Until I learn (poetry)

Until I Learn
by Telika Howard 2/07

Dear God
I'm not at the point
where I see any answers
and that's okay
because I'm grateful for your
forgiveness
as I keep falling behind
your love keeps me in line
and I finally see why
why
I have not seen
my dreams and
why things happen bit by bit
I must continue to keep my heart
and desire toward you
don't bless me abundantly
until I grow some more
don't give me my dream
Until I see properly
don't open the windows
until I learn
until I learn
and I will be a better person for it.
Romans 5:3-5
1 peter 5:10

I Hope I Don't Scare You
by Telika Howard 2/07

If you look at me as an example
take the evolution seen
and the unlimited possibilitiesof my life
dont be afraid of where I'm at now
but where I'm gonna be
soon I will flee
all of this
using my faith as wings
only pay attention to that-
my wings
not my cage
and follow me in my faith
don't avoid where I've been come walk with me
without sight
2nd corinthians 6:10

Today I Know
by Telika Howard 2/07

I'm gonna write
writings that will
unlock hearts
and create steps for others to climb
simple letters, words together
put just right by my hands and
lead by the spirit
I know it will be more
more then the stars
can contain
and if this happens
after I die
ripped pieces of paper taped together
80 years from now
it wouldn't matter
because today I know
my destiny
1 timouthy 4:11-16

Everyday new

I had a wonderful vacation I believe over the time spent just with my family I have become stronger and closer to God. I have truly learned to be still and just wait. Everytime I get antsy about things in my life I now lean back and praise Him and thank Him that He will make it happen and I pray and believe my prayers are just that powerful. That has done some amazing things for me and my spiritual life. I'm truly blessed to have reached this point. I used to think it was slothful to not always be running around trying to do things yourself and come up with a back plan for your back up plan but that's not helping yourself that's blocking God and what he wants you to do which is have patience and faith. I am not working, I am not writing (besides this blog) I'm watching my children and I'm talking to my husband and I'm praying and thinking and reading the Bible. It feels good to finally slow down and not have this long to do list. Women has this biggest problem where they think they are viewed as weak and powerless if they just sit back and relax and let God oversee their lives. They think that others will think that they are lazy or not a go-getter. but you know what? who cares what they think! being still will produce much better results in your life. It feels good to begin 2007 like this without any strong obligations on myself accept to simply thank Him and love Him everyday.


Psalm 46:10 "Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

Spiritual gifts wrap up (my vacation)

After studying the gifts I have felt to end now and move on after my vacation. Which brings me to this scripture that was just e-mailed to me today:

"If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. (1 corinthians 13:2)"

Which is a great scripture to wrap this up because it ties back into the theme of most of my blogs which is loving each other in spite of differences, disagreements, and politics. If you treat people with love you will open their hearts up to see the truth. That's the only way it can be done.

I am going on vacation today and will be back January 5th. If you are new to my blog, please review other blogs I have written, (I have lots!) and don't think it's too late to comment because I will get it. God Bless and celebrate Christ and all He's done and will do for us not just on Christmas but everyday!

The gift of healing and miraculous powers

What amazes me is not stories of people being healed and people being brought back to life, etc. it's that it doesn't happen as often as it did in the Bible and that some of those who do have the Holy Spirit using them to heal or place a miracle in someone's life are charging money for it. I do believe that some are called to be used by God through the Holy Spirit to heal and drastically change lives but it should not be exploited or abused. Jesus and the apostles healed because that was doing the work of God and did not ask for payment. Now, if you desire to donate or sow a seed for the good of the gospel or use your tithes in that manner, God promises to give back to you sevenfold. But true people given the gift are those who do not try to use it to gain financially in a world that is only temporary. Just the fact they they put collecting and storing riches over the work of the Lord shows that they miss the whole point of Jesus coming back and us living eternally with Him where material things aren't needed. And remember it is not them doing the healing but God doing the healing through them.

Also once you have Christ living inside of you, you have the ability to ask for healing and miracles for yourself in you life. The people who have the gift I believe are place to heal the lost(both physically and spiritually) and bring them to Christ but those who have Christ already have healing by faith.

"He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed." 1peter 2:25

"Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. Acts 4:8-10

The gift of speaking and interpreting tongues

The gift of tongues is controversial and debated amongst different religions. As I am, non-denominational, I will base my views on the Word of God a.k.a the Bible.

Speaking in tongues is having the Holy Spirit speak from within you in a language most don't understand. Many churches believe that only those who has been given the gift of tongues can speak it, mostly because of the scriptures, 1 Corinthians 12:28-30,"And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts."

But is says in 1 Corinthians 12:27-31 " And now I will show you the most excellent way.Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues" Which means that anyone who is saved and believe in Christ will have the ability to speak in tongues.

It also says in Acts 2:4 "All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them."

So what is exactly the gift? I believe that the Holy Spirit can choose a believer to speak in tongues and intercede for them when they believe and become close to God but those who have the gift can speak it and teach with it at anytime as Paul spoke about in 1 Corinthians 14. The gift of interpretation,however, is different and given to someone who hears tongues spoken and hears the message in their spirit.

The gift of Wisdom

When some think about the gift of wisdom they may be thinking, "I know who has that gift because so and so is so smart!" but as I studied on this blog in my wisdom series, the book of proverbs doesn't view wisdom as "book smarts" or "street smarts" but the ability to truly rely on God and His words, trusting Him and fearing Him. I believe in the passage about gifts when it says, "to one there is given through the spirit the message of wisdom" I believe that to be saying that there are people who has the ability to listen to God immediately and not second guess it, and to help others to do the same. but the most important part of this message is through the spirit we are not wise without the Holy spirit of God within us. That's why if I am ever complimented on things that I write in this blog I do not take the credit because after prayer and study I share what I feel in my heart I am told to share. Christians given any gift should always be humbled by it because without God they would have nothing.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

The gift of Prophesy

I am going to take the next few blogs to discuss the different gifts God has given His children in Christ and how they affect our lives. I decided to start with the gift of prophesy because of a pastor from Moody Bible Institute I heard speaking on the radio this morning. He said something I didn't agree with. He talked about when people come up to you and say that God has told them to tell you something or when you feel if God is talking to you that you should second guess it and that you should rely on the Bible. Now I do believe that you should read your Bible and pray about a fellow Christian brother or sister's message but I don't think we should be close minded to messages from others because it says in 1 Corinthians that through the Holy spirit there are some who are given gifts of prophesy. I think that people in the Bible heard from God more and from prophets more because their faith was stronger. Now-a-days we want to have hard evidence for everything and not trust that God is using someone for the very purpose of helping you grow spiritually. Now I'm not saying believe everything you hear someone say is from God but you shouldn't dismiss everything either. This has only happened to me once, from a woman I met at a women's conference and I knew what she told me was relevant and from God right away but I still prayed about it before I took action and more signs in my life began to follow what she had spoke over me. Not all have the gift of prophesy but is says that God has given some to have that gift.

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 "There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."


God also testified to it by signs, wonders and various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will. Hebrews 2:4

Continue reading my blog for the discussion of the next gift and at the end of the gift discussion blogs there will be a blog with a biblical quiz to lead you to your gift.

ThanksLiving

As we give thanks this thanksgiving for all the blessings we have in our lives. Let's remember to live in a thankful manner. Let's watch our complaining and our regretting. Let's take the time to thank God everyday for the day.

God Bless!

God and the Homosexual

You ever wonder what God thinks of the homosexual? Do you think that He groups them differently then everyone else and they don't apply to His promises of love and forgiveness?

When I first became a Christian I was the young age of 8 years old. I think I was a mature 8 year old because I remember distinctly that I knew Jesus loved me so much He died for me and I wanted to go to heaven by accepting Him in my heart. I also remember loving church and the things my Sunday School Teacher said. So I knew what was wrong and what God expected of me ten years later, when I stopped going to church and became sexually active with my boyfriend and eventually pregnant at 19. When my son was about 1 and a half, I had the desire to go back to church. I loved and joined my friend's kesha church and everyone welcomed me with open arms being a teenage single mother.

So what does all that have to do with homosexuals? The fact that I was accepted isn't anything new or shocking to Christians now a days but homosexuals can't do that. Even though I was ministered to and told that having pre-marital sex was wrong, I wasn't shunned or told I was disgusting. So how come Christians can't do that with gays and lesbians? How come homosexuals have a hard time coming into a Christian church? Even someone who became a Christian and has fallen into homosexuality should be loved and ministered to, just as I was.

As many know, I am now married and I gave birth to 3 more kids. Even though, I am not in sexual sin anymore, I still do fall and I still need to be ministered to. We all do. Open your heart to someone and pray for them, and tell them that, even though you don't accept the sin they are in, you do accept them and want to show them the gift of Jesus Christ and help them to a life that will give them blessings and favor from God.

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense -- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." 1 John 2:1-2

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2nd Corinthians 12:9

Pray for the Persecuted Church

Today is the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church. We christians in America take for granted the freedom we have to worship our lord and savior Jesus Christ. But across the globe there are thousands who suffer and die so that they can worship the one true Lord. Please take today to pray for all those that God would ease their suffering and bless them abundantly as well as save souls who are out persecuting Christians and change them the way Paul was changed.

More Christians have died for their faith in the 20th century than in the previous 19 centuries combined. For 30 of those years I pastored churches in Canada. I have seen my share of internal disagreement and even discouragement within the Church of Jesus Christ.

… are a powerful testimony to God's promise never to leave us or forsake us.

But I recall no time when I feared for my life because of my faith in Christ. During the same time, though, in hundreds of places around the world, thousands of fellow Christians gave their lives, lost their jobs, or were cast out of their families because they chose to follow Jesus.

What were these courageous Christians thinking as they served and suffered for Christ?

During November, the Church is called to hear the voice of the persecuted Church. So this month we will lift up the voices and lives of believers whose suffering and joy in Christ are a powerful testimony to God's promise never to leave us or forsake us.

The Bible assures us that God hears the cries of His people. As the apostle Peter puts it, we are "God's elect, strangers in the world," and today we are "scattered" across the globe.

May God bless us as we journey through the scattered Church in our world. We will certainly be assured that nothing "in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:39).

Rev. David Tigchelaar is Executive Director, Bible League of Canada.

Originally published in The Joy and Suffering of the Persecuted Church, 2002.

NanoWriMo

update: I finished nanowrimo today 11/30/06 51,422 words!! I will be posting an excerpt on my blog soon. This was a blessing because I had many challenges and didn't think I would finish.



November is national novel writing month and to celebrate nanowrimo.com offers everyone a challenge of writing a 50,000 word novel in the month of November. This novel writing marathon is open to everyone and the website keeps track of your word count. If you complete the challenge you will be recognized on the site. I have taken on this challenge as I have had an idea for a novel on my heart for some time now but always had an excuse to put it off. I started it, but then hated my work so stopped it. But this challenge is making me push forward and keep writing no matter how bad I think it is, and just when I don't like where it's going something comes up that I add and I begin to like it again. So I am basically having a relationship with my novel in process. So far I have 4,694 words written. I am busy, but I try to find the time to write at night while my kids are in bed. I find it's very calming. My novel is titled: Out of the Muck and Miry Clay(from Psalm 40) and it's about a young woman who is trying to make her dreams come true and is successful at it but once she becomes saved, her dreams change and she finds out they are better then what she had planned. So pray for my success in this project please and let me know if you sign up as well! God Bless!

The "unlovable" (handling politics part two)

In last weeks blog I blogged about how we are commanded to love all and act in a loving manner toward all and God will do the rest to convince others of His righteousness. So, today I want to blog about how to love those you feel you just can't love.

The number one key may seem simple but it's something we forget in the loving department, prayer. A simple prayer about what bothers you about them or a group of people and asking God to release that from you does a world of good. Many times I walk away from a stressful situation pray to God and suddenly feel so much better. You know that sinking feeling you get at the pit of your stomach when you hear or read something that don't agree with you (or God's words which is more important) prayer takes that feeling away. It has for me many times. Your simple words to Him on how you feel and why you feel it and how you have faith God will help you and help you to witness to others who are in the dark about Him. If you are left with no words, the prayer in Colossians 1: 9-12 is perfect.

Which brings me to the next thing,
reading the Bible also helps. Read the many many many scriptures there is about love in the Bible. Reading them out loud really helps to release anger and frustration toward another. When you see how much God wants you to love Him and one another it will soften you heart. After all your number one priority should be to please Him.

Remember, "the flesh profits nothing"(John 6:63) so handling disagreements and differences by yelling and turning your back, or insulting won't profit or get your point across doing things God's way will.

Handling politics

If you are a regular reader of my blog you know that I am not about politics. I
feel that politics separate us and keep us from looking at the bigger picture that God has for us. (If Jesus were to come back tomorrow could you say you shared His gift with others? Or were you too busy being critical and pointing your finger?) But I do vote and I do pray for people in power(ALL the people whether I agree with them or not.) over this country and the leaders in this world.
As Christians decide on who to vote for and what bills they want passed etc. etc. I think that they should take these two scriptures below and keep them in your heart.

"Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life -- in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing." Philippians 2:14-16 I believe this scripture as saying that we need to leave it up to God to know that our prayers is enough. That when Jesus come back you can say you spent more time loving others and planting the seed of God in their hearts that eventually will change them. (because your arguing and yelling and finger pointing won't.)

And this second scripture: "Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Live the way God wants you to live, walk in love and understanding and He promises to make your cause shine above all else.

PRAYER REQUESTS?

Post your prayer requests and I will pray for you or anyone else! God bless! Please pray for me and my family and my Christian magazine's success. Thanks

My Second Love one year...

For those who don't know I have a second blog that I now have had for one year. Please go visit it it's all about my family and you can leave a comment and brag about your family too!

Great is your faithfulness

Yet this I call to mind
and therefore I have hope:

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.

lamentations 3:21-23

Isn't it a blessing that we have God's grace and forgiveness everyday? That we don't have to wake up in the morning beating ourselves up for the mistakes we have made. That we can call upon His name and be blessed and forgiven. That He is working on the inside of us everyday so that our mistakes become less and less the more we pray and reach toward Him. That we are growing spiritually everyday. That we don't have to worry about "karma" and through Jesus' blood we are not damned to every wrong thing we do and when we do have consequences for our actions He is using them to teach us not condemn us. Great is His faithfulness. Praise God

"but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members.What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!" Romans 23-25

Associated content

I found a great website that looks at your writing and pays you to publish. I have 3 already published. It's very exciting, and it has a big reader base, so you can get your message out. Check it out at my links below and don't forget to stop in and read my stuff so far.

The "unfair" Parable

The parable spoke by Jesus below(Matthew 20) is often seen as an unfair parable. The parable below usually bothers those Christians who think that certain people who don't follow God's way don't deserve understanding and forgiveness. I love it because it shows the generosity and love of God. We should have an understanding attitude towards others instead of the "we are better and more righteous and you should be cursed" attitude. That isn't what changes people anyway. If you have love and compassion and pray for those who do wrong things, I firmly believe that changes will happen more quickly. For an example, I met a girl who believed in abortion. She wanted to abort her child. I had already witnessed to her and she wasn't too sure about being saved she didn't even believe in God. I didn't yell at her or tell her she was going to be a disgusting killer. That would've drove her away and given her a bad taste in her mouth about Christians. Instead I told her what I believed, told her that I loved her and so did God and even though she told me she was still going to do it, I still was kind to her and most importantly I prayed for her. Long story short, she decided to have her baby and she goes to teen bible study on Wednesdays. She's not saved yet, but I'm believing that it will happen soon.

Matthew 20:
1"For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2He agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard. 3"About the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing nothing. 4He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5So they went. "He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the same thing. 6About the eleventh hour he went out and found still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here all day long doing nothing?' 7" 'Because no one has hired us,' they answered.
"He said to them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard.' 8"When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages, beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' 9"The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. 10So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12'These men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the day.' 13"But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14Take your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave you. 15Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

Woman

This was sent to me and I really liked it. Hope you enjoy God bless!

There comes a time in every woman's life when

she has to take a close look at herself. Not at her circumstance, not at

what she did, not how unfair life is, or not at whom made you do it. She has

to just look at herself in all her glory and imperfection. Have you ever

admired a woman who has been through changes in her life?

Or have you made up in your mind that she is just messed up.

Before you make this mistake, take a closer look.

A woman who has endured the most unusual life is someone

of wisdom, someone who has been chosen by God to go through things that have made her stronger.

Think of all the great women in the Bible: Mary

Magdalene, Ruth and Naomi, the woman with an issue of blood flow,

and

Esther, to name a few. Mary was a prostitute, a very uneasy woman. But by

the time Jesus was done with her, she was His closest follower.

Esther was unfortunate in marrying an abusive man,

but by the time God was

done with her, she had married one of the wealthiest men in the land. Women are so quick to beat the next one down instead of trying to hold her up. Before you wonder,

"What's up with her?" ask yourself, "What's up with me?"

That woman could be my mother, sister, aunt, in-law, stepmother, niece, grandmother, great-grandmother, neighbor, friend, or co-worker, etc.

That woman could be me.

Women are the carriers of life, not the channels of death. Let's build and encourage each other, as did Ruth and Naomi. Pass this to all the women in your life. Encourage and Love, Forgive and Forget, and trust that the woman that receives this will be touched in some way.

May peace and love be upon you.

The Contagious Christian

One of the hardest things for Christians to do (especially Christian teens) is witness to others. Many are afraid to be laughed at or judged when sharing their faith. I know one friend was telling me that she dreads telling people she is a Christian because the minute she does she will be scrutinized for everything she does. This is difficult, but we shouldn't avoid it because one person we will tell will catch on and have their life changed. It says in the Bible that when just one sinner comes to God all heaven rejoices. Everyone matters to God so we have to reach out to as many as we can. So how can we do that? There is a teaching video that helps you share your faith in an easy and conversational manner. On the website there are even clips for you to sample and see if these video courses would help you; you can even print out worksheets.