Archive for 'Christian spiritual growth'

The Hem September 2011 Devotional – Make Room for God!

A few weeks back my local church hosted what we called “Holy Spirit and Power” meetings. God had been speaking about revival, and this was our way of welcoming God in to do His will, and asking Him to prepare our hearts for it.

During one of the special services, I was deep in worship when God spoke something very powerful to me. At first, I thought it was just for me personally, so I whipped out my iPad and wrote it down in my prayer journal.

But, once I wrote it out, God revealed that it was not for me alone, but that I was to share it with the rest of His beloved children.

My pastor was gracious enough to allow me to share it with our congregation that evening, and I feel led to share it with you today as well.

God spoke these powerful words to my heart…

Wow! The passion and pain that I felt coming from the heart of God as I spoke this. The true longing that your Lord has to be in close fellowship with you at all times. It touched my heart, and the hearts of those listening that night, so powerfully.

Many times we feel so far from God. We begin to wonder, “Why? Where has He gone?”

We question why we felt so close to Him during another season in our lives, and yet now, we feel so far away.

But, contrary to what Satan would have you think, we do not serve a God that is distant. But rather, it is us who becomes distant.

Our fast paced lives leave little room to be still and know that He is God.

But Him on the other hand…He never stops longing for you. He never stops reaching for you. His passion and love for you is unyielding.

Believe it or not, He actually loves you more than you love Him, because He Himself is love. It is His very nature to love you totally and completely.

It’s amazing to think, no mater how much your heart longs for more of God, He is longing to connect with you even more!

That was the whole point of the cross! To reconcile you back to a God who is madly in love with you. To wipe your slate clean so that you could commune with Him for yourself.

Now, you don’t need someone to talk to God for you, or tell you what He said. Jesus’ blood bought back your right to fellowship with God for YOURSELF!

So, if God is ready and waiting to commune with us every single moment of every day through, what’s the problem? Why don’t we experience more of Him?

Well, regardless of how much we say we want more of God, our ever ringing cell phones, and mile long schedules reveal our true priorities. We have literally crowded Him out!

We must make a conscious decision to make room for Him…

To turn off everything that beeps and buzzes, just to bask in His presence.

To skip an episode of our favorite show, just to meditate on His promises.

To wake up a bit earlier, or go to sleep a bit later, just to squeeze in a few extra moments with Him.

We must choose to cultivate the same kind of passion for Him in our lives, that He has for us.

Blessed by this Devotion on Making Room for God?
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Over the last few months, I’ve been asking God what He would have me share with His children. I take what He tells me, and use it as my theme to focus on throughout the month. I write our monthly devotion on the theme, send out tweets, etc.

Last month it was renewing our minds.

Well, the message that God gave me to share with you for this month is “Make for for Me!”

He wants more intimacy with us. And the only way we will receive that intimacy is through making time for Him in our daily lives.

I share a lot more in this month’s devotional (it’s running a bit late, but it’s coming out this week). But God brought to my remembrance that I had made a video a few years back on Making time for God.

Now, this is an OLD video. In fact, it was one of my first, so the quality leaves a bit to be desired. And, some of the info regarding The Hem’s Online Bible Classes is very outdated. But God’s Word and the principle of seeking God early and diligently is still the same (:

So, here it is…and don’t laugh!
Have a sloooow internet connection? Can’t watch the video?

Listen to the audio below, or right click here and choose “save target as” to save it to your computer!

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How often do we feel like we aren’t enough. Like there is something about ourselves that we need to change. Whether that be something we need to change about our physical selves, like our weight or our hair. Or something we need to change about our inner selves, like being more patient, having more faith, or simply spending more time in God’s Word.

Often, we look at ourselves, and we feel like the very essence of who we are just isn’t enough.

Yesterday, as I was endeavoring to go deeper and connect with God during praise and worship at church, God spoke something very powerful to me through His Holy Spirit.

He simply said, “You’re Enough.”

I paused for a second, a bit confused. Then, I heard Him speak the same words again, “You’re Enough!”

Suddenly, I could feel the tears beginning to fill my eyes.

Of course! It finally hit me, if the God Who is more than enough not only lives inside of me, but literally created me in His image, wouldn’t that at least make me enough?

I mean, think about it for a second…

No, you are not perfect…I am NOT perfect. But, I am fearfully and wonderfully made in the very image of God. Follow me for a second here…

That means that the person that God originally intended for me to be, the person that I am predestined to become, that person, in the eyes of God, is enough.

That means that my goal should no longer be to simply “change,” but to “Become”! To become the person God originally created us to be.

So many times you hear people say things like, “I can’t change…this is just who I am.”

Well, I have some great mews for those people-you don’t need to change, but rather to become! And that is NOT who you are, but rather who Satan wants you to be stuck as.

Really, it’s about growth. Growing into the person you were created to be. While change can often seem impossible, growth, on the other hand, given the proper nutrition is inevitable.

Think of a child. My son is always growing. He outgrows clothes and shoes like nobody’s business! Why? Because he’s slowly becoming the man that God created Him to be.

Now, you may be thinking, “Sister Ameerah, he’s only one! What are you talking about growing into a man?” Well, God is not simply looking at where you are now, but the end result of who He predestined you to become. That’s why, to Him, you are who you were created to be, just like my son. You are enough.

All you have to do is grow.

Now, I don’t want to imply that growing and becoming is easy. It takes constant communion with God so that He can reveal the areas in you that He wants to heal, restore and transform. It takes meditating on His Word so that you can renew your mind and begin receiving the mind of Christ. It takes time. It takes effort. It takes patience. It takes faith.

But, it is not changing into some unattainable ideal. Rather, it is becoming the Real you. Doesn’t that sound worth it?

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Christian Meditations in a Minute: You Can Hear God’s Voice

Today’s Scripture:

The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. ~John 10:27 (AMP)

Today’s Meditation:

Abba, You promise that Your sheep hear Your voice.
I declare that I am Your Sheep.
And, since Your Word can not lie, that means that, as Your sheep,
I am NOT alone – You speak to me.
Your still small voice directs me.
Your presence and peace guide me.
I make room in my life for You to fill with Your precious presence.
I quiet down the chaos to recognize Your whispers.
Your presence is my air.
The Words You speak to me, my bread.
You are my everything.
And I give my all to You.
Guide me in Your perfect will.

Other Things You May Like:

• Learn the most common walls that stop Christians from recognizing God’s voice in their lives, and how you can hear His voice for yourself – Free Bible Study.
• Discover how to renew your mind through Christian meditations in this short Bible Study

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Well, I’ve been looking for ways to continue sharing the things God has been sharing with me with you through video. But, as a mommy, my time is not as limitless as it once was.

As I prayed on how to do balance all of this, God put on my heart to start a video blog. As always, God is so smart!

So, this is the first installment to The Hem’s New Christian Video Blog!

Please be lenient with me. This was the first time I’ve used my iPad video camera, and I didn’t have a script, it was all straight from the heart (-:

The video is on YouTube:

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As my little on sits momentarily distracted playing with some toys on the floor, I decided to “steal a moment away” with the Lord and continue my personal study of the Book of John.

I find that, with an adorable one year old in need of my constant attention, I have to stay sensitive to God’s leading and keep an eye out for even the shortest moment I can steal some time with Him.

So, Today I read John, chapter 2. It’s kind of a short chapter, sharing John’s account of Jesus’ first public miracle (turning water into wine at the wedding), and His rebuking the money changers and merchants at the Temple. But, what struck me most as I was reading it was the final verses of the chapter:

“Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.” (John 2:23-25)

What struck me was that, though these people believed in His name, He did NOT commit Himself to them. “Why?” I asked myself.

Two reasons stood out to me:
1. When did they believe? Only after they saw the miracles that He had done. Now, I don’t think there is anything wrong with believing God for a miracle. I’ve believed for, and received, kore than my share of miracles from the Lord, both big and small. But my relationship with Him can not be based on what He does, but rather on who He is. If my relationship with God is based on Him doing what I want Him to do, them my love for Him is totally conditional. That means He couldn’t trust me. I’d be what people like to call a “fair weather friend” of God.

2. Verse 25 said He knew what was really in their hearts. How often do we forget that God knows what’s really going on under the surface. In fact, He knows our hearts better than we do. Many times we convince ourselves that we are standing in faith when, in reality we are trembling in fear. We try to convince ourselves that we want God’s will, but in reality we pout when He doesn’t give us what we want. But, He knows how strong our conviction for Him really is. He knows what it’s really based on. If our love for Him is that “What have You done for me lately?” kind of love, can He really trust us?

Let us each seek to become those whom Jesus can trust. Those who love Him with a pure heart that seeks after His face and not His hand.

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God has really been putting on my heart to study the book of John. Of course I’ve read this book of the Bible before, and have no idea what He wants to reveal to me this time through. But I’m excited to dig into His Word, and invite you to join me on the journey!

This is not going to be an in depth teaching Bible study, but rather my own personal study journal where I share the things God reveals to my heart as I meditate on His Word.

I LOVE how John starts so differently than all of the other Gospels (Matthew, Mark and Luke).

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men.” John 1:1-4

It’s so powerful and in your face!

It also reminds me that Jesus’ beginning was not in Mary’s womb, but that He was there in the beginning.

When God said, “Let us make man in our image…” Jesus was a part of that us.

Then, to step back and reflect on the fact that Jesus is God’s Word made into flesh. Jesus Himself said that He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it. He was every law, every promise, and every single provision God has ever made for us, alive and walking upon the earth – How amazing is that!

And yet, “the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.” (John 1:5) Let it not be said of us that God’s Light shined into our lives, and we comprehended it not. Let us instead be seekers of His Light, quick to repent of the missteps it reveals in our lives.

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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: 3-6 (NLT)

Today’s Meditation:

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.

Other Things You May Like:

• Discover how to renew your mind through Christian meditations in this short Bible Study
• Travel through Psalm 91 and learn about the realities of God’s divine protection promised to you in His Word.

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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:

1. We are a spirit
2. We have a soul (mind, will and emotions)
3. 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!

God Bless!
Ameerah

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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 15:8-11 (AMP)

My Thoughts:

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.

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