More on humility

A while ago I posted on the topic of humility but I never finished it. I'm going to try and tell you where, how and why I strayed when I did. I will post that tonight, but first I'd like to share a passage from Proverbs.

Proverbs (12:1)

Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.

I have to admit, I was stupid for a little while. Stupid and proud. When Jesus corrected me, at first I was offended. Then I started to catalog my behavior which I will go into more detail tonight, here's an example: I used to always say I was 10 lbs. under what I actually was and I did the same thing with my IQ, I gave myself an extra 10 points because I went through the test so fast, it was my compensation. I thought people would like me better if I was thinner and smarter (I used to have a really big complex about my own intelligence), but then I realized that people should like me for who I am and not my statistics.

By the way, I have had my share of sins, some MUCH worse than that. But Jesus has forgiven me and He can forgive you too.

The Work of the Holy Spirit

Yesterday, I went to the library to check out a concordance. I had never heard of such a thing before. My friend at work, Robert, is a Sunday school teacher and he was the first person to tell me about them because I would always come to him with questions about Scripture. Concordances are really nice because they allow you to find the passage that has come to mind with only knowing the main idea or topic. For example, I was trying to remember a passage about the Spirit of truth and I kept thinking it might have come from dealing with the key word of "persecution." So, I looked it up in my trusty, new (well borrowed) concordance and there were several listings concerning the topic of persecution, so I had to pick one to try out. I picked John 16:33 (John because I'm still in love with a man named John and 33 because I'm 33...and they say that Jesus was 33 at the time of His crucifixion) So, to John 16:33 I went, and on that page the first heading was "The Work of the Holy Spirit," which had the bit I was looking about concerning the Spirit of Truth.

The Work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:5)

Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, "Where are you going?" Because I have said these things you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth; It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgement: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgement, because the prince of this world stands condemned.

I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak only what he hears and will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from you what is mine and making it known to you.

And here's the passage at John 16:33.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

When I started to love my enemy

Let me tell you a little something about mania. When you're manic, or at least when I've been manic, thoughts race in your head and you often speak or act instantaneously.

When Mark Romanek started to rally allies against me, he advised a man with an Italian email address to send me pornographic pictures. Me being me, I had to comment because of the offense. It really upset this Italian man off when I did. Could he have been a member of the Mafia? It wouldn't surprise me.

Back to the point, after that happened, a lot of horrible occurances followed. The beginning of my genocide experience. I turned to the Bible for solace and found comfort in the violent Psalms. Just then, God spoke to me in a small, still voice and said "Don't laugh, they were all once Children of God." And, that's when I started to love my enemy.

My first experience of God

It happened when I was about 5 years old, I had just gotten out of the bath and was standing naked in the bathroom. Just then I was encompassed with light and a small, still voice told me that I was special. I felt as if I had wings and they were brushing against my back.

Not too long after that happened, I was laying in my bed staring into the hallway. When my mother came in to kiss me goodnight, I told her the Devil had been by my room. And he's been after me ever since.

The War is ON

War by Kierra Kiki Sheard

Stormy nights have passed away still I feel the hand of the enemy
And he's trying to get me down but I won't be bound the sins of this world is ponderin me
And he's been on my track yes I know this is a fact and please do believe that I'm ready to get back
And I know you felt the same way too and I know you're tired of going through so let's go to war

Chorus

Are you ready? Lets go we gotta GET READY to tear his kingdom down
Lets be a threat lets just step down we can do anything through Christ that strengthens us
Lets go don't fuss (so lets fight) So lets fight the prince of the air cause Lord knows he don't belong here
It's not much that we can't bear
The war is on; the war is on- The devil is a liar so lets rebuke him
The war is on; the war is on- He's been having us down too long
The war is on; the war is on- I can do anything through Christ that strengthens me
The war is on; the war is on- The Lord is my shepard, I will not fear

Verse

Through his grace we have lived and with His word in our hearts we are soliders
And if you never knew, know that I told ya and by His stripes we are healed
So lets fight the enemy and close the deal no matter how you feel
It's time for the truth to be revealed
God has given us the shield of faith and a breast plate of righteousness

Chorus

(Same as top)

That's It!!

Demonic Possession

I was afraid when I was going through my first breakdown. I used to sleep with the Bible next to my chest. One night when I was sleeping, I started convulsing really hard, out of control. Next to my bed, I had a small bottle of Holy Water with a picture of Mary and a rose shaped bottle cap. I thought "I need to have the Holy Spirit in me!" So, I drank the whole bottle. It tasted like roses. Instantly, it stopped.

Later, when I was hospitalized, my Aunt, Sr. Diane Rondeau, brought me a present. A bottle of powder from Crabtree and Evelyn, in Rosewater. I never told her or anyone about this until now.

Failure is NOT an option

I saw a guy wearing a shirt that said that while I was listening to Kirk Franklin/Toby Mac's "I Am God." Then I saw my special number. You guys picked the wrong girl to mess with.

Think I'm gonna walk away
You're messing up my life today (wassup)
This time I refuse to pray but
Still you keep calling me (calling me)
I don't wanna see your face
The thing I love you erased (Come on!)
Nothing but an empty space
Now I don't know how to be
I know it wasn't right for me. (Yea!)
What you liking what you need.
I feel like I'm in surgery
Still you cut deeper

My secrets within
My blanket of sin
Lord how much longer 'till ya through with me
Please take what you need (Can I get up now!)


Be still and know I am God


Be still and know I am God


Lord your ways ar not my ways
Everything you don't explain
Somethings I don't want to change
So you keep breaking me (There you go!)
It's like I'm fighting for my life (woo!)
You hit me with another right
I feel like Jacob in the night
Won't stop 'till you bless me

My flesh and my will (Yes father!)
Is yours not to kill (To kill!)
Bringing myself to you (Come on!)
But living sacrifice is more (Can I get up now)


Be still and know I am God (Gotta know Gotta know Gotta know Gotta know)
Be still and know (yea) I am God(Gotta know Gotta know One more time!)
Be still and know I am God (You are God! You are God! Gotta know! Gotta know!)
Be still (Be still) and know (and know) I am God (yea!)


If I could I'd fly away from here
But even when I'm far you still are near
I gotta get out (There's no way out)
Where is there to run(There's no where to run)
Don't go(Don't go)
Don't go (Can't go)
No! No! No! (Whoa!)


You win. (uh huh!)
I've been trying to do it on my own. (Yes Lord!)
But right now I gotta surrender.
You know what's best. (Say it like you mean it!)
It's not easy waiting on you.
It's not easy believing that you got this together.
But without faith it is impossible to please you. (We recognize you!)
So I'm gonna stand right here. (We are still before you!)
You got me. (We are still before you!) You got me. You got me.


Be still and know (we know!) I am God (We gonna lift those hands. I surrender to your authority God! I surrender!)
Be still (we're still!) and know (we know!) I am God (I give you my will)(Gotta know! Gotta! know! Gotta know!)
Be still (I'm yours!) and know (we know!) (I'm yours!) I am God (I'm tired of living on my own! I'm tired of living on my own!)
Be still and know (we know!) I am God (You are God!)

Hallelujah! Without God, I'm nothing.

Overcoming Fear

www.alighthouse.com/fear.htm

Fear binds multitudes of Christians today. Here is how to overcome it. Fear is a spirit. We see that from the Word of God. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Paul gave this Scripture to Timothy right in the midst of telling him to stir up his spiritual gifts, to testify for Jesus Christ, and to share with Paul in the sufferings of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Satan doesn't want you to use your spiritual gifts. He doesn't want you to talk about Jesus, and he wants you to be afraid of the suffering that you may or may not experience if you do talk about Jesus. Looking around at many Christians, it seems that Satan has succeeded to stop many from moving forward by means of this one evil power alone. It is estimated that 80% of Christians today are oppressed by a spirit of fear. This can and must be reversed. But Proverbs 11:9 says, "Through knowledge the righteous will be delivered". We need the genuine knowledge of God to be delivered from the Spirit of Fear. Fear stops people not only in the areas of witnessing and using spiritual gifts. The fear of rejection has hindered people from beginning wonderful relationships. The fear of failure has held many back from beginning wonderful enterprises. The fear of death paralyzes and torments many. There are many other kinds of fear. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but unfortunately, many Christians have received a spirit of fear at some time in their life. They received what the devil was handing out to them. Many times, they received it before they became Christians, and they have not known God well enough to get rid of it since that time. One thing is clear, no Christian received a spirit of fear from God. In fact, the Bible tells us in 1 John 4:18 that "perfect love casts out fear". The more of the divine love of God that we receive into our lives, the less scope there is for fear to get a grip. A man was once robbing a bank. In the midst of it, a woman comes up to him and tells him to put the gun down, and give himself up. What gave this woman such tremendous courage? She was the man's mother, and her love for the son overcame that sense of fear. Fear tends to attract evil upon us, just as faith tends to attract the goodness and blessings of God. Fear is a substance of things we hope won't happen, its almost like a conviction that they will happen. Fear is faith in reverse. But it is faith in the devil, whether we know it or not. God wants Christians to be free of such fear. There is a fear which is good and clean, which is the fear of the Lord. Many blessings are associated with the healthy fear of the Lord. We are not talking about that kind of fear here. Neither are we talking about the natural healthy fear which would affect us if for example we were to contemplate jumping off a cliff or walking into heavy speeding traffic. We are talking about tormenting fear. This fear is strictly of the devil. The Remedy There area number of effective remedies for fear. Someone said, "Do the thing you fear most, and the death of fear is certain." This is good advice when it comes to things like public speaking, if we are afraid of that, or talking to strangers about Jesus. In no case should we bow to fear. But this kind of advice is not enough. What we actually need is the actual consciousness that God is within us, and around us, and over us. And we need to know who God is. God is greater than the devil. There is no comparison. Jesus said, "I will NEVER leave you nor forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5, Matthew 28:20). If we are aware of the presence of Jesus with us, we really can't be swallowed up or dominated by fear. Fear cannot control us. Ultimately, it must be driven out, in all its forms. We've seen before the Scripture that "perfect love drives out fear". But where does this perfect love come from? One thing to be sure of - it doesn't come from ourselves. This perfect love comes from the Lord. God is love and the Spirit of God drives out the spirit of fear. Daily make more room for God in your life. Make room for Him through much prayer, through more meditation on the Word, through verbally praising the Lord with your mouth and with your music. This is the way King David, a man who faced many dangerous battles, looked at it. "The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1) Because David was conscious of the Lord's presence with him, and because he knew God, David did not walk in fear. To have the full consciousness of the presence of the Lord with us in these days, I believe that we must be baptized in the Holy Spirit and speak with other tongues on a daily basis. Scriptures To Defeat Fear...... Scriptures you can declare and think about to help you to defeat the spirit of fear. Meditate on these Sciptures deeply. Say them, mutter them, think about them deeply, ponder them, declare them in the first person. They are weapons to defeat that evil demon of fear which is stopping you from doing the will of our Father in heaven. 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid? Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Genesis 26:24 I am the God of your father Abraham; do not fear, for I am with you. Psalm 91 1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation. Numbers 21:34 Do not fear him, for I have delivered him [your enemy] into your hand. Deuteronomy 1:21 Look, the LORD your God has set the land before you; go up and possess it, as the LORD God of your fathers has spoken to you; do not fear or be discouraged. Deuteronomy 3:22 You must not fear them [spiritual or natural enemies], for the LORD your God Himself fights for you. Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the LORD your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:8 And the LORD, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed." Joshua 10:8 And the LORD said to Joshua, "Do not fear them, for I have delivered them into your hand; not a man of them shall stand before you." Judges 6:10 Also I said to you, "I am the LORD your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites (the ruling principles and idols of the world hostile to God), in whose land you dwell." But you have not obeyed My voice. 2 Kings 6:16 So he [Elisha] answered, "Do not fear, for those who are with us (angels of God) are more than those who are with them." 1 Chronicles 22:13 Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed. 1 Chronicles 28:20 And David said to his son Solomon, "Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD. 2 Chronicles 20:17 You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!' Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you." Psalm 27:3 Though an army may encamp against me, My heart shall not fear; Though war may rise against me, In this I will be confident. Psalm 37:4 The Angel of the LORD encamps all around those who fear Him, And delivers them. Psalm 46:2 Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Psalm 56:4 In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me? Psalm 118:6 The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me? Isaiah 35:4 Say to those who are fearful-hearted, "Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you." Isaiah 41:10 Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:13 For I, the LORD your God, will hold your right hand, Saying to you, "Fear not, I will help you. Isaiah 41:14 "Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel! I will help you," says the LORD And your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel. Isaiah 43:1 But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 43:5 Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; Isaiah 44:8 Do not fear, nor be afraid; Have I not told you from that time, and declared it? You are My witnesses. Is there a God besides Me? Indeed there is no other Rock; I know not one."' Isaiah 51:7 "Listen to Me, you who know righteousness, You people in whose heart is My law: Do not fear the reproach of men, Nor be afraid of their insults. Isaiah 54:4 "Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; Neither be disgraced, for you will not be put to shame; For you will forget the shame of your youth, And will not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. Isaiah 54:14 In righteousness you shall be established; You shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; And from terror, for it shall not come near you. Daniel 12:2 Then he said to me, "Do not fear, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart to understand, and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard; and I have come because of your words. Daniel 10:19 And he said, "O man greatly beloved, fear not! Peace be to you; be strong, yes, be strong!" So when he spoke to me I was strengthened, and said, "Let my lord speak, for you have strengthened me." Joel 2:21 Fear not, O land; Be glad and rejoice, For the LORD has done marvelous things! Zephaniah 3:16 In that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear; Zion, let not your hands be weak. Haggai 2:5 "According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!' Zechariah 8:13 And it shall come to pass That just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, So I will save you, and you shall be a blessing. Do not fear, Let your hands be strong.' Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Matthew 10:31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Mark 4:40 But He said to them, "Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? Luke 12:4 "And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. Luke 12:7 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. Luke 12:32 "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Romans 8:15 For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." Hebrews 11:27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. Hebrews 13:6 So we may boldly say: "The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Revelation 2:10 Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.

Dear Obama

I'm not sure if it was in that Rolling Stone article or in your book "The Audacity of Hope." I just remember you saying what it was like when you first moved to Washington, D.C. and how you stood in the shower clinging to the shower curtain. I saw a bit of myself in you, it reminded me of when I first moved to Baltimore, Maryland.

My ex lived with his aunt and she didn't want me to live with her too (initially), so he hooked me up with his friends Rachel and James. Rachel was a seamstress and James was a manager of a Discovery Store. (I also ended up working at the Baltimore Inner Harbor Discovery Store while I was working for the Maryland Film Office because I never got a raise. I didn't work under James, he was at a different store I think in Towson.) They could really decorate, I loved their condo on St. Paul at Chase. For the first couple of days, I just sat on my bed looking out the window to the busy street. I'm from a small town and I was easily intimidated then. I didn't really live with them for very long, I wanted to be with my (then) boyfriend and I worked at the Pier 1 around the corner (Belvedere Square), so his aunt caved in and let me stay for a little while. She was a nice, theater loving hippy. She worked on the original production of the Fantasticks.

This is a picture of the two of them at a surprise party I threw for my ex at the apartment on St. Paul Street that Mat and I moved into after moving out of his aunt's house. I also remember one night shortly after we met we went out to the Brewers Art, to kick back a few Resurrection beers.

Pray for the Socialite in New York

People out there pray for Tricia Walsh Smith. Something bad is going to happen to her. They're calling her "Crazy Eyes," and the way they edited her YouTube video they kept repeating "I'm an idiot" part. She's going to be another victim of genocide.

Lemon

When I went to the Chicago Botanical Gardens (Hi Stan!), I saw a lemon tree with a giant lemon hanging from one of the branches. It made me immediately think of U2's "Lemon." Bono, don't give up...you can still get there too. We all make mistakes.


Here's a picture I took in Mexico way back when I was in 9th grade. Me and my friend Michelle were on a bowling trip to Corpus Christi, Texas.

I see myself roller skating backwards (to the pattern reflected of a disco ball) to this song. It's such a silly song.

Lemon
See through in the sunlight
She wore lemon
But never in the daylight
She's gonna make you cry
She's gonna make you whisper and moan
And when you're dry
She draws her water from the stone

And I feel
Like I'm slowly, slowly, slowly slipping under
And I feel
Like I'm holding onto nothing

She wore lemon
To colour in the cold grey night
She had heaven
And she held on so tight

A man makes a picture
A moving picture
Through the light projected
He can see himself up close
A man captures colour
A man likes to stare
He turns his money into light to look for her

And I feel
Like I'm drifting, drifting, drifting from the shore
And I feel
Like I'm swimming out to her

Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins
Midnight is where the day begins

Lemon
See through in the sunlight

A man builds a city
With banks and cathedrals
A man melts the sand so he can
See the world outside You're gonna meet her there
A man makes a car She's your destination
And builds roads to run them on You gotta get to her
A man dreams of leaving She's imagination
But he always stays behind

And these are the days
When our work has come assunder
And these are the days
When we look for something other

Midnight is where the day begins
[Repeat 4 times]

[Instrumental]

Midnight is where the day begins
[Repeat 4 times]

A man makes a picture
A moving picture
Through the light projected
He can see himself up close You're gonna meet her there
A man captures colour She's your destination
A man likes to stare There's no sleeping there
He turns his money into light She's imagination
To look for her Lemon
She is the dreamer
She's imagination She had heaven
Through the light projected
He can see himself up close She wore lemon

Unity

You know, I could call people out all night long for the things that have been done to me. But, really I just want to get the perpetrators (to ensure that this doesn't happen to another SOUL). United we stand, divided we fall. Not everyone is as strong and faithful as I am. I really worry about that socialite in New York, Tricia (is that her name)? I can see they're already starting on her.

Miracles that have already happened in my life

Back when I was with my first (and only) boyfriend, we took a trip to Chicago. It was raining really bad and I was driving in the far left lane of a busy 3 lane highway. I hit a pothole with the upper left wheel and spun out across the highway into the far right lane. Everyone on the highway came to a dead stop, and I was staring down a semi-truck. Everyone on the highway then waited for me to turn around and get back on the road. My (then) boyfriend made me drive the rest of the way there, we were going to see a movie. Know what the name of the movie was? Crash. Not the good Crash, the David Cronenburg one (my ex was a huge David Cronenburg fan).

When I was living in Baltimore, Maryland one day I was returning from a trip home to Michigan in my little Nissan Sentra. I got hit by a Mack truck...rear-ended. The driver was buying drugs on the street, I saw a kid jump out of his cab and then he sped into me. The only damage done (myself included) was that the rear bumper of my car fell off.

Arugula and the War on Salad

I think the controversy over Obama's remark about the price of arugula at Whole Foods is just plain ridiculous. They made propaganda style posters of him after this labeling him a snob.

I'm considered the working poor and I shop at Whole Foods every time I get the chance. I love that store! I tried to get people to email the company to bring one to my area. I even got John (who lives in Dublin, Ireland) to send them an email. I usually go for romaine, but there's nothing wrong with arugula. Get this, the nutritional content of greener greens is higher, making arugula (and romaine) at least 10 times better than traditional iceburg lettuce. I'm not a scientist or a nutritionist, that's just my estimate. Perhaps the reason why arugula is priced so high in Whole Foods is because Whole Foods is actually a responsible company. They treat their employees really well. I was even considering getting a part time job at the one that had just opened in Baltimore's Inner Harbor while I was working at the Maryland Film Office (I never got a raise, see).

I live in a small town and I wasn't offended by his remarks, it's actually true. But that's pretty true across the board no matter where you live when you're poor and you have no job. I noticed the same trend in Baltimore, Maryland. You'd be amazed what people will do when they have little to no money. Hollywood has really capitalized on this fact. (I have a lot to be bitter about though, although I try not to let it get me down)

Sympathy for the Devil's followers

Do you know what real temptation is like? Do you?

Well, I'm going to discuss a very taboo subject right now: Temptation.

I don't know how it happens for everyone, just me. See, when you're being pursued by the Devil you often find yourself being swarmed by parasitic gnats, which should come as no surprise as he is Beelzebub (the lord of the flies). "Flying" or "to fly" is worshipping the devil. A few musical artists have even spoken about it in their lyrics, for instance REM in "Losing My Religion" and Madonna in her song "Hollywood" ("Check it out...this bird has flown." that song creeps me out). On a side note, "Losing My Religion" is southern slang for going insane, which I find to be very appropriate.

The Devil is relentless in his pursuit of you and will bring up every time you sinned to be used as blackmail against you in an attempt to make you follow him. Well, it's not working with me. I still pray every night and wake up with a smile on my face thanking God for another day. I was lost for a little while in my life. I still believed in God and Jesus, but I didn't always walk in the light. I'll tell you how I lost my way in a little bit.

When I had my breakdown the thing that made me go over the edge was this knowledge. It blew my mind. I'm used to it now, so it won't work anymore. The Devil is a scumbag and I want nothing to do with him.

India.Arie

You know, I love this song so much I could listen to it until my ears bleed.

"Video"

Sometimes I shave my legs and sometimes I don't
Sometimes I comb my hair and sometimes I won't
Depend on how the wind blows I might even paint my toes
It really just depends on whatever feels good in my soul

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Arie

When I look in the mirror and the only one there is me
Every freckle on my face is where it's supposed to be
And I know my creator didn't make no mistakes on me
My feet, my thighs, my lips, my eyes; I'm lovin' what I see

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Arie

Am I less of a lady if I don't wear pantyhose?
My mama said a lady ain't what she wears but, what she knows
But, I've drawn a conclusion, it's all an illusion, confusion's the name of the
game
A misconception, a vast deception
Something's gotta change
Don't be offended this is all my opinion
ain't nothing that I'm sayin law
This is a true confession of a life learned lesson I was sent here to share with
y'all
So get in where you fit in go on and shine
Clear your mind, now's the time
Put your salt on the shelf
Go on and love yourself
'Cuz everything's gonna be all right

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I Learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Arie

Keep your fancy drinks and your expensive minks
I don't need that to have a good time
Keep your expensive car and your caviar
All I need is my guitar
Keep your Kristal and your pistol
I'd rather have a pretty piece of crystal
Don't need your silicon I prefer my own
What God gave me is just fine

I'm not the average girl from your video
and I ain't built like a supermodel
But, I learned to love myself unconditionally
Because I am a queen
I'm not the average girl from your video
My worth is not determined by the price of my clothes
No matter what I'm wearing I will always be India Arie




But "Beautiful Flower" is my favorite song of hers. She wrote it for Oprah's girls school in South Africa. I originally got it because John used to call me "Flower." He never really complemented me, but he called me "Flower" and that was good enough.

"Beautiful Flower"

This is a song for every girl who's
Ever been through something she thought she couldn't make it through
I sing these words because
I was that girl too
Wanting something better than this
But who do I turn to

Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

This is a song for every girl who
Feels like she is not special
'Cause she don't look like a supermodel Coke bottle
The next time the radio tells you to shake your moneymaker
Shake your head and tell them, tell them you're a leader

Now we're moving from the darkness into the light
This is the defining moment of our lives

'Cause you're beautiful like a flower
More valuable than a diamond
You are powerful like a fire
You can heal the world with your mind

There is nothing in the world that you cannot do
When you believe in you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

Yeah, you, who are beautiful
Yeah, you, who are brilliant
Yeah, you, who are powerful
Yeah, you, who are resilient

Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, this song is for you
Yeah, you, yeah, you
You are brilliant

What a cool guy!

www.lifewithoutlimbs.org
www.shamethewise.com

What I got out of Pastor Greg's sermon today

<< 1 Corinthians 1:27 >>

But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong.


Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

1:26-31 God did not choose philosophers, nor orators, nor statesmen, nor men of wealth, and power, and interest in the world, to publish the gospel of grace and peace. He best judges what men and what measures serve the purposes of his glory. Though not many noble are usually called by Divine grace, there have been some such in every age, who have not been ashamed of the gospel of Christ; and persons of every rank stand in need of pardoning grace. Often, a humble Christian, though poor as to this world, has more true knowledge of the gospel, than those who have made the letter of Scripture the study of their lives, but who have studied it rather as the witness of men, than as the word of God. And even young children have gained such knowledge of Divine truth as to silence infidels. The reason is, they are taught of God; the design is, that no flesh should glory in his presence. That distinction, in which alone they might glory, was not of themselves. It was by the sovereign choice and regenerating grace of God, that they were in Jesus Christ by faith. He is made of God to us wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption; all we need, or can desire. And he is made wisdom to us, that by his word and Spirit, and from his fulness and treasures of wisdom and knowledge, we may receive all that will make us wise unto salvation, and fit for every service to which we are called. We are guilty, liable to just punishment; and he is made righteousness, our great atonement and sacrifice. We are depraved and corrupt, and he is made sanctification, that he may in the end be made complete redemption; may free the soul from the being of sin, and loose the body from the bonds of the grave. And this is, that all flesh, according to the prophecy by Jeremiah, Jer 9:23-24, may glory in the special favour, all-sufficient grace, and precious salvation of Jehovah.