s joy and delight as Jesus said He wants me to be?
Day by day I am more able to say “yes” to that question, but still only with a little “y.” But, I want to be able to say “YES! God’s joy and gladness is living within me!” I want it to bubble up until it overflow onto others.
Why?
Because then my joy can be a witness to the world of the joy available in Christ.
Then, my joy will bare good fruit, and that is how I truly glorify God!
My Closing Prayer:
Lord, please help us all to bare good fruit for You so that You may be glorified. Please guide each of us to the callings and giftings that you have stored up inside of us. Help us to use them to reach out to others in the world and bless them in Your name. Help us all to rid ourselves of any thoughts that we are not meant to enjoy our lives as Christians. Fill us with your joy so that it can be a witness in a world that has lost their’s. - In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.
Christian Meditations in a Minute: You Don’t Grow Weary In Well Doing
Today’s Scripture:
For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. ~Galatians 6:8-9Galatians 6:8-9 English: World English Bible - WEB 8 For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
9 Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.
I do not sow to my flesh.
I deprive my flesh of strength by starving it
and instead, I feed my spirit.
And, since I chose to feed my spirit,
I shall live forever with my Father in heaven.
I do not let myself become frustrated in my efforts to please God.
I act on God’s Word and the leadings of His Holy Spirit.
I do the work that God has given me to do in this world By Faith.
When I do the sowing, God does the growing.
And I will reap the harvest that He has for me
because I refuse to give up!
Read:Exodus 4:10Exodus 4:10 English: World English Bible - WEB 10 Moses said to Yahweh, “Oh, Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before now, nor since you have spoken to your servant; for I am slow of speech, and of a slow tongue.”
Then the word of the Lord came to me [Jeremiah], saying, Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument], and before you were born I separated and set you apart, consecrating you; [and] I appointed you as a prophet to the nations. Then said I, Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am only a youth. But the Lord said to me, Say not, I am only a youth; for you shall go to all to whom I shall send you, and whatever I command you, you shall speak. ~Jeremiah 1:4-6Jeremiah 1:4-6 English: World English Bible - WEB 4 Now the word of Yahweh came to me, saying,
5 Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you came forth out of the womb I sanctified you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.
6 Then said I, Ah, Lord Yahweh! behold, I don’t know how to speak; for I am a child.
I have to be totally honest with you - Without the help of the Holy Spirit, I can be a bit of a perfectionist. In fact, sometimes, no matter how hard I work at something or how much success I’m having, all I can see are my shortcomings and glaring imperfections.
But, praise God, that’s not what He sees when He looks at me. He’s not staring at my Pitfalls - He’s staring at my Potential!
And that’s exactly what He sees when He looks at you too!
Satan likes for us to get all hung up on what we think we can’t do. He wants us to be so focused on our flaws that they are all we can see. Why? Because if we are too busy looking at us, we will forget to stop, and look up at Jesus.
Our enemy wants us so wrapped up in the problem -Us - that we miss out on the solution - God.
You know, God showed me something a while back. In that passage that we just read in Jeremiah, God said “Before I formed you in the womb I knew [and] approved of you [as My chosen instrument].”
Before you were even created, God didn’t just know you - He approved of you. In all of your imperfections, the One who knows you better than anyone else on this earth approves of YOU.
Each of us has a special calling in Christ. Still, most Christians feel too unworthy and inadequate to even attempt the great things that God has for them to do.
But, God did not call you ignorant to your shortcomings. He was not surprised to find out that you stutter or that you’re afraid of speaking in public.
So, knowing your flaws, why would He chose you? Because He knew when He created you that He would be enough to cover them. He knew that, by His Spirit, you could do anything He had for you to do.
Now, if God approves of you, don’t you think it is time you finally approved of yourself? If He believes in you, isn’t it time you started believing in yourself?
Lord, Help each of us stop looking at our flaws,
and start looking at Your immense power working within us!
Christian Meditations in a Minute: Faith Without Works - Becoming a Friend of God
Today’s Scripture:
Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.~James 2:19-22James 2:19-22 English: World English Bible - WEB 19 You believe that God is one. You do well. The demons also believe, and shudder.
20 But do you want to know, vain man, that faith apart from works is dead?
21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works, in that he offered up Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith worked with his works, and by works faith was perfected;
Today, I will put my faith into ACTION.
I will not just say that I believe but I will act on those beliefs.
I will listen for the voice of God,
and act on the Leadings of the Holy Spirit.
Lord, lead me and guide me this day to be like my father Abraham
who used his works to make his faith perfect before you.
That I too may be called A Friend of God.
A little bit of direction in your quest to reach out to your Heavenly Father and connect with Him in a special way? Then you've come to the right place!
Today I was asked an interesting question by a frequent visitor to 
As Christians, we all want to glorify God, but when is God glorified? Is He glorified by how much suffering we can endure for His sake? Or is He really glorified when we bear good fruit in His name? 
I have to be totally honest with you - Without the help of the Holy Spirit, I can be a bit of a perfectionist. In fact, sometimes, no matter how hard I work at something or how much success I’m having, all I can see are my shortcomings and glaring imperfections.