What’s really moral, anyway?

Whatever society makes acceptable, eventually becomes moral. Whatever is biblically immoral stays as that…. God does not change. -Erica Hodge 

 

 

HEY GUYS!!
I know it’s been a while, I have been going through a lot in all facets of my life. However, I felt the desire to blog about the topic of morality.

 

The other day I was sitting at work and I began thinking about the world’s morals and values and how they seem so warped to most believers. In the world’s system they allow things over time to become acceptable, and after that they most likely become moral. If someone decides aganist that,  most often they are persecuted becaue they are “judgemental” however, my own personal morals and values should never be pressed upon another. Nevertheless as a believer we must abide by the word.

Romans 12:1-3

1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.3 For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith

 

We present our bodies as a living sacrifce because it is not easy to live “right” to abide by all the morals and values that should be developed and cultivated through the Word of God and by the leading of the Holy Spirit. It sometimes feels like we are literally dying to self, because our nature naturally goes aganist God’s because we are born sinners. Once one is saved and has been baptised in the Holy Spirit it becomes a little easier.

We when it comes to our morality vs. the world’s God makes it clear, we are not to be conformed to the patterns of this world, but transformed by the renewing of your mind.  This renewnal of your mind is essential to a believers walk. We have usually devloped alot of our morals and values prior to giving our lives to Christ,  and even if we grew up in church they still need to be fine tuned.

Just because we grew up in church does not mean we are a part of “The Church”.  Some people in the “body” of Christ have the worst view of morals and values because they set them instead of allow God’s word and his spirit help us develop and transform them.

As a result we have “christians” who judge people instead of discern and pray.  The latter of verse two says so that you may prove what is the will of God is, that which is good, acceptable and perfect.

Being transformed by renewing our minds helps us demonstrate truth, which is the will of God  and truth is good, acceptable and perfect.

Transformation is imperative as a believer because we live in the world system and it is easy for a simple thought to inflitrate our morals/values and cause doubt and/or we go along and accept something that could cause us to go down a rabbit hole that misleads us and draws us away from God’s truth.

 

Truth is, as believers we are not designed to accept what the world accepts…because we have been transformed…

Verse three of Romans twelve goes on to influence us not to think any higher of ourselves than we ought just because we have been “transformed” being transformed does not make us any better, but it allows us to walk in grace knowingly.  We are to think in sound judgement, key word is sound, meaning based on reason or sense, I would attribute that to a sound judgement by the leading of the Holy Spirit;  I say this because in our own judgement, we tend to compare and contrast, and in that it often times becomes selfish. Then we get into pointing out someones wrongs instead of praying for them that they might see things the way God designed us to see them.

All this because God has alloted to each man a measure of faith. That “measure of faith” means we all have a limit, I believe that implies that we are to be humble, because we too have a limit thus keeping the judging of others minimal, and the praying for others a high priority.

Our morals and values go through a lot of changes, but our check for that is the Word of God and the leading of the Holy Spirit. The world is always going to take things that seem unacceptable to us and make it acceptable, and then make it moral, but we as believers we do not change our morals and values to fit society, BUT we should be the example. In the process of being the example, we make sound judgement not do condemn but to lead in prayer and allow God to intervene.

 

At the end of the day, our job is to pray anyway and allow the Holy Spirit to do the work! 

Advertisement

WHOSE WILL?

 

One thing I admire about God is his courtesy. God is a gentleman, he does not force things on us, he does not pressure us, nor does us make us feel obligated.

 

In fact he allows us to pick the paths of our own lives. We can choose to live according to “our” rules or live and be obedient to his. However, we reap what we sow good, and bad! Sometimes life seems favorable, sometimes it does not, but even in that God is good, and never forces anything upon us.

 

I was recently saddened by a recent death, and I was confused because I know I had a strong faith to believe in healing, and even in resurrection. After I received the news of the individual passing away I was deeply saddened. I could not understand how and why I had unshakable faith, or why I felt like death was not an option! Immediately I heard the Lord say this ” I will never go against the will of an individual, If they want to come home, I honor that,” That gave me a peace I could not explain, but I still had questions.

 

I wondered why I felt so strongly that death was not an option, God followed with another response “Death is/was not an option for this person, but they are indeed alive, much more alive than they have ever been, or will ever be.” 

I had never ever felt, or thought this way before, and even in the midst of sadness, I understood! Not only did I understand  but I saw God in a different light than I ever had before.

God loves us so much, that he will give us exactly what we want. That could be living a life serving him or a life where one could decide not to acknowledge him at all, nevertheless he allows us to choose. In that allowing us to choose he waits. He waits for us to make up our minds, and even when we have made up our minds he gives us grace to change that decision IF WE WILL!

I could not ask for a better God. He gives us what we need, and let’s us make our own decisions and will only influence them if we ask.

 

God does not impose, he does not take away… He does what we will, or his will when we invite him in…

We must stop blaming God for things…a lot of times it’s our own will that causes things…

 

John 10:18 ESV / 

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

 

-With Love,

E

 

S.I.N

Long time no see! Well I cannot really see you! Nevertheless, I have returned! Back to hopefully encourage and give some wisdom.

S. satan’s I. intuitive N. navigation 

How many of us fall into temptation? How many of us do things, create habits, then wish we would’ve never done them?

Everyone should raise their hand! All of us have. However we do not fully understand the dangers when we do this. Sin, or Satan’s Intuitive Navigation allows Satan, or the ugly one as one of my professors calls him,  to locate us.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN E?

I MEAN that when we indulge in sin, we are no longer covered by the blood of Jesus. The blood of Jesus hides us, and protects us from the schemes of the enemy. When we expose ourselves to sin, it allows the enemy to track us and know our every move. That is why we should always strive to be pure, as Christ desires so that we can always be and stay covered.

The beginning of uncovering started in the garden:

Genesis 3:7

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings.

This excerpt from Genesis is a small example of what sin does, and it allows the enemy to know where we are. Once we get into sin, and are located then the enemy can play with the mind and delay things that God has for us. The enemy cannot take anything, but we give it away when we sin!

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, he wants to steal your peace, kill your destiny and destroy your relationship with God, but the only way for it to happen is through sin!

I am not saying we should be perfect, but we should strive for it through the strength that Christ gives us. When we are in obedience to God, and following his precepts we are then covered. Covered in the blood of the lamb which protects us. God does not want us to get hurt, he wants to keep us hidden from the enemy the blood of Jesus puts us in stealth mode when it comes to the enemy.

The question I have for you today is: Are you covered?

Are you walking in obedience to God, have you asked God to reveal hidden sin?!

I know it gets hard, and sometimes in sin we create habits we cannot break but God can break it!

James 5:16 says: Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

We have to confess if we want to get better! Confess to a team who is trustworthy who can pray for you, and hold you accountable, YOU NEED TO BE COVERED!

God wants to cover you, but he is holy and Sin is unacceptable! He is light and darkness cannot stay when he is in the place, that is why we are to be without sin, that is why Jesus died on the cross so that when we mess up and are saved his blood covers us, but that does not include intentional sin, sin that we know we shouldn’t do and keep doing! God looks at the heart, he knows you better than you know yourself.

Sometimes we have to give us whats comfortable to get what God has for us, but its worth it, the cost of the covering is worth it.

 

My prayer is that you would open your heart to God, lay down every sin, repent, ask Jesus into your heart, or if your already saved ask God for strength, for guidance and for him to cover you again if you have fallen into temptation. God’s love will flood you and cover you when you do these things with a sincere heart, turn from evil and do good…God DESIRES you, someone in the world needs you because you have a testimony for the nations…

b’shem yeshua hamashiach
(in the name of Jesus )

 

with Love, E

Resurrection, in the heart.

So for the past couple of weeks i have felt exhausted….. mentally, physically, emotional, spiritually. My homie were conversing and I realized i had a lot of unresolved issues in my heart. I hadn’t really forgiven MYSELF for my past.

God was desiring for me to lay everything at his feet but i was too stuck on what i HAD done.

recently everything just began to feel like it was too much, i wanted to run back home, or hide in a cave lol, seriously. God desired for me to talk to him, but i did not feel worthy.

This morning i saw a vision of Jesus on the cross in my heart, i heard the Holy Spirit say ” your crucifying Jesus, and your sins are upon him, but if you don’t forgive yourself he can’t be resurrected”. Every time we sin and do not repent, (when we have the knowledge and understanding) It’s like crucifying Jesus again. He died so we didn’t have to carry all these things. He died so we don’t have to harbor unforgiveness.

I need/needed a resurrection in my heart, in my emotions. I needed something i couldn’t provide. The truth is, we cannot heal ourselves. I had been trying to hide and heal myself for a long time. The thing about the resurrection is, when Jesus rose, everything was defeated.
May some of you can relate, maybe not, but if you do, forgive yourself, allow a resurrection to take place in your heart. Sometimes we need a fresh wind and fresh fire, and thats ok.

Homosexuality -1 The Church- 0

I have lived my life on a quest to discover why The Church constantly persecuted Homosexuals but will not persecute those who are committing adultery, those who are fornicating etc. I have found that homosexuality most often manifest itself physically thus people use what they see as the standard to judge. Even if a woman or a man dresses in a way that society would label as dress of the opposite gender, they will often times be labeled as “gay’.

Why is there so much obsession with this sin? Why are these people persecuted because of who they love?

 It is not who they love, it is how they love who they love! but that is another topic for another day! 

 

The obsession is because it catches the eye, we see females “operating as males” and “males operating as females”.  The human mind that does not understand the root of someones issue, it cannot comprehend why some would want to be “that way” or engage in this “abomination”!  However the understanding they lack is the reason why The Church has exiled the sinner instead of welcomed them in. It all goes back to religion, and how when we were little we had to wear dresses if we were girls, and suits if we were boys. God forbid you pick out slacks as a young lady, the whole church goes up in an uproar!

Many churches have implemented religion and not relationship. That religion is the noose around the neck of a sinner, particularly the homosexual. The church ends up being the people that push them right off the platform! 

This is not every church, but MOST OF THE BLACK CHURCHES! This is sad, and there is no excuse. I know your living your mom’s religion and have no sense of relationship but God makes himself openly available to all. The main reason religion is prominent and not relationship is because people do not allow the Holy Spirit in! If God is love, then:

 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7

4 God is patient; God is kind; God is not envious or boastful or arrogant 5 or rude. He does not insist on His own way; He is not irritable or resentful; 6 He does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. 7 He bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Here I replaced Love with God…. this is how God shows his love to us…this is not how the church has communicated love.

Instead we have said you have to come perfect, he only loves you if your not gay, your going to hell if your gay… and haven’t said your probably going to hell if your cheating on your wife, also if your in the pulpit leading people astray… but even in this IT IS NOT OUR JOB TO TELL SOMEONE THEY ARE GOING TO HELL.

 

WHERE IN THE BIBLE DOES JESUS WALK UP TO SOMEONE AND SAY YOUR GOING TO HELL?

Our job as the church is to tell the sinner, Jesus loves you, He died for you and he is patiently waiting for the moment to meet with you and love you like you have never been loved before. That is it and that is all.

Once someone gets saved it is the HOLY SPIRIT’S JOB TO DO THE CHANGING, NOT YOURS!

This is why homosexuals run to their community, there is acceptance that they have never felt from the church, theY find a place where they can be themselves. The church should we welcoming them and letting God do the work.

SHAME ON US! GOD IS NOT PLEASED!

 

To anyone who struggles with their sexual identity, on behalf of The Church I AM SORRY! we have shunned you instead of love you. You deserve love, Jesus loves you, he died for you and he is waiting to meet with you. I pray that God would show you a genuine community of believers who will love you as you are, and let God do the change if you so desire. Jesus is waiting for you….

 

 

 

With Love, E

 

 

 

Food For The Soul

We feed the things that kill us
And starve the thing that heals us

-Erica Hodge

 

Isn’t it crazy how we eat when we aren’t hungry? Or we overeat in fear will will be hungry too soon. How about the fact that what we eat could possibly kills us?

One day while conversing with the Holy Spirit I asked him what are we really feeding?

His response hit me hard like a ton of bricks.  We as a generation (I’m talking millennials) have attempted to find ways to satisfy our flesh, whether it be by food or by deed. From sex, to pointless relationships, fast food, drugs, alcohol. We have been looking for something to fill this empty space.

 

There have been days where I have eaten and been full, but still not satisfied and it perplexed me. I would sit for a while and just look around wondering what it meant. Then I heard the Holy Spirit ask when was the last time you read your bible. I knew it had been a couple of days.

I felt ashamed, I felt embarrassed but I felt relieved all at the same time. This was the answer for many things in life. It is the reason many of us do what we do and are still NOT SATISFIED!

I needed the living word. I needed to feed my spirit instead of my flesh. We always feed the flesh, and the flesh is what kills us. While we are starving our spirits, when that is what heals us. 

I’ve gone through moments in life, before I was saved, where I just couldn’t explain the deficit I felt in my heart, in my life. I would do many things to try to fill that space, or occupy my mind so it wouldn’t drift to a place I felt I wasn’t ready to confront. There came a time when that didn’t work and everything I was trying seemed to be killing me inside.

It was like being severely dehydrated, and looking for living water. The living water that would make me thirst no more. The living water that would never run dry. I knew that this water would cost me though. It would cost me every ounce of comfortability and it has done exactly that. Yet it is worth it, because the person I have become and am becoming is someone who loves God genuinely, and I’m willing to go where he leads me. Knowing that if I ever get thirsty or feel a deficit again I know where to go.

God is waiting for us to run to him, he is itching to fill us with more of him. He is just looking for us to be ready, ready to receive all that he has.

 

Today my prayer is that you would allow God to fill every empty space in your life, I pray you would allow God into the deep dark places that need healing, and as he heals you he would fill you with is unconditional love. You don’t have to be perfect, you just have to be willing. I speak peace to your heart and your mind, I speak clarity and most of all, Love. I pray that God would shower you with his love until you think you have had enough and even then you would overflow.

 

In JESUS mighty name I pray, AMEN!

Chase God.

In Between Places: A Journey to From Past to Purpose II

This journey is one of the most exhilarating and challenging things I have ever done in my life. Moving 1000 miles away from my heart is the thorn in my side, but God has been faithful all the way. He placed me right beside everything I need literally.

When my parents and I began looking for apartments I had a whole list. We began going down the list, and even looking at some that were not included. We ended up driving onto this strip that had literally EVERYTHING on it. So we ended up stopping at a complex to take a look. It wasn’t new, it was older than I desired but it looked nice and something in me felt drawn to this place. Now when we started our journey I had no idea where ORU was located. Anyway, we looked at it, and I felt like this was the place. I did not know why, or how but something sat right in my spirit. I told the lady I still wanted to look around, but when I got in the car I felt like I shouldn’t. I ended up signing the lease, and in the process I asked the lady where ORU was located and she said “up the street”!

Guys I was in total shock, like really God!!! ( in a good way) You literally placed me in walking distance of the whole reason I moved. If that was not a sign then I DON’T KNOW WHAT IS!

I’m sure I forgot to tell you when I moved I had not yet been accepted to ORU. I had submitted and transfer for my job, and it come through faster than expected ! So as I felt God pulling me to Oklahoma I just made the necessary moves to make sure I was in obedience.

 

As believers we want to know the details, but God never gives us the details, all he does is give us a glimpse of the final product. All these years I had been operating in my calling, but Oklahoma is the place where God called me to train for my purpose.

There is constant push and pull in my spirit because being in between means transition, and resistance and pressure all at the same time. Being in a new place alone and catapulted me into the arms of Christ. Though sometimes what he asks of me is hard, it is all been worth it, and it has grown me tremendously.

 

Until next time…

E

In Between Places: A Journey to From Past to Purpose 1

Greetings all It has been a moment since I have posted. As many of you know I recently relocated to Tulsa, Oklahoma  in pursuit of MA in Divinity with a Teaching Concentration. This series of post will be reflective of my journey, I want to share what God is doing and showing me along the way. So here it goes!

 

I recall the many emotions that flooded my being when I began packing my things in NC. There was excitement, doubt, fear, disappointment and joy all at the same time. I was leaving everything I knew behind in order to pursue purpose. I felt God pulling me out of NC. It hurt, it hurt because I was leaving my heart there. Yet in my spirit I knew that God was carrying me, and I knew he had and still has my best interest in mind.

After my last day of work in NC, i went to my parents house and left from there, the drive was about fifteen hours. As we were driving I felt free, I felt like I knew there was something waiting for me in Oklahoma. I watched my parents interact as we drove, I observed the love they had for each other and how proud they were that I was taking this step. They kept telling me how proud they were, but I did not feel deserving of that at all.

I know God has brought me a long way. I was once a young lady burned by her desire for the same-sex. Confused and purposed all at the same time. I felt unworthy, undeserving because my past was so dark. I have always had love for God, but this move was a major statement. I have been delivered from homosexuality for about three years. This move was me leaving my past to fulfill my purpose. Some questioned my move, my answer was and is, I am chasing God.

Many did not understand the magnitude of this move for my life, how stagnant I felt along side of everyone, knowing that God had called me at seventeen but not fully answering until now. I felt behind, I felt like I had missed the opportunity honestly.

Dropping my parents off at the airport was the hardest, because I knew that was it, It was like my parents were giving me back to God completely. In my heart I knew this was me forsaking my mother and father to live a life for Christ. Now when I think of this my mind goes back to Jesus and how Mary and Joseph had to let him go. I am not comparing myself to him and his greatness, but just the thought of letting go and how Jesus had to let everything he loved go to follow the will of his father.

I walked away as they finished going through security, shedding a few tears, exhausted emotionally and ready to sleep. I walked into my apartment and slept most of the day. Things did not feel real, part of me couldn’t comprehend that I had actually done this, I had actually moved halfway across country to chase God. Though I was sad, and physically by myself I knew God had me. I knew he had my back, and that no matter what would come my way he was walking with me.

 

 

To be Continued…

 

 

God is Enough

The message I received in prayer this morning is “God is Enough”
we have lived our whole lives trying to fill voids, whether it be with food or attempting to find love, nothing ever sufficed. Nothing will ever suffice except Christ. When he got on that cross and died for your sins a void was made in every heart. Something unique that only God can fit, God’s fingerprint can only open that vault.
I have ventured through life and tried to fill it with many things, and now at 24 I see that God is enough. He is enough to fill the void. He fills it and it overflows. God is enough.
I know you have been searching for something, I do not know how long you have been searching but I have your answer, and it’s Jesus.
This morning God wants you to know that he is enough for you. He is more than enough, he will fill the space and some. He will give you joy and some. Simply because he is not just a God who fills but he is a God of overflow. He always does more than because he is greater than.
If you have felt lost, and have been searching here is the answer:
Romans 10:8-11 (AMP)
8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] will not be disappointed [in his expectations].”
—————————————————————-
Or maybe your already saved but feel hopeless if so pray this prayer…
Lord, Father of my soul please restore to me the joy of my salvation, you have already won the victory so there is no need to worry. I know you will supply all my needs according to your riches in Glory. God help me to fall in love with you, help me to chase after you, help me be a woman or man after your heart. Let what I do be pleasing in your sight. Lord make every broken place new, and fill me with your spirit. Lord without you I am nothing, i need you. I am coming back to my first love. Lord your are my God my hope is in you. In Jesus name Amen!
I know this post is Long but i have to do what God presses upon my heart and if this touches one life then my job for the day is done….GOD BLESS YOU ALL

with Love, E

Is Race Really The Issue?

This will not be like any other blog you will ever read from me. This will be truth from my heart about a situation I just recently went through.

The other day I decided to go to the movies, now this was not your average movie theater. This was in a suburban neighborhood in the middle of a caucasian area. However, I did not know this before going. I pull up and it is huggggeeeee, and it is the only building within a 10 mile radius. Now I had just got off work so I had on my work pants and a black hoody. I walk in and of course like every black person I looked around for “us”. There were none insight. I immediately felt “out of place”. This theater was amazing on the inside, it was like one of the old timey theaters with the velvet ropes and such. It was beautiful.

I walk up to get my ticket while feeling the stares and uncomfortable vibes, I proceed to the diner INSIDE THE THEATER, were I once again feel the stares. Fast forward to the theater, as I am siting the theater where my movie will play I’m feeding my face, without a breath to spare lol. I went to see Woodlawn by the way, which is an AWESOME MOVIE!!!

Everything was going normally as I am used to the uncomfortable stare, because some people feel as if only they belong in certain areas or only they deserve nice things. The movie was great and that theater was full of diversity, not african american but everything else, which made me feel a little better. The movie was also made by believers so one would assume everyone  had the same beliefs. It felt that way even if it were not accurate information.

The movie was over and I was walking out, and there was a caucasian man, his wife and his two daughters in front of me. I was walking at what I believe to be my regular pace and I see him look back and slow down. He slows down to get in the back of his family as if I was going to cause some sort of harm.

He ends up holding the door for me, and I say thank you and get no response. He also does this for the second door. I keep walking towards my car and make sure I stay far away from them while I do this.

I get in the car and I am on fire inside, absolutely pissed off! Why would he assume I wanted to harm, or steal from them? Was it my clothes? Was it because I was black?

Now the first response I connected it to was my race of course, because this was surely not the first or last time I would encounter this, but it made me mad.

What it really and honestly did was hurt my feelings. I wanted to stop and have a few choice words with him while he was holding the door, I wanted to fight him and his whole family. Yet in the midst of my irritation and rage God began to speak to me.

The enemy wants us to be racist, he wants us to relate everything to race so that we will stay divided and talk badly about other  ethnicities. He wants us to take offense to stupid things, and blow them up to be something it is not.

I had been through that before, not as bad and that time, but that particular time really made me upset. I thought about how hard I have prayed for God to help me become a better woman, and not become someone who is racist. Needless to say it is hard. Yet in that moment God showed me grace, it could have been opposite that day, no matter what color he was.

It is my job to pray for him, and not talk bad about him. I love that man, and i forgave him that day, because it’s not really about race it’s about division. I believe if my generation would grasp that it’s bigger than skin, we could approach everything differently and change our world….We have been placed in stereotypes and and forgotten that we have the power to label ourselves otherwise. People always choose to focus on the bad. I have had all colors and flavors of friends, and their is nothing more power than a group of people with different backgrounds coming together on a common ground. Unity is what we need….

just think about that…

With Love, E