|
mycry77
|
read my profile
sign my guestbook
Name: Nick
Gender: Male
Interests: Being every breathing moment in God's presence
Expertise: getting to know people
Occupation: Student/ Manager On Duty at a
Message: message me
Member Since:
7/15/2006
|
|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| Working today in the mens office really made me think about the consquences of sin. How could people be in such bondage and not know that they are bound? Let me start from the begining. I was sitting at the desk in the mens office when a young man walked in. Let me fill you in, He is one of those manly men, that really dosent show emotion. Anyways he walked in and right off the bat, I knew something was wrong, I mean it dosent take a prophet to know that when someone shows up to the deans office during school, its never good. This young man had tears in his eyes as he went into the office most people dread, to recieve the punishment of his wrong. I sat there and began to cry, I know this man had good in him, what is it that made him cry, I may never know. After he left I walked into the deans office and asked him how he did it? He responded what? I looked at him and said disipline somebody like that. I told him my heart was broken for this young man, and that I know he could make it. After being filled in on the fact that this was indeed not his first time going into the room most people fear. I knew without words being said that disipline is really love when its not done in anger. Trufullly for the first time I think I saw how God feels when he disipline us his children. Yes he may be angry when we fall , but his love for us superseeds that of his anger. So he disiplines us, is all different kinds of ways. For Ted Haggard he lost everything he worked for, for this young man he may be dismissed from school, and for me I had to loose myself. All for the sake of love God disiplines us so that we can be free from the bondage that holds us. The room most people dread became a room that I am glad now exsits. The room that so many have feared as they walked through and have had there punishment handed down to them, has now become a room that shows the love of God more than in a worship service. Its become the place where the Father lovingly shows His children their error and correctes them by giving them punishment. Its not the punishment people should fear its the bondage that they are in. The punishment is only a means of love to guide you into the way you should go.
And sometimes the greatest lessons learned are through the things we lose. | | |
| Hummmm....What a crazy way to start off the year...no sleep! I havent been able to sleep very well at night. I mean at all, and i will be dead tired then as soon as i lay my head down, BAM I am awake and my mind will not shut off. Anyways...Things have been getting better. God has been so faithful and merciful. My relationships with my friends are getting better, and I am starting to see what my life is really about. I know that I have some big things I will have to get through, but I know in God I will be able to do them.
I am not starting school this semester. I didnt get my loan to go through, so maybe in the fall. I am okay with it though. I thought I would be all depressed and stuff, but I'm not. Actually I am glad, I will get more time to get my life back in order and grow a relatioship with God deeper than before. That I am totally stoked about. I am finally going after God without the thought of if I pray I will be a great minister. Now its to a point where I coul care less about ministery and really just want to talk to God. Well There is your stinken update. | | |
| OK here is an update. I am ready to be back in Dallas now. I am glad to have seen all my family, but I am ready to see my friends and start school. I cant wait. I had a great christmas and will have a great new year because I will be with my friends. There is your update.. | | |
| An Unguarded Heart
Francis Frangipane
I know a few will regard my following remarks as coming from "the deep end." Still others will take what I'm presenting and exaggerate it beyond its legitimate boundaries. But I want to focus on one reason why some leaders have serious moral failures. I want to offer an insight into how all of us, as Christians, can protect ourselves from a similar fate.
The idea that a leader whom we've known and loved should suddenly be exposed in a devastating scandal seems incomprehensible. Certainly these who have taught others, could have taught themselves? What is it, then, that can worm into an individual's thought-life, burrow into his heart and then become so compelling that a leader is willing to risk everything he's loved and attained for a mere fulfillment of the flesh? Is it just sin?
We would think that, certainly, with help from the Holy Spirit, leaders ought to able to resist temptation. Indeed, if spiritual leaders cannot stand against the flesh, then what hope is there for the larger church? Yet, I believe the problem is not just sin nor even a lack of basic spirituality. For some, I believe the answer lies in a lack of discernment. Their heart was unguarded and their vulnerability was exploited by hell.
An Unparalleled Warfare
Please note that I am not blaming the devil for every sin we commit. The fact is, selfishness and self-indulgence, which produce sin, are basic instincts of our fallen nature. At the same time, let us also discern the unique warfare of our times. Our world has been flooded with hyper-sexuality. The "Red Light district" of the city has moved into our homes via the Internet, movies and television.
We think that what goes on in our minds stays in the mind, as though there were a privacy law protecting our thought-life. But an unguarded mind that willfully harbors darkness will have spiritual predators probing and cultivating our moral weaknesses. Indeed, through modern technology, an alternate reality, a fantasy world, has been created. It is this virtual reality within us that causes movies to be so absorbing, games so addicting and books so personally inspirational. However, when this fantasy realm descends into darkness and the soul is unprotected, demons build sexual strongholds in the human soul.
Listen well, what entertains us, actually enters us. If you are entertained by porn or sexual fantasy, you are opening a doorway in your soul to hell. You must confront this battle honestly, repent of sin and set a guard over your heart. If you don't, your battle will advance from yielding to temptation, to serious, hidden sexual bondage, to secret attempts to openly fulfill your heightened passions.
People of Destiny, Take Heed
Jesus reveals that a major source of this hellish, sexual manipulation is the Jezebel spirit (Rev. 2:20). The rampant immorality we see manifested in Western culture underscores the increasing influence of this ruler of darkness. Indeed, compare our world today with cultural standards of just fifty years ago and it's easy to see Western civilization is under siege. Too many Christians have their defenses down, and many otherwise good people have slipped into bondage.
Yet, Jezebel's arsenal includes more than lust; there is also witchcraft, which attacks and works to disarm the conscience. Remember Jehu's words? "What peace, so long as the harlotries of your mother Jezebel and her witchcrafts are so many?" (2 Kings 9:22)
We are fighting the "harlotries" and "witchcrafts" of Jezebel. Those who have been defeated by this spirit feel as thought they were drugged by their own passions. They did things that were flagrantly stupid, almost daring God (or the devil) to expose them. I am talking about the war against church leaders. How many more must fall before we realize the need for repentance and discernment?
The Subtle Attack
The Jezebel spirit is a "man whisperer." Its approach is usually not bold, but enticing, seducing. The spirit stimulates human flesh, training men and women to respond to increasingly degrading temptations. This power, which comes to disarm and wear away at one's conscience, is witchcraft.
One may argue, "My battle is just sin, not warfare." Perhaps, but for others it is a spiritual attack on an unguarded heart. It's attack is aimed at Christians in general, but more specifically against leaders and those called to important roles in God's kingdom.
There are times when I think the world has greater discernment than the church. Listen to the words of the old, Frank Sinatra song, "Witchcraft."
Those fingers in my hair
That sly come-hither stare
That strips my conscience bare
It's witchcraft
And I've got no defense for it
The heat is too intense for it
What good would common sense for it do?
'cause it's witchcraft, wicked witchcraft
And although I know it's strictly taboo
When you arouse the need in me
My heart says "Yes, indeed" in me
"Proceed with what you're leading me to"
The author of the song did, in truth, know something about witchcraft. He writes it "strips my conscience bare." He says, "I've got no defense for it/The heat is too intense for it/What good would common sense for it do?" And then, "When you arouse the need in me/My heart says, 'Yes, indeed' in me/'Proceed with what you're leading me to.'"
Set A Guard
The world has "no defense for it," but for those in the kingdom of God, "the weapons of our warfare are . . . divinely powerful" (2 Cor. 10:4). Our weapons and defenses are mighty, but we must use them.
First, the Scriptures command us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Prov. 4:23 NIV). A guard is one armed and trained to recognize an enemy and turn away an attack. We are in war and must stay militant in attitude throughout our lives. We cannot be casual with sin or temptation. When you use the Internet, use a filtering software program as a guard. Be accountable. Don't feed your fleshly nature by watching movies whose scenes feed your sexual appetites. These kind of addictions only go from bad to worse (Rom. 1:24-28).
If you are currently in bondage to sin, as powerful as the sin seems, the enemy will also work to isolate your battle from others. The efforts we spend hiding sin are the very tools Satan uses to entrap us in it. So, talk to someone. (See Eph. 5:11-13). If you have a history of sin, then begin a process of cleansing, of washing your "robes . . . in the blood of the Lamb" (Rev. 7:14). Confess your sins item by item to God.
Now would be a good time to build yourself up with In Christ's Image Training or a similar program offered by other ministries. Get back in the Word, for the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. Use the authority of God's word to defend your heart against spiritual attacks.
The most important thing you can do is to return full-hearted to God. The Lord promises, "Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name" (Ps. 91:14). Beloved, it is time to set a guard over your heart.
Lord God, this day I humble myself before Your throne. You see my heart and the battle I have faced. I ask that You restore me, make me wiser. Let not my enemy triumph over me. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit and grant me the grace to walk with a pure heart, a guarded heart, before You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
| | |
| I am so sorry for the disappointment. I am so sorry for any pain I have caused in peoples lives over the last couple months. I am so sorry for not being open with my roomate Steve who by the way is a MIGHTY MAN if God. I am so sorry for being fake with all my friends and hiding behind my humor and wierd personality.
Over the last couple months I have pretty much given up. I have lost my desire to read the Word and pray. Now that I have starved my spirit to the point of spiritual anerexia, I have allowed things into my life that are compromising to my walk and character. I have nothing left to give. I am so sorry that I am no longer strong for anyone. I have allowed bitterness and hurts and insecuritys to rain in my life until they have consumed me. As of right now I am no longer speaking or doing anyother type of ministry. I am sorry that I have fallen and even hurt some of you. If I have hurt you or wronged you in anyway I am deeply sorry. Please forgive me.
There is hope in my dark tunnel...I am submitting myself under the authority of a Pastor in Arlington texas as well as going to the Fellowship of Ministers and Churches (were I am a liseced Minister) for my restoration process. This will probably be a long process, but none the less I know God is faithful even when I am not. I know one day I will be restored and will return to the ministry, but as of right now I am stepping out completely. Please pray for me and my family as we are walking this out together. Thank you and again I am so sorry for this disapointment.
With Hope,
Nick Raczek
P.S please pass this on to anyone you feel needs to read it | | |
|
