I was in a meeting the other day, and the person I was talking to didn’t flinch when they cussed.

It was kind of like “OH SH**, that’s right.” or “OH F*** I’m running late.” There was something about it that bothered me, I think it was the complete callousness to profanity.

So let me confess, I drop a bomb now and again, its a habit I have had a hard time breaking.

But let me also say, I know the moment the word hits the end of my tongue and goes out into the atmosphere, that ugh, I fell short. I know the moment I choose to say something I shouldn’t that I shouldn’t have said that. There had to be a better way to communicate that. Everytime I feel that way. Everytime.

Everytime, I feel like “Man Renee you can do better than this.”

Using profanity, unfortunately is a norm in society. On any given Tuesday, my twitter feed is filled with profane words,and even lewd trending topics. 

Crazy thing? These are from my Christian friends.

Here’s my concern, I am concerned that we have become calloused to it all. We don’t even recognize our iniquity.

There can be a profanity ridden twitter feed with scriptures interrupting prolific profane rants.

We make excuses. We say, “I’m just being real.” 

We say, “Well don’t we all say it?”

Instead of being repentant, instead of saying, “God help me be better.” 

We make excuses.

Most people will say, its too hard to change. Its too steep of a standard. That’s true. It’s been 10 years, and I am still struggling. But I think at the heart of it, God doesn’t necessarily desire our perfect speech. 

I don’t think He sits with Gabriel and Archangel Michael and does a cuss counter on us.The Bible says He looks at the heart. I believe He looks at our hearts, and He sees if we are trying to change or if we have just submitted to defeat of our culture. I believe He is watching to see if in our hearts we are working on “Resisting the enemy.”

More and more I am getting convicted to truly be separate. To take the hard road and not worry about who feels uncomfortable because of the standard I believe I am challenged by God to uphold for His Namesake.

What is your stance on cussing? Are you aware when you utter a curse word, or do you feel the world has calloused you to profanity?

Praying and declaring blessing number 6 today:

The very people that tried to bring you down will have to stand there and see you promoted. That every weapon formed against you shall turn around and have a boomerang effect in the back of the very people that tried to bring you down in Jesus Name - thanks Bishop Michael Pitts

Last Wednesday, I saw a friend at Church. He looked at me, kind of scanned my face and said, “You look…different.”

To which, I, as a girl, responded, “Different good or different bad?”

He said, “I’m not sure, but I’m pretty sure its different good.”

Umm okay.

I texted him the following day and said, “Seriously!! But do I look different better or different worse?!”

I should have never texted.

Read more …

We make zillions of choices a day. They start with, “Will I wake up right now or will I snooze the alarm?” Followed with, “Do I snooze for 5 minutes or 10 minutes?” Coupled with “Do I throw my phone across the room or just get up and get dressed already?”

By the time I hop in the shower, I have made 10 different choices already and all that is before I choose my outfit for the day (a whole slew of other choices are in that bag of animal crackers).

But the most important choice I make is not a one time choice. Its a choice I make throughout the day.

I choose God.

I choose His way. I choose to hold my tongue when I really want to just give you my opinion. I choose humility, when I really want to railroad my way. I choose Love, when its easier to disengage. I choose to bless even when its more fun to complain.

I choose God. Every second, Of every minute. Of every hour. Of everyday.

I choose out of a transformation that happened to me almost 10 years ago, when I chose to make His way higher than my way.

I choose to be continued to be transformed by His word. His Spirit and most importantly His Love, which is so evident by Him giving His Son so I would not have to live a life where there is no joy, no love, no peace, no grace, no amazing good stuff that I love so much.

I choose God. I choose to believe He makes every crooked path straight. I choose to be uncomfortable though I long to control every aspect of my life. I choose to know that He sees me, He loves me, He is for me and He is protecting me. I choose that I am His child and I was created to be blessed and be a blessing.

I give myself no alternative. I choose God.

I had a rough week.

I have been mad about it. Hurt by it. Saddened by it. Put every word you could use to associate with a yucky situation (infuriated, frustrated, distraught, disappointed- need I go on?)

I have had every opportunity to react poorly. And to be honest, I’ve said things in my head and to my best friends that if I didn’t know how much they loved me, would have embarrassed me.

But yet, in the midst of one of what started out pretty horribly (not the worst- those weeks are reserved for August 5,2008 and May 28, 2011), I sit in the sun on a Friday, basking in thankfulness.

I stood my ground through the rough patch and found myself on the other side. Although the full plan has yet to reveal itself, I know His goodness. I know the Love of a God that gave His Son for me. I live in the dominion of applying His blood to my life.

I pray that for you today. That you would get a revelation of a great God that loves us and gave His son for us. And then we wouldn’t be able to help it, we’d find ourselves thankful.

Despite what your situation may look like because of that Blood you will always win. Every battle you want to fight for yourself is being fought and won in your favor. Every false word spoken against you would come back voided and in its place double blessing.

He is good. He is faithful. He is for us. And that will turn around any rough start.

How was your week?

For the past 2 weeks since I have been home from the Philippines, I have been telling anyone who would listen to prepare for their 2nd quarter catapult.

At the end of last year, I began to think of 2012 as follows:

20= the double of 10 which is known as the number of restoration, also quadruple grace (the number 5 for grace 5x4= 20). So quadruple grace and double restoration. Things stolen from you, would not just be restored, but they would be restored double. (see my posts on The Great Retraction , The Sound of A Train Coming)

12= the number of government. (12 disciples)

By January, I came to declare this year as the year of double restoration, ultimate grace and reigning. We would get double for what we had lost, and where we had been slaves to some things, we would be masters- those that reign. Those that have dominion.

Then by January 10th- I was sure I was wrong.  My life began spinning out of control. Things that I had counted on started not being dependable. Plans I had made started unraveling. Blessings I had waited on felt like they were fading into the oblivion.

In February, when everyone was excited about a leap year, and taking leaps. I could barely keep my head above water. Where was my double redemption? Where was my year of reigning? Where was my grace that runneth over?

I left for the Philippines just in time (don’t worry, I’ll write all about it tomorrow). It was there, in the heart of my motherland, that I realized that the first quarter was a stripping. A pruning of my past, so that I would be trim for my year of double restoration, quadruple grace, and reigning. 

My first week back, assailed by jet lag, I spent many a 3AM conversation asking the Lord what to expect for the rest of my year. How do you come down from such an amazing high? One day, while I lay awake in bed. Sleep nowhere in sight, I heard the Holy Spirit say “Second Quarter Catapult”

Now for those of you that read this blog often, you know my next question would be, “Lord, what does that mean? How does that apply to me?”

And here is what I heard:

In the second quarter of the year (April-June) you are being catapulted into your destiny. 

The stripping many of us experienced in the first quarter and even over the past couple of years has been necessary. The lighter things are, the farther they can fly [catapult].

The stripping also has revealed the condition of our hearts. When a house is stripped for instance, you see where the house needs repair. In His grace and mercy, God is revealing areas we need His blood to wash us, heal us, and redeem us.

So today, I pray for you dear friend. That you embrace your second quarter catapult. You would be bold. Fearless. Feel the wind in your hair as you fly into the sun and on forward into your destiny. 

And if you have anything weighing you down, I pray, that you have the faith to get lighter so you can go farther. Dig deep. Go big. You can do it! Your next level is waiting for you!

xoxo,
Renee