Always Listening, Always Faithful

For some time I've wanted to have a professional family portrait done. I would log on to Facebook and view the family portraits of my friends and feel the desire grow. Though I'd record the photographer information, I was always hesitant to call out of concern their fees would extend beyond my household budget. So I'd say to myself, "One day you'll get to take professional pictures. Don't worry about that right now." That wasn't really a 'faith statement', just a little self encouragement to quell my desire and soothe my emotions.

Well, sometime later my sister-in-law contacted me regarding having a family portrait taken as a Mother's Day gift to our mother-in-law. I immediately thought it was a great idea and was fully on board to participate. In that same conversation she informed me that my little branch could have an individual portrait done for a nominal fee. That really excited me, remembering that the desire for the portrait was held in my heart, but never left my lips in prayer. It blessed me tremendously to know that without having made the request from the Lord, He answered me and provided. I shared this with my sister-in-law, much to her pleasure.

The night before picture day I made sure my household was prepared. I knew we would have to purchase a top for my son being that he lack one that had our unifying color. It was very important to my sister-in-law that we all coordinated; something I hadn't considered, but very much wanted for my household's personal portrait. That's the other thing in all this: not only does the Lord know how to provide without you even asking, but He also knows how to get you all the information you need to fully enjoy what He gives to you. Yeah Jesus!

So, in making sure our clothes were ready and washing what needed to be cleaned, my husband told me that our budget didn't cover purchasing a separate portrait for us. To be honest, I woke up with a mini attitude about it. One of the hardest things for me to deal with is not being able to do or have exactly what I want. Financial limitations can be very discouraging and depressing...causing you to look at things from a 'half empty' perspective. To my shame, that's how I looked at it. When my husband asked me what was wrong, all I could say was, "It's not you." I was just so angry at how the situation appeared. Here I was, so close to possessing my hearts desire, and there wasn't enough money to make it mine. I thought for sure the best I could expect was to see myself in the large family portrait when I visited my in-laws. What a bummer.

But then I heard in my spirit, "It's too soon to call it over."

This enabled me to turn my frown upside down and enjoy my family's company for the rest of the afternoon. Isn't easy to forget that what we feel and exude has a direct impact on the people around us? Imagine if we all just trusted God for all things how much easier and more enjoyable we'd be. Go figure. After taking the large group photo we went ahead and took our turn posing for the individual family portraits. After a short wait we were all able to view the proofs and make our personal selections. Knowing I didn't have enough money to get everything I wanted, I found myself still making selections as if I did. I honestly do not know what I was thinking. Maybe I just switched over into shopper-mode. I do that sometime...in stores...when shopping...a lot.

After selections were made and we all had time to gush over our favorite pictures, I turned to my husband and asked if we could somehow squeeze my selections into the budget. As you can probably tell by this point, 'budget' is a word I would prefer NOT to have in my vocabulary. He then informed me that our pictures were paid for. That his mother wants to purchase our pictures as a gift - even though the portrait was to be her Mother's Day gift. WOW. Here I had spent most of last night and a good portion of the morning feeling sad and sorry for myself. Here I was, ready to accept that God hadn't really blessed me at all and maybe somehow I wasn't really that loved by Him. WOW.

Looking back on the whole ordeal from desire to realization, I realized several things. The First was that I never asked the Lord to bless me with a portrait of my family. He heard the desire of my heart and provided. No questions asked. Secondly, even though we were physically unable to purchase what we wanted, He had already assigned someone else to take care of that aspect for us...again, without us asking. And lastly, though I went from being thankful to pitiful, He remained faithful and did not withdraw the blessing. He didn't allow my negative attitude to effect my receipt of His provision. WOW.

Psalm 145:19 says, "He will fulfill the desire of them that fear Him; He will also hear their cry, and will save them." This is what the Lord has done for me. Thank You, Lord. And may I grow up to the place where I never doubt you again.

Please Take Out The Trash!

On the way to the gym tonight I was listening to the radio and found myself absolutely disgusted with what I was hearing. My first reaction was to change the channel, and so I did. I switched from the Urban music station to an R&B station and still couldn't find anything worth listening to. Needless to say, I was disappointed at the lack of quality music available at that time. I used up tempo music to rev me up for my workouts. The lack of inspiration got me thinking in a different direction.

As I began to analyze what was wrong with the songs that were played and the evil message they're delivering to listeners, I heard a still, small voice speaking to me. The Voice said, "Curse It."

In that moment I realized that it never dawned on me to do anything but be offended and complain about the evil I see in society. Sure, everyone complains and many are unhappy and want change, but probably, like me, they aren't doing anything real about it. Not anymore, not me. So, out of my mouth I decreed that the message of those songs would not prosper, would not usurp the values and virtues of my Lord, would be powerless against the plan of God concerning the generations exposed to it. I also decreed that the writers, singers, and all involved in producing and publishing those songs would have a decrease in listenership as to affect their profits. Whether they have a change of heart (which is most desired), or get tired of loosing money because listeners are crying out for more depth and virtue, I just want change. Why? Not because I want to see people hurt and broke, but because my heart is weary of people, young and old, being taught and encouraged to explore sexual perversity. So much of what we hear is nothing more than audio pornography.

I don't care how many times performers declare that they are not role models, only artist - it doesn't change the fact that they will be admired, revered, and most of all, heard by the inexperienced and impressionable. I am a firm believer that your gift makes a place for you. And, if you are gifted you don't need to take your clothes off (or tell other people to) in order to sell enough records so that you could win an award you're gonna turn around and thank God for.

One of the biggest arguements from that industry is that "sex sells". But I challenge that sex only sells because slowly, over time, little by little, the foundation of sex was laid upon which entertainment could be sold. Sex is a marketing tool. But for the forces, or "powers that be", it is a way to proclaim a message that violates the Word of God and seeks to thwart the Will of God.

Don't be misled. I enjoy a great love song as any person would who has experienced love (or desires to). I enjoy being reminded of my first slow dance, my first kiss, the day I knew I was truly in love. I even enjoy music that inspires romance. I'm not dead and I'm very happily married. What I do despise - now, as a person who seeks to serve and worship God through obedience to His word and relationship with Him - is music that glamorizes sexual perversion and the sexual misuse and abuse of one of the greatest gifts God's given every human being. Our bodies, the chalise of our spirits.

We are so much more than our sexual appetites, yet to watch television or listen to popular radio you would never know it. Fortunately, no weapon formed against us will prosper.