I know I’m a little late on the whole fall thing, but it wasn’t until recently that it started to feel like fall to me. Also, I live in Orlando, FL, so as you can imagine, there’s still no sign of autumn. Therefore, I have decided to spruce up my blog a little with some fall accents!

So, what is my “Autumn Purpose” you ask? Let me tell you, grasshopper…

1. I want to somehow figure out a way to make money until my business starts booming, thus, avoiding the many terrible things that can happen to one living on his own in a townhouse in Florida.
2. I really want to start volunteering. I don’t know what it is I want to do yet, but I know I would prefer it to be some kind of mission work for God.
3. I’d like to design a new layout. Not completely transformed, but something to freshen this one up.
4. I want to start going to bed earlier, and waking up earlier. I have been told by God for awhile now that He prefers morning time, and I have been disobedient. Lightning could strike me at any moment, so I really need to discipline myself in this area.
5. I want more people coming to this blog. That means more comments!
6. I’d like to get through some of the books I have been given, so I can get new ones.
7. Lastly, I love Autumn so much, that I want it to last forever. Yes, it is my goal to do this…

This morning my mother called me before church, and said she had been reading Matthew, and there were a couple of things that she was questioning. The chapter in particular that stumped her was Matthew 6. I turned to it and started reading, and remembered this chapter quite well, for I had once stumbled on it. I had to do some further research, because I had forgotten what it was about. I found an excellent answer in the book, An Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount by Arthur Walkington Pink, and I’m posting the simplified version here.

The verse begins with Jesus telling the multitudes not to do good works in public, in order to be seen by men, but to do them in private. Then our Father will see them and reward us in public. If we do good works in public for others viewing, then that is our reward (the effect that it has on the public). (Matthew 6:1-4)

It then goes on to talk about prayer, and this is where it gets confusing. Jesus says to not be like the hypocrites (Pharisees) because they love to pray on the corners of streets, so they may be seen by men (Matthew 6:5). At first glance, it might seem like He is saying that we shouldn’t pray in public. However, it is important to remember the first example that He spoke of. It’s not bad that they were praying in public. The problem is they prayed in public for the sake of putting on a show for those around them! In Acts 27:35, Paul gave thanks to God in front of 276 people. By this example, we know that there is nothing wrong with praying in public as long as our motive is done with good intention (in a way that God gets the Glory).

Matthew 6:7 continues on to say that we should not multiply our words as the Gentiles do. For example, “God please bless me financially. I need money really bad. Can I please have a miracle? I’m praying for finances, and I’m asking for money. Please send the money God. Please send the money.” God knows what we need, and when we ask Him, we are to believe that it will be done (if it is in His will). How many people are doing this on a daily basis?

Read 1 Kings 18:25-39 to better understand the difference of repeatedly nagging, and simply asking and believing it is done (according to the will of God).

Now, as stated in Arthur’s exposition, praying (entering into a spiritual communion with God), and pouring out your heart to God are two different things. God wants us to talk to Him about everything that is on our mind!

I believe that spiritual warfare is something completely different than praying, and it does require a little more persistence. Demonic spirits can be stubborn and unwilling to leave, but it is our job to take our authority in Christ and command them to go. If they won’t leave right away, then keep shouting at them until they flee (the charismatic way)! Or simply do what Jesus instructs in Mark 9:29.

A concluding note:

Matthew 6 does not shake the foundations of the church (hopefully), but it is a warning from Jesus to be conscious of our behavior, and how we are living as Christians.

“We do not present our requests to God in order to acquaint Him with our wants, but to render obedience unto His commandment which requireth this duty from us. We pray unto God for the purpose of honoring Him, acknowledging Him to be the Knower of our hearts and the Giver of all mercies.” - Arthur Walkington Pink

I have discovered two awesome websites for all your music needs! The first one, www.slacker.com, is an online radio station, only you get to pick who they play! It’s commercial free, and they rotate through a variety of songs from the people that you enjoy listening to. I have to say, it has turned my praise and worship time upside-down!

The second, www.projectplaylist.com, is a site that you can search for virtually any song and create a playlist for your website, or myspace account. This is great for me when I have a song in my head, and I just need to listen to it real quick!

So, you want to know what I’m listening to? Simply click here to open my playlist in a new window.

Exciting, huh?

As the wild fires in California continue to destroy the land, I begin to wonder if this has anything to do with bible prophecy. The picture below was taken by Amanda Wright who says, “This moment felt very apocalyptic”. More photos can be seen by clicking here.

Being a semi-new, spirit-filled Christian, I always have many questions about things (scripture, theology, etc.). I assume that they are normal questions that a lot of people have, but maybe not everyone asks. I have always been very inquisitve, and because of that, you can call me a knowledge sponge. I don’t always find out every little detail, but I find the answer to the question, and I feel satisfied. Not only do I learn something new everyday, but I also learn how to answer similiar questions for those who ask me.

I had the idea today to start sharing those common questions, and their answers. If you have a better answer, or my answer is wrong, please feel free to add your input.

Here is the first question…

“There are a lot of religions that came before Christianity, and a lot of traditions that Christians stole. How can Christianity be real, if it’s not original?”

Here is the answer…

First, observe John 1:1-3 which states that, “in the beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. He was present originally with God. All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.” (Amplified Version)

The Word of God was there from the very beginning. That means before Adam and Eve, and it means before Moses (who wrote the first books of the bible). We observe the bible, and follow its instructions. However, if the bible is God’s infallible Word, that must mean that it’s instructions were there from the beginning (before the bible even existed).

It is also important to know that Satan was once an angel, and by being an angel he also knew the Word of God (before it existed on earth). It is safe to say that he knows the scripture better than anyone else on this planet, because he was observing it before it was even known to man! If we know that the devil counterfeits the things of God, does it not make sense that he has been doing it since the beginning? Therefore, we didn’t steal from other religions and spiritual ideas, the other religions were stolen from God!

The bible may have been written after there were already other religions, but the bible is the Word of God, and it has been the Word of God since the beginning!

Christianity may have been birthed after the death of Jesus, but we now know that the fundamentals of our beliefs are the oldest and most original!

Can I get an Amen?

I was watching YouTube today, and I came across a video about the mark of the beast and getting beheaded. It looked like it was a “turn or burn” type video that was filmed in the 70’s, and it served its purpose. The video is not the highlight of my story, but the comments that people were making about the video is what touched a nerve in me.

One in particular…

Now, I’m not an expert on current events, but I do know a few things. I do know that there are countless Christians who have died for their beliefs even within the last year. One story had me so upset, I could barely go to work. How can people be so blind to what’s going on in the world?

The person who made this comment is calling the creator of the video delusional, and yet he has no clue that people ARE being killed, even beheaded, for their beliefs!

A few ignorant comments I can deal with. However, I’m noticing an abundance of distorted views from people, and it’s starting to worry me.

I need to know…how do we fight this? From people who love Jesus, and know the love that He has for us. So much so that He died for us! How can we convince the increasingly dead population?

Something mysterious happened at a recent prayer meeting at church, and I’m going to share it with you now!

My friend Lisa and I were praying up front with everyone at the end of the meeting. We had joined hands, and I had joined hands with two guys to my right. After the prayer, I smelled this incredible smell on my left hand, and assumed that Lisa had some kind of lotion on. I mentioned something to her about the smell, and she said she could smell it too, but it wasn’t anything that she put on.

That caused me to smell my right hand (that was not touching her), and the fragrance was on that hand too! It’s impossible to describe what this smelled like, but we both thought that it was the fragrance of Jesus. It was sweet, and earthy like oil and perfume. It was so strong, and it smelled so good that we were sniffing away the whole ride home! It was only on our hands, not on our clothes or anywhere else. We both have never experienced anything like this before! If this is what Jesus smells like, I can’t wait to see Him in heaven!

Of course I did some google searching to see if anyone else had experienced this before, or if they had an answer to this mystery. I didn’t have any luck but I did find this: www.hisessence.com

They have candles that are inspired by scriptures in the bible!

I’m buying some right now, just to see if they got it right;)

I just found out about 20 minutes ago that God.tv has officially launched. I don’t know when it launched, but I have been waiting for it awhile now.

If you are wondering what I’m talking about, simply check it out for yourself. It’s a 24/7 online television channel that you can watch for free!

This has been a powerful day. I’m still in complete awe, and I love God more than ever! A couple of things first, and then I will get to the point.

God has been preparing to move me out of my job for awhile now, and today was the day that it happened. Church was so awesome this morning, and I knew afterwards that I was done. I was over so many things there, but one thing was I couldn’t stand feeling so wonderful, and then going to a place that made me feel so miserable.

So I went in, and told them I was done. Praise God, I was freed! Then I decided to go back to church for the 1:00pm service. Another awesome experience! The teaching was right on, and everything I have been doing was just confirmed there. After that I went to Gina’s. We hung out for a little bit, and then we went to Living Waters for a convention called, “Releasing the Mantle”. One of the guys from John Paul Jackson’s Ministry, Aaron Evans, was there and we had a fantastic time!

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Just a few tidbits…

I love the parable that Jesus tells in Matthew 13! I read it awhile ago and then it crept up on me again tonight. It is God’s nice way of tell me that I better be comprehending all the things that I’m learning about Him! I’m trying…I promise!

Also, I’m still moved by the guy on the cross next to Jesus. I was in tears (I blame it on the Holy Spirit, but I’m really just a baby), and I loved that right at the last minute he repented and was saved. If that doesn’t explain that we are “saved by grace”, I don’t know what does!

Alright, bedtime. God bless you all!