The atmosphere is changing but the Lord is still our Shepherd

As we move into another “new year”, I can not help but reflect on situations of the past. The last time I sang in church was in February 2020. It was shortly after a mental health forum that I had been planning for months. That sabbath morning I had to pray before singing because I was still hurt and angry about what had transpired during the process of organizing the forum. The Friday night prayer service had gone quite well, but so called “spiritual leaders” had been trying to sabotage the program from it’s planning stages. We ended up having an epic snow storm on the day of the panel, so it was cancelled. I felt so relieved and was so very grateful to the Most High for allowing that to happen. You see, after realising how many people wanted my program to fail, I felt like throwing in the towel, but I’m not a quitter, especially when it comes to the work of the Most High. On that February 2020 Sabbath it took every ounce of courage for me to get up in front of those same scoffers and sing. A family member was in the hospital and my heart was very heavy. As I sang the song, my nerves quickly went away and certain words pierced my heart. “The atmosphere is changing, nothing stays the same, heaven is waiting for the mention of the name”. I sang those words right before the lockdowns and they still pierce my heart today. The atmosphere has changed and will continue to change, but as believers we do not have to feel afraid because the Lord is still our Shepherd. Psalm 23 outlines the lengths that the Most High Creator God will go to in order to protect his people. Now more than ever as the atmosphere changes we need to remind ourselves of those promises. The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Like sheep, we are totally dependent on our Heavenly Father to provide us with everything we need. He watches us, protects us and keeps us from the traps set for us by the predators of this world. Verse four states, “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” The shepherds rod is a weapon used to defend sheep by warding off predators and the staff is used to hook a sheep’s neck or leg to redirect it, sometimes to water, these tools keep the sheep safe. As the atmosphere changes, I encourage you remember that the Lord is still our shepherd.

Is Self Confidence Biblical?

As believers in the Most High Creator God’s holy word, living in a society that no longer places value on biblical concepts, I was recently surprised when researching self confidence. Merriam Webster defines self confidence as, “someone's confidence in himself or herself and in his or her own abilities”. When reviewing the Holy Bible I found an eerie correlation between self confidence and pride. If an individual has full trust in them-self, how can they, trust in the the Most High with all of their heart, mind, body and soul? The prophet Jeremiah writes, “Cursed is the man who trusts in man” which one could argue means that those who trust in them-self are cursed, those who have confidence in them-self are cursed. He then goes on to write, “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

and whose hope is the Lord”. Highlighting the fact that trust in man including one’s self, and trust in the Most High Creator God can have completely different outcomes in the believers life. Many, including myself may be confused by this concept because we are inundated with messages from self-help books and fluffy sermons that elevate the importance of knowing your heart and trusting your intuition. But all you have to do is open up the Bible, and you will find clear contradictions to this popular message, littered throughout it’s pages. Jeremiah 17: 9 states that, ‘The heart is deceitful above all things,

and desperately wicked; Who can know it”? So why would one want to have trust and/or confidence in something that is deceitful and wicked? There are many biblical examples of individuals who trusted in themselves only to end up utterly destroying their relationship with the Most High, and, at times the lives of others. The ultimate self-confident, prideful being, haSatan, satan, the devil, our enemy and adversary, is a clear illustration of the destruction, decimation and devastation that transpires when these characteristics are elevated, honoured and nurtured, look around the earth. The apostle Paul, highlights the importance of dying to self, (1 Corinthians 15:31) and Christ told us “apart from me, you can do nothing”, (John 15:5).

I challenge you to ask the Most High for His wisdom the next time you hear a message honouring self-confidence.

Beauty Comes from Within

It always breaks my heart when I have conversations with women who have been turned off by christians because they have been judged for their appearance. Looked down upon because they wear makeup and/or jewelry. Although we, as believers are not to allow the opinion of others to take our focus off of the Most High and his love for us, when feeling weak, judgements from our, “brothers and sisters” can cut to the bone. The Holy Bible is filled with scriptures which amplify the fact that beauty comes from within. Many believers use scriptures such as 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3 to criticize those of us who like to wear pretty sparkly things. In my research I have found that these two scriptures along with many others have historically been misrepresented, misunderstood and gravely misquoted. 1 Timothy 2 is emphasizing the importance of a woman’s actions in contrast to how she looks on the outside. A woman should feel beautiful because she is beautiful, loving, caring, gentle and kind on the inside. This does not mean one is not “allowed” to look fantastic on the outside. 1 Peter 3 also highlights this point, indicating that our beauty as women is not supposed to come from the braiding of hair, the wearing of ornaments and/or the wearing of dresses. Beauty comes from the inner disposition of the heart, the character that someone develops as they grow closer to Christ. I find it very amusing that many believers will recite 1 Peter 3, as a scripture against the wearing of jewelry, while literally wearing a dress. The Holy Hebrew Bible states that, “…the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart,” (1 Samuel 16: 7). So while I appreciate shiny sparkly things, fancy dresses and sweet smelling fragrances, my focus is on the Most Highs word, because it doesn't matter what man sees, beauty comes from within.