That's Just the Way the Father Is

Wonderful Worship Wednesday

How could He love me?

How could He know me?

How could one so awesome, ever care so much for me?

How could He love man, enough to redeem man?

How could He sacrifice, His only son to set me free?

That's just the way the Father is.

He'll be a friend when you're not His.

That's just His way, that's just the way He is.

He's nothing like your other friends.

He'll be with you until the end.

That's just His way, that's just the way He is.

 

 

That's Just the Way the Father Is comes from Kurt Carr & The Kurt Carr Singers' album Awesome Wonder released in 2001. This song highlights the loving, kind, gracious, and merciful character of the Everlasting Father! This song is an oldie but a goodie, and an all time favorite of mine. Enjoy!

Teachable Moment: Krokodil

What is krokodil? Krokodil, the street name for Desomorphine, is a homemade injectable opiate drug. Krokodil is common in Russia and the Ukraine, with estimates of 100,000 and 20,000 people respectively reported using the drug in 2011 (Christensen, 2013). The drug krokodil is developed by combining the painkiller codeine with commonly available chemicals that include iodine, kitchen and bathroom cleaners, hydrochloric acid, red phosphorous from matchbooks and solvents such as paint thinner and gasoline (Christensen, 2013). These ingredients are high in toxicity, and when injected intravenously causes severe tissue damage.

Krokodil garners the name due to the reported green and/or black discolored scaly skin changes like a crocodile (Bekiempi, 2013 and Christensen, 2013). The DEA reported that the long-term effects can include damaged blood vessels, thrombosis and damaged soft tissues surrounding the injection sites. These conditions can lead to gangrene (Behm, 2013). According to reports, the average lifespan of a krokodil user after starting on the drug is around 2.5 years (Bekiempi, 2013).

Jean-Paul C. Grunda, Alisher Latypovc, and Magdalena Harris (2013) found in their research study:
Localized damage
• Thrombosis of the major vessels and erosive bleeding
• Large open ulcers, phlebitis and gangrene at and around injection sites
• Skin and soft tissue infections to the bone
• Limb amputations
• Large scabs on the limbs and elsewhere on the body, pieces of dead skin that come off in one piece
• Veins that ulcer and rot away from the inside, requiring surgical removal of the main veins

Systemic damage
• Pneumonia
• Blood poisoning
• Coronary artery burst
• Meningitis
• Rotting gums resulting in tooth loss
• Bone infection, decayed structure of the jaw and other facial bones
• Sores and ulcers on the forehead and skull
• Gangrenous wounds on various part of the body
• Rotting ears, noses and lips
• Liver and kidney problems
• Death

Neurological damage
• Speech impediments
• Motor skills impairments
• Affected memory and concentration
• Personality changes

Jen Christensen with CNN reported in October 2013 five people were hospitalized in the Chicago suburb of Joliet, Illinois, with symptoms associated with krokodil. Additionally, similar cases have been reported by health care providers in Arizona and Oklahoma (Christensen, 2013) and Columbus, OH (Behm, 2013). The Drug Enforcement Administration has not confirmed these cases are directly associated with krokodil, but has directed law enforcement agencies and medical institutions to report any discovered forms of the drug (Bekiempi, 2013).

To learn more about krokodil, please review the Drug Enforcement Administration's drug fact sheet http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/desomorphine.pdf.

See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit.

Ephesians 5:14-18 NKJV

Sources:
1. Behm, J. (2013, November 10). Krokodil drug concerns in Lorain County. The Morning Journal, Retrieved from http://www.morningjournal.com/general-news/20131110/krokodil-drug-concerns-in-lorain-county
2. Bekiempism, V. (2013, October 21). Why You Don't Need to Worry About 'Flesh-Eating' Drug Krokodil. Newsweek. Retrieved from http://www.newsweek.com/why-you-do-not-need-worry-about-flesh-eating-drug-krokodil-613
3. Christensen, J. (2013, October 18). Flesh-eating 'zombie' drug 'kills you from the inside out'. CNN. Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2013/10/16/health/krokodil-zombie-drug/
4. Grunda, J.C., Latypovc, A., and Harris, M. (2013). Breaking worse: The emergence of krokodil and excessive injuries among people who inject drugs in Eurasia. International Journal of Drug Policy. Retrieved from http://www.idhdp.com/media/41793/inj_damage_from_krokodil_in_eurasia.pdf

In the Marketplace: Workplace Bullying

Have you ever left work tearful, depressed, and feeling overwhelmed? However, these feelings of stress are not related to expected work assignments and productivity expectation, but the maltreatment of another colleague, supervisor, and/or manager? You may be the victim of workplace bullying.

The Workplace Bullying Institute defines Workplace Bullying as the repeated, health-harming mistreatment of one or more persons by one or more perpetrators that take one or more of the following forms:
• Verbal abuse
• Offensive Conduct (i.e. threatening, humiliating, or intimidating)
• Work Interference

BullyingStatistics.org includes the following examples of Workplace Bullying:
• Shouting or swearing at an employee.
• An employee being singled out for unjustified criticism or blame.
• An employee being excluded from activities or having their work contributions ignored.
• Language or actions that embarrass or humiliate an employee.
• Practical jokes, especially if they occur repeatedly to the same person.

Workplace Bullying Statistics:
• 1 in 3 workers may be the victims of workplace bullying.
• Twenty percent of workplace bullying becomes harassment.
• Sixty percent of workplace bullies are men, and bully male and female employees equally.
• Female bullies are more likely to bully other females.

The impact of workplace bullying on employees can lead to high levels of stress, absenteeism and low productivity, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, high blood pressure, and insomnia.
Many individuals do not speak up regarding the matter due to the role of the perpetrator as a supervisor, and fear losing their job. Additionally, workplace bullying can be masked by the high demand of the job.

So how do we address this issue?
1. Address personal timidity and fear. II Timothy 1:7 NLT
2. Do your best work. Colossians 3:23,24 MSG
3. Address the perpetrator, especially if it is another believer in Christ. Matthew 18:15 NCV
4. Seek a mediator, employee/human resources, and/or compliance officer. Matthew 18:16,17 NCV
5. Forgive the offender. Philippians 4:2-7 NKJV
6. Ultimately, do not seek revenge. Trust in the Lord to avenge. Romans 12:17-21 NKJV

"Called to the Mundane"

My heart often breaks when I see any individual going about life aimlessly. Their body moves at a pace that shows no speed, no direction, and no urgency. Their facial expression lacks joy, lacks peace, and lacks hope. They’re often frustrated, dissatisfied, and defeated with their current state of affairs. More often than not this is frequently a symptom indicating that someone is unaware and disjointed from their purpose and destiny. Thus, they have either settled and/or accepted life to be mundane and void of purpose.

For the purpose of understanding, mundane is defined as lacking interest or excitement, dull, ordinary, commonplace, banal (BLAH, BLAND, HUMDRUM) and unimaginative. Certainly, certain aspects related to the fulfillment of purpose and on the pathway to destiny are routine in nature and have that “day-to-day” feel. Yet, we are called to greatness to live exciting and extraordinary lives. We can often feel our internal workings within our soul alerting us that there is something more, something greater, and something more impactful.

Biblical scripture provides solid evidence that we have purpose and we have destiny. This purpose and destiny has been prewritten and preplanned by the True and Living God. Let’s take a look:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 KJV

All the days planned for me were written in your book before I was one day old. God, your thoughts are precious to me. They are so many!

Psalm 139:16-17 NCV

For we are God’s [own] handiwork (His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].

Ephesians 2:10 AMP

Truly no one is called to a life of mundane existence. Mundane can further be defined as pertaining to this world or earth and temporal rather than heavenly, spiritual, and/or supernatural. Thus, I further understand and identify this to mean lacking the heavenly and spiritual influence that comes from God.  As I woke up this morning, I thought “no one is called to the mundane” and to settle for life void of joy, mission, and intention. In all, my hope is to stir, awaken, and encourage everyone to pursue God and the purpose and destiny He has predesigned for their lives.

I Shall Live and Not Die

Wonderful Worship Wednesday

Worship Leader. Songwriter. Radio Personality. Darlene McCoy releases a song in which one can encourage themselves on her new single entitled I Shall Live and Not Die. Enjoy!!!

 

Darlene McCoy hails from Atlanta, GA. Darlene is a worship leader at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, and has worked with recording artist including Darwin Hobbs and William Murphy. Darlene host a radio show on Atlanta's Inspiration Station Praise 102.5. Her debut album, self-titled Darlene McCoy, includes her hit single Fallen In Love which was featured on the soundtrack of Dairy of a Mad Black Woman.

The Benefits of Walking in Sexual Purity

Teachable Moment Tuesday

This started as a personal reflection. I began thinking about the benefits and/or freedoms one has due to walking in sexual purity. Sexual purity is living a life free of sexual sin; this includes the full shebang of intercourse all the way to one’s thought life. Remember Jesus said in Matthew 5:27-28 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman [man] lustfully has already committed adultery with her [him] in his heart.”

Nevertheless, I was able to identify physical, emotional, mental, and financial benefits for walking in sexual purity.

• Physical: An individual’s physical health is free of sickness and disease related to the contraction of sexually transmitted infections (AIDS, HIV, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes, HPV, this list could go on and on).
• Emotional: An individual is free from unhealthy emotional soul ties. Soul ties develop due to the nature of the emotional bond developed during the sexual act. Emotional soul ties can develop in relationships free of sex due to unhealthy boundaries. However, the knitted/glue-like bond of sexual soul ties, developed outside of the covenant of marriage, can be damaging. An individual can be left feeling shame, guilt, anger, anxiety, depression, and loneliness after the encounter and/or the relationship dissolving.
• Mental: Related to the emotional impact, many experience mental anguish and confusion. An individual’s judgment can become clouded which can impact one’s decision making and lead to confusion. Additionally, many develop mental disgust for their former sexual partner due to the tearing apart/ripping of the soul ties that can lead to various wounds to the soul.
• Financial: There are the costs of physical exams, treatments, and vaccinations to determine, treat/cure, and/or “ward off” one’s STI status due to the repercussion of one’s deed. Additionally, there are the costs to support the children conceived in these situations. For the payer and/or the recipient it is either a financial sacrifice or an ill-sufficient financial mean to meet the cost of raising children.

These factors appear more so as things an individual will avoid by walking in sexual purity. However, avoiding these factors can be a benefit. As well, this is in noway a judgment to make one feel condemned. According to Romans 8:1 NKJV “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit". So, GET UP, dust yourself off, and keep it moving. More so, confess your sins, repent, and receive God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9). Also, prayerfully seek out godly counsel for accountability (James 5:16).

These concepts of sexual purity are foreign to this culture. It's difficult for many to understand because we live in a sex-saturated world. Yet, Romans 12:2 suggest:

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. NKJV

Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. MSG

In all, this is the will of God that we walk in sexual purity.

For this is the will of God, that you should be consecrated (separated and set apart for pure and holy living): that you should abstain and shrink from all sexual vice, that each one of you should know how to possess (control, manage) his own body in consecration (purity, separated from things profane) and honor, not [to be used] in the passion of lust like the heathen, who are ignorant of the true God and have no knowledge of His will.

I Thessalonians 4:3-5 AMP

Being a Titus 2 Woman

I do not take lightly the calling and purpose of my life. Last night I had the opportunity to fellowship with some of the tween and teen girls from church. For the past few weeks myself and my fellow youth leaders planned and prepared a lock-in specifically for our girls ages 12 to 15 entitled, Girls' Night In. The agenda included practical knowledge and teaching on purity from our Senior Pastor's Wife, an additional guest teacher, and a musical guest. The event allowed the girls to speak candidly about their experiences, receive healing and restoration, voice their desire to walk in purity and see the same manifestation in the lives of their sisters, friends, and generation. It brought to mind one of my favorite scriptures, Titus 2:3-5.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

Titus 2:3-5 NIV

This scriptural reference teaches women the following:

1. To live a reverent lifestyle. 

Our lives should bring reverence to the Lord at all times. This is related to our godly conduct, dress, and conversation. We are called to live our lives in holy fear and reverence to God. Proverbs 31:30 reads "Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing: but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised."

2. Not to be slanderers.

As stated above, we must be mindful of our conversation. As women we must be vigilant not to be engaged in activities of gossip, fault finding, and false accusation. 

3. Not to live addicted lifestyles.

We are called to lives of sobriety. We should be watchful and receive any healing related to addictive lifestyles. This can include alcoholism, abuse and dependency on illicit drugs, abuse of food, and/or shopping. 

4. To be teachers of what is good.

We are teachers. This does not require formalized training, nor an ordered, structured, and/or arranged event. It is taking the time moment by moment and day by day to teach and to train those whom you mentor in what is good and pleasing to God.

The scripture directs the older women to teach the younger women to "to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands." Since the younger girls in which I mentor are not married I find that my role as a young and spiritually mature woman is to teach them the following: 

• To love God and their parents
• Be self-controlled and pure
• Be disciplined at home (comply with house rules, do chores, homework, etc).
• Be kind to others
• To honor and obey they parents

As I stated previously, I do not take this role lightly. I want to reverence God with my life and teach what is right and true to those who are younger so that the word of God may not be exposed to reproach (blasphemed or discredited)" as indicated in verse 6, Amplified Version.