True Believers: You are a Work in Progress

"You are a work in progress." Remember these words when someone accuses you of not acting like Jesus.

This was the thought that came to mind after I read many negative, hurtful, insulting and downright threatening comments made by both unbelievers and so-called believers who don't like some of my articles, because they tend to be convicting.  I don't sugarcoat the truth about homosexuality, trans-gender, or bi-sexuality, but I don't condemn them to hell when they can read God's word just like I do.

I don't like how cowardly some Christians are these days.  They talk about how one shouldn't judge, but I get judged because I speak the truth.  I will not keep issues in the closet for purposes of not offending.  Some pretenders want to dance on both sides of the fence.  If God convicts me on some things and I have came to a place where I can speak on them, meaning that I have overcome in some areas of my life, then I will provide information to help the next person.

I have dated ungodly people, I have participated in actions that were demeaning to me and embarrassing to my family. I have done many things that now I am ashamed, but back then it was "accepting, free-spirited, great, wonderful, open-minded, Nicky" she had plenty of so-called friends and back then when I mention God here and there in passing it was okay.  But what I didn't know was that all of that "being free, open minded" business put me on the fast track to hell!

Oh we partied. We gossiped.  We lied.  We danced. We drank.  We had a good time, but eventually it all catches up with you!  I recall looking in the mirror at my aging face and not liking what I saw.  I remember nights of hurting all over from fighting a man.  I remember headaches that took all day to go away. 

So when I read or listen to a so-called, hypocrite (a pretender) tell me what I should and shouldn't say as a child of God to help my sisters and bothers see the light, I realize just how lost and confused they really are.  I realize they surround themselves amongst people who tell them, "Accept all!  Accept everything!  Jesus would have done it!"  I don't think they know Jesus and I think they are skipping parts of the scriptures and picking out only the things that make them feel good, but don't convict them.

I have attended churches where they tell me on one hand this is a sin, but then on the other hand they encourage sin.  For example, how can you tell a heterosexual don't live with their child's mother or father unmarried, yet have a homosexual take a church staff position?  How can you tell me not to write an article that warns women about the down-low, bi-sexual male, but encourage me to write things like tips on bargain shopping?  Is that going to save your brother or sister in Christ who is headed for a hellish life? 

Pretend Christians are always being called out by those caught between a relationship with God and a relationship with the devil.  They stutter and stammer looking for the "right word to say."  They confuse you with scripture after scripture.  They lie, cover up, act like your friend and do whatever else as long as money is involved.  The minute money is not involved, they lie again, judge, distance themselves from you, etc. and do whatever else to get you to give again.

I am with God when it comes to lukewarm Christians, that's another group who like to run their mouths, they are hot today for the Lord, cold the next, and then they try to tell you what you should do with your life always during a time when you are not open to hearing anything they have to say since they don't believe their own rhetoric.

The true believers, the ones who have touched my heart, are those that don't preach, teach, but just be!  They exemplify love -- not the soft, cushy, fearful so-called love that some talk about where they accept everything and everybody that's the secular world I came from, I know that one already!  I mean the kind of love that you see a mother give her child when he or she almost falls out the chair.  She runs to him or her and says, "Are you okay? Be careful next time." 

I would like to believe that as I mature in my writing capabilities that God's love will show, but for now I can only present material in the way that I know for I am a work in progress!

For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. - Colossians 3:3 (New Living Translation)

Game Playing

Harmless, harmful
there you go playing the game
you say it's harmless
I say it' harmful.

Enemy schemes
all around to encase
a lazy mind
a lazy body.

Corrupt people
twisted traditions
a forgotten creator
children foolish
parents foolish
and you say it's okay
it's harmless
I say it's harmful.

Sometimes we debate with people about things that are obviously wrong. Then we are offended when they challenge us on our beliefs. Unfortunately as Christians we turn them off and they see us as nothing more than hypocrites (pretend followers of Christ.)

Is God whipping or empowering believers?

Too busy to give thought to this question, I understand. But for those who enjoy thinking philosophically, I ask, is the God you serve whipping or empowering his church?

I have personally witnessed God's action and inaction on a personal and professional level in my own life. He has blessed me at the right time to receive something I may have not been ready for during times when I was being whipped. You see, I believe he whips and empowers. I know for some teachers and counselors they don't believe that God whips, but only empowers. If that is the case, then I pose these questions, "Why would there be a need for hell in his Bible, why would he take Job through struggles, kill many Israelites who were in route to the Promise Land, and deal with Adam and Eve in the way that he did?" People were getting whipped in the Bible whether they deserved it or not for purposes that we don't completely understand and it still happens to this day!

Sometimes the empowerment comes from the whipping. Let me repeat that, sometimes the empowerment comes from the whipping! Just like children who disobey their parents' wisdom and face punishment, so do we. The cost at times is very high from losing money to losing a life. Even with all the losses, some people never learn from their mistakes or "on purposes" if you know what I mean. They like to cover up the whipping with blame, false stories, hide, fake smiles and so on. But I know better, I see a whipped woman or man of God a mile away. You can say, "You are blessed and highly favored of the Lord" all you want, but when God whips people especially Christians we can all see it. When I got whipped God called me to write a book about it then turned it around for his glory, wonder what he will do with some of you hiding from his word?

I am amazed at the awesome blessings God gives people and how they are quick to raise their hand and say, "I did it!" What did they really do? A situation that seemed impossible suddenly comes through with a phone call or some cash and the nerve of some people to take credit for a situation that only hours maybe even days ago kept one up worried. "Please pray for me..." they say. Sad, how some have faith in God when nothing seems to be going their way then later have faith in self when everything is going their way.

I don't think God likes this attitude either because just as quick as one feels good about self, notice how he or she often comes down just as fast! God really does want to empower us, but are we ready? Do we pay attention to the writing on the wall? He uses people, places, and things to warn us of impending trouble but yet we argue about what we see, feel, hear, and read. "That's not God...God wouldn't do that...I don't believe God would...That's nothing but the devil..." The truth is the devil doesn't have the power to whip us if God isn't giving him the belt.

I think of those that I have talked to about health issues, money problems, relationship drama, and many other challenges that keep some up late at night and I hear the same thing, "I just want...I need for you to pray...why is God doing this..." Sometimes we can stop most whippings if we change our mindset. Rather, look at the wonderful things of God and act like it (Galatians Chapter 5 for starters.) Instead, many people focus on the negative reported on the following:  TV, radio, Internet, books, and lips who tear others down! It's like looking at a painting, you can either see the line and the dots in the middle of a white board and call the painting ugly, or you can see what looks like hills and raindrops and call it beautiful.

Your life is in the eye of the beholder -- in this case yourself and God. If an individual presents him or herself before God, the world and (of course) self, as nothing more than a gossip, a liar, a thief, a cheat, ugly, crazy, loud, or something else, then expect all the drama and whippings that go along with the negative perception.  Chances are some of you know someone like this and they aren't proud of who they are, that is why they are giving you so much grief! They spend an awful lot of time in everyone else's business. But if an individual presents him or her self, as a child of God, with a purpose, positive, productive, loving, and other positive qualities (irregardless of one's age, what he or she looks like, etc.) then that is what the world will see and so will God!


When you feel good about who you are in Christ, you are therefore empowered to go the distance, but when you find yourself weak and can't stand up against the enemy schemes then God doesn't have to whip you; instead you are whipping yourself.  Consider this, Jesus already took many beatings for you and me.  Don't beat yourself up about people, places and things!  Just do better the next time.  Pray, repent and keep it moving! 


The way you choose to see yourself (flaws and all) is up to you.  Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder and the God you serve sees himself in you! 

For those of you struggling with seeing the beauty in you, know that you must labor to love yourself.  I wrote "Laboring to Love Myself," a poetry book that reaffirms this point.

Need an Honest Spiritual Teacher?

This kind of teaching isn't popular among today's church. That is why so many of us have fallen by the wayside. If you are interested in the truth, watch this man. He is a good example of the fire and brimstone type of teaching, but sometimes we need to be reminded of our roots. Watch the video.