He Will Be A Shelter in The Storm

Last weekend, I had the pleasure of attending my church's annual picnic. The day was going along great. It was sunny, but not too hot. I was not sweating bullets like I usually do. The whole day I was thinking to myself, this is a great day for a picnic! As we were fellowshipping and enjoying great food, watching the kids play, and just all out having a wonderful time, there was a mighty rumble from the sky. Rain came pouring down instantly with force and everyone except my son and his pal raced under the shelter. The sun disappeared behind mighty storm clouds. Usually, I love the rain, when I am at home snuggled under my covers sleep, but on this particular day I was frustrated. The rain was ruining a perfectly good picnic! Later that evening when I got home, as I reflected on the day's activities, I thought, well although it rained we still had a shelter and truthfully, I didn't get wet that much at all! I thought about Jesus and how He covers us in the midst of the storm. While the rain was pouring down, I remained dry with the occasional splash that I brought on myself or that others brought in. And it made me think about life and when tough times come. I thank God for being my shelter in the midst of a storm. Yes, you may take some tough blows through the storm, but the blows are usually a result of you trying to fix your situation or you allowing someone else in to try and fix you, hence the occasionally splatters of rain I did feel that day. During the storm, just stand and let Him do what He does best. And then I thought about my son and his pal and how although it was raining they still embraced it. They were soaked, but they were so happy! I think of the verse in James 1:2, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials," just like my son and his pal did that day. My dear sisters, look for the lessons God gives us through everyday situations. I thank God for the lesson he gave me!

From Minister Rick Warren

My beautiful sisters in Christ. Don't ever feel like you have to be perfect to be used by God. He can use anyone!
I absolutely love this article by Minister Rick Warren! Enjoy and be blessed!

We Find Our Significance in Service

“Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body” (Romans 12:5 MSG).

You are going to give your life for something. What will it be—a career, a sport, a hobby, fame, wealth? None of these will have lasting significance. Service is the pathway to real significance. It is through ministry that we discover the meaning of our lives. The Bible says, “Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body” (Romans 12:5 MSG).

As we serve together in God’s family, our lives take on eternal importance. Paul said, “I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less . . . because of what you are a part of” (1 Corinthians 12:14a, 19 MSG).

God wants to use you to make a difference in his world. He wants to work through you. What matters is not the duration of your life, but the donation of it. Not how long you lived, but how you lived.

If you’re not involved in any service or ministry, what excuse have you been using?

• Abraham was old,
• Jacob was insecure,
• Leah was unattractive,
• Joseph was abused,
• Moses stuttered,
• Gideon was poor,
• Samson was codependent,
• Rahab was immoral,
• David had an affair and all kinds of family problems,
• Elijah was suicidal,
• Jeremiah was depressed,
• Jonah was reluctant,
• Naomi was a widow,
• John the Baptist was eccentric to say the least,
• Peter was impulsive and hot-tempered,
• Martha worried a lot,
• The Samaritan woman had several failed marriages,
• Zacchaeus was unpopular,
• Thomas had doubts,
• Paul had poor health, and
• Timothy was timid.

That is quite a variety of misfits, but God used each of them in his service. He will use you, too, if you stop making excuses.

So my fabulous ladies, let Him USE YOU TODAY FOR HIS GLORY!
Peace & Blessings,
NBJ

Are You Having an Emotional Affair?

I am a happily married woman for almost ten years now. I love my husband and I am so thankful to have him in my life. That does not mean that being married has been easy. We were married really young and well, you know what the statistics say about couples who marry young. They don't last. Its no surprise that divorce rates in America are staggering. I owe the fact that we are still together and going strong all to God. If it were not for our individual relationships with Him, it is possible that we could have been just another statistic. I believe that we need to block any attempts by the enemy to gain a foothold in our marriages. One way I do that is by not having any secretive relationships with males that my husband is not involved with as well. There is no discussion with the opposite sex about my husband or the things that go on within our marriage. When you do that, I believe that this is an emotional affair. Emotional affairs are, in my opinion just as bad as physical affairs. The emotional connection between a husband and wife should be their own, sacred and private. Do you agree?

Blessings,
NBJ

An Excerpt from My Upcoming Book: Redeeming Bashiri

“The seed of hate was planted in me when I was only eight,” Bashiri mumbled back to me avoiding eye contact. I could tell he was growing more and more frustrated with our therapy sessions. “Why do you feel that way Bashiri?” I asked attentively hoping that today was the day the breakthrough I had been praying for would occur. “I don’t want to talk about it white man!” Bashiri banged his fist so hard on my desk that the thump vibrated through my whole body. “Why are you here? What are you trying to prove? You have no idea the terrors I have seen in my life white man!” Bashiri looked at me with his dark piercing eyes. I prayed that he would not strike me. Somehow I managed to stay calm and responded, “I am sorry if I offended you in any way, I just want to help you. Look, why don’t we stop here for today and try again next week?” Bashiri grinned a devilish grin and left out of my humble office space not saying a word. I let out a big sigh of relief thanking God that Bashiri did not physically hurt me, but my joy quickly evaporated. I was frustrated with myself for failing once again to gain his confidence. I looked out of the window watching Bashiri’s every move. He walked with a cautious stride all the while constantly looking behind him as if he felt someone was pursuing him. I watched him until he vanished into a village hut. (copyright 2009 Nickia Johnson)


Let me know what you think?

Blessings NBJ

What's Love Got to Do With It?

Tina Turner's "What's Love Got to Do With It," is a familiar song to many. And I must admit that I am a Tina Turner fan. But, as I ponder over the lyrics.

Oh whats love got to do, got to do with it
What's love but a second hand emotion
What's love got to do, got to do with it
Who needs a heart
When a heart can be broken

I can't help but think, wow this contradicts what I believe and what the word of God teaches me. This is not the way Jesus wants us to feel about love. There is a verse in that song that I do agree with, the fact that love is a second hand emotion. The type of love that Ms. Turner is singing about in this song is "emotional love." The love that Jesus wants us to have for one another is an "action love." Now, I realize the context in which Ms. Turner wrote this song. Her marriage to Ike was painful to say the least and this song was a way for her to release the pain. I totally get that. What I mean by this is displaying love through your actions. You ask, "How do you do this?"

Wesley's notes to
I Corinthians 13:4 describes the action of love exceptionally well:

The love of God, and of our neighbour for God's sake, is patient toward, all men. It, suffers all the weakness, ignorance, errors, and infirmities of the children of God; all the malice and wickedness of the children of the world: and all this, not only for a time, but to the end. And in every step toward overcoming evil with good, it is kind, soft, mild, benign. It inspires the sufferer at once with the most amiable sweetness, and the most fervent and tender affection. Love acteth not rashly - Does not hastily condemn any one; never passes a severe sentence on a slight or sudden view of things. Nor does it ever act or behave in a violent, headstrong, or precipitate manner. Is not puffed up - Yea, humbles the soul to the dust.

So try to not get caught up in emotional love and withholding our love because of what someone has done to us. Love is an action and is displayed in how we treat one another. People will come in and out of your life and people will hurt you, especially those who are closest to you. But God tells us to LOVE in spite of. After all, God loves us not because we are so lovable, but because HE IS LOVE! Are you?


I Corinthians 13:2 (God's Word Translation)

I may have the gift to speak what God has revealed, and I may understand all mysteries and have all knowledge. I may even have enough faith to move mountains. But if I don't have love, I am nothing.



Love YOU!
NBJ

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Blessings,
NBJ

Meet Me At The Table

This article by Sharon Sloan of Proverbs 31 Ministry blessed me so today! Enjoy

18 Aug 2009
Sharon Sloan, Proverbs 31 Ministry

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." Psalm 23:5-6 (NIV)

For the past two summers we have rented a house at the Jersey shore from some friends. As I was packing for our beach vacation this summer, I silently prayed to the Lord and shared a wish with him. "Lord, I'd really like to have a special place to have my morning quiet time with You at the shore house this year. You know how I like to spread out a little for my quiet time and study time. Last summer at the shore, I used the kitchen table every day, which was dandy. Yet it would be w onderful to have a special little spot where I can spread my Bible, books and journals out, and not have to put everything away when I am done every morning. Just a little wish, Lord. Thanks."

When we arrived at the shore house, my husband Jim took the first of many heavy loads up to the house while I was organizing our children and gathering as many things in my mommy-octopus arms as I could carry. When Jim came back down he enthusiastically said, "Honey, there is a new little table in the family room that is perfect for morning quiet times." I had not even shared my prayer with Jim at that point, but he was excited about the table and knew it would be a perfect spot for devotions. Wow, Lord, thank you! I was so thankful to the Lord for remembering my prayer. The surprise addition of this furniture at the shore house was a treasured spot for me to meet with and seek the Lord each day.

A few days later, I called my sweet girlfriend who owns the house to see how she was feeling as she had been ill. Toward the end of our phone conversation, I told her, "By the way, we love the table you put in the living area of the house. It's perfect for morning quiet time with the Lord!"

"What table?" My friend asked.

"You know, the little table between the fire place and the front door. It's just perfect for devotions and studying."

"We didn't put a table there."

"Yes, you did."

"No, we didn't." She paused momentarily and then told me to hold on. Then she called to her tween daughter to inquire. Her daughter said "no," they didn't.

I took a picture of the table with my cell phone and texted it to my friend. Her reply: She had never seen the table before. She double-checked with her husband and a handful of people who have key access to their shore home. Nothing. Nobody knew about the table or how it got there.

But we knew.

God remembered my prayer.

The Master Carpenter prepared a table for me. He met me there. He encouraged and blessed my heart remarkably. He spoke His love and acceptance to my heart in a way I will always remember. He made my cup overflow. His goodness and love are following me, and I am so thankful and humbled. I prayed, saw His answer and responded with joyful thanks.

Before we left the shore house at the end of our week's vacation, I stood at the table with my hands on it. I prayed for all the people who had sat there before me and for those who will sit there in the future. I prayed they would meet with God there, that it would be a special place for them as well. I prayed also they would inquire of Him, be watchful for His answers and give Him joyous thanksgiving.

Ask Him to meet you. He will. The table is set. Join the Master Carpenter in conversations He has planned for your heart.

Dear Lord, I pray for a generous portion of You. Open my eyes that I may see Your detailed answers to my prayers. Give me a heart that wa tches in expectation of Your miracles and gives great thanks to You. May my heart's greatest desire be to meet with You daily. As the worship song says, 'May my life be one unbroken gaze, fixed upon the beauty of Your face.' Oh, Lord, may that be my life's passion! In Jesus' Name, Amen.

From Neil Anderson

This is a great article I came across by Neil Anderson. Enjoy

SATAN'S DEFEAT

Colossians 2:15
He [Christ] disarmed the rulers and authorities [Christ] made a public display of them, having triumphed over them through Him

In Colossians 2:15, Paul identifies something very important that happened at the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ. Not only were we made alive in Christ, but Satan was also disarmed and defeated. His defeat is not pending, nor is it future; it has already happened.

If Satan is already disarmed, why don't we experience more victory in our lives? In a word, the lie. Satan roams around like a hungry lion, looking and sounding ferocious. In reality his fangs have been removed and he has been declawed, but if he can deceive you into believing that he can chew you up and spit you out, he can control you, which is just what he wants to do. He is gumming Christians to death!

The very reason Christ conferred His authority on us was to demonstrate to the kingdom of darkness who is really in control in this world. In Ephesians Paul wrote that his call was "to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things; in order that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carries about in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Ephesians 3:9-11).

How are we doing at making Christ's victory known to "the rulers and authorities in heavenly places," which is God's eternal purpose? In many quarters, not very well. Some of us are still saying, "What rulers and authorities?" We're not sure that demons even exist. How are we ever going to get our job done in the world if we don't believe what God says about the kingdom of darkness? Others of us are cowering in the corner pleading, "O God, please help us! The devil is roaring at us!" And God responds, "I've done all I'm going to do. I defeated and disarmed Satan at the cross. I conferred all authority on you in Christ. Now open your eyes. Realize who you are and start demonstrating the authority you already possess."

Prayer:

In Your name, Lord, I will take an active stand against the devil and his demons, renouncing both apathy and fear.

Will A Man Rob God?

Blessings all,

I have to admit that tithing has been an area of struggle for me. Living in expensive Northern Virginia with two kids, a house payment, student loans and a stack of bills is financially overwhelming at times and is the thing that stresses me out the most. God has been dealing with me on this issue for quite some time now and has been speaking to me about tithing. His word in Malachi Chapter 3:10 says:

"Malachi 3:10. "Bring ye all the tithe into the storehouse, that there maybe meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Now don't get me wrong, I do tithe, but I have a tendency to give God what is leftover after the bills are paid. I am diligently seeking God's help in helping me to reverse my "giving nature," pay Him first and see that He will open the windows of heaven and pour me out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive. I always ask myself, why do I have difficulty with that? I believe God and I know that He is all powerful! And I believe in His word! I also know that if it were not for HIM I would not even have a job. But yet, I confess that I am hesitant to put total trust in Him in the area of finances. I have just begun to set aside my 10th each pay period and I am asking you to pray for me. This, my friends, is my work in progress.

Blessings,
NBJ

Christian Hypocrites

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines a hypocrite as:

A person who puts on a false appearance of virtue or religion and a person who acts in contradiction to his or her stated beliefs or opinions.

I know I know some folks like that and I am sure you do too! They come a dime a dozen. I seldom listen to current hip-hop (no disrespect) these days because of the lack of inspiration and lyrical content like say from that of a Lauryn Hill, but I cannot help but admit that I absolutely love Jada Kiss's "Who's Real" track. If you haven't heard it it goes a little something like this:

"Who's real, who's fake? Those the type of people I hate! If you real and you know it clap your hands!"

You might be calling me a hypocrite right now because...YES I am a CHRISTIAN who does listen to a select bit of secular music.

Now, as a Christian woman, I don't hate anyone because it contradicts the gospel of Jesus Christ, but I can certainly hate the sin and not the person.

But if we are willing to be transparent, naked and unashamed before God (He already knows anyway) we can all admit that we have been guilty of hypocrisy at one point or another. I know I have been and my guess is you have been too.

When Jesus spoke of hypocrites in the bible he did so in a harsh tone. See Matthew 7:1-5 or Matthew 15:1-9. If we are supposed to live in His image, this is an area that we all need to check in ourselves on a regular basis.

Think about it!

Peace & Blessings,
NBJ