Trying to be like Jesus

In Faithful Pursuit

2011-11-03T20:51:00.001-05:00

Blog has moved to:
www.infaithfulpursuit.wordpress.com

All Who Are Thirsty

2011-09-14T16:59:00.002-05:00

All who are thirsty, all who are weak, just come to the fountain and dip your heart into the streams of life.
Let the pain and the sorrow be washed away in the waves of his mercy as deep cries out to deep.

It has been 6 weeks of not stop going for me and this morning the weight of it hit me. I climbed in bed last night at about 9:45. Literally exhausted from the constant going of the day, I decided to give myself an extra 45 minutes of sleep and I set my alarm for 5:00. I woke up a few minutes before my alarm as I normally do and as I rolled over to get up I literally had to battle myself to put my feet on the floor.

Does anyone else have those moments where you argue with yourself to try and make your body do what you know it needs to? I sat up and I just felt drained even though I’d had a full night of sleep. I had to talk my body into getting up to prepare for the day.

I came sleepily to work, did my few morning duties, had my quiet time, listened to a quick sermon on podcast, and then the girls began showing up for practice. As practice wore on my body and mind continued to talk to me and they were both pretty much saying “bed, bed, bed, bed” LOL.

Then as I walked back into my office music was playing from my computer (I usually leave music on in my office) and I hear the words “All who are thirsty, all who are weak, just come to the fountain and dip your heart into the streams of life”

It brought tears to my eyes as I sat down in my chair remembering where my strength comes from.

I can often become confused about my true abilities. I can think that as long as I discipline my body enough I can ensure that I will have the strength to endure. As long as I train myself to get a certain amount of hours of sleep, eat the right foods, exercise the right amount, etc then I will have made sure that I will not grow weary. The truth of the matter is though all of those things are important, needed, and help, but endurance is not accomplished through my strength. My strength is found in Him.

I know I typically blog on things we as the body of Christ need to work on, things the Lord shows me that I need to fix in my life, as I’m often teased about how I like to write and talk about holiness, but today I just want to say the Lord is your strength, He is your peace, He wants to give you rest.

His grace is sufficient for you and in weakness His strength is perfected. He says to cast your cares upon Him for He cares for you. He says to come to Him if you are weary and heavy laden and He will give you rest.

God is not shocked when our bodies become tired, it is not surprising to Him that we grow weary, that is why He talked about it so much in the Bible. Not just showing us that we would grow weary and tired, but how to fix it!
 Run to Him and find rest, not condemnation, rest. The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Be Blessed,
 J. Tate

PS: I am currently in the process of starting a blog on wordpress. So, here in the next few weeks my blog will be moved to its new address:
 www.infaithfulpursuit.wordpress.com

I’m working on it slowly but surely and hope to have it up and running as soon as possible. I know it will be a slight inconvenience because of the change of location, but I've had some problems with blogger int he past and figure it's as good a time as ever to make the switch. I' will let yal’ know when the full switch takes place and I will be keeping this blog active so that my old posts will still be available to come read!

Noise

2011-09-11T08:51:00.000-05:00

If you read my blog yesterday you know the story of how I got in my car yesterday and the Holy Spirit whispered some meaningful words to me. If you didn't read it... go read it :)

Today the Lord spoke to me about what happened. As I got in the car I immediately turned on my radio. It wasn't until after I turned off the radio that I received the impression in my Spirit.

Many times we are so busy, and have so much noise going on in our lives, that we don't stop to LISTEN to the Holy Spirit speaking to us.

Ps. 46:10
BE STILL, and know I am God

Most of us can quote 1 Kings 19...
The LORD said, "Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by." Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper.

I believe the enemy has done a great job of making my generation afraid of stillness and silence. There is hardly ever time for sitting peacefully and listening for the voice of the Father. Many kids these days can't even study or do homework without music on, they can't sit on the couch without the tv on in the background, we don't ride in the car without the radio on etc...

Yesterday I went with my neighbor for some much needed "girl time". I have been so busy that most of my friends have gotten for the most part shoved to the side. I had free time yesterday evening so Katelyn and I decided to go spend some time going to a nice dinner and doing some shopping in the Woodlands. The whole way over and back in the car the radio was off because Katelyn and I had much to talk about. Why would I turn the radio up to make Katelyn have to scream to be heard? No, I wanted to hear what she was saying... so I turned the radio off and in result we had awesome conversation and real quality time.

What makes us think it should be different with God? To facilitate a real relationship with Him there must be dialogue! Times when I talk and times when I listen. Times when I SET APART time just to hear my Daddy God's heart and yes to share mine. Times when I turn off the cell phone, the radio, the tv, cd's, itunes, and sit in stillness and silence to listen to God speak.

Here is the question I had to ask myself "if I knew God was whispering would I still turn the radio on?"

The fact is I know is that God does speak in a gentle whisper to my Spirit, and I know that God wants to talk to me!!! (I won't go on my rant about the fact that all Christians hear the voice of God, I'll just say go read John 10:27)

So how much time are we spending in set apart time in stillness, silent, listening, because we want to hear the voice of God.

Just as I wanted to know what was going on in my friend's life, I had to set apart time, turn off the radio, and listen.

Turn off your radio,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The Insignificance of Me

2011-09-09T15:25:00.001-05:00

There are almost 7 billion people living on planet earth. There are over 300 million in the United States alone. Abraham’s descendants have become as numerous as the stars, just as God promised.

This morning I walked out of my house abnormally in a rush. I tend to work on the schedule that early is on time, on time is late, and late is unacceptable. So as I was feeling late this morning I was in a haste to get to work and admittedly hadn’t said one word to the Lord from the time I woke up (late) to the time I stepped out my door.

Now before you completely judge me I have to say that I have my “quiet time” in my office, so my worship, prayer, and Bible reading is typically not done until I get to my office.

Right before I climbed into my car, I happened to glance up and was captivated by the pure awesomeness and beauty of the stars. Many of my most intimate times with God have been while beholding His natural creations like the stars, sunsets, sunrises, waterfalls etc. The stars were so awe inspiring as they spread across the early morning sky I felt so small and so humbled. I just whispered “Lord I’m so small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things” and I sat my bags down to just take a minute to admire how big and powerful my Creator, my Daddy, is.

Let me make a note here, never be in such a rush because of your own schedule and agenda that you step out of being led by the Spirit. So many times we miss intimate and impactful moments with our Father because we’re so concerned with our own agenda. As much as I HATE being late, I’d be late 1,000 times over for heartfelt conversation with God, I’d be late to anything if it meant hearing from God about something, He wanted to talk about. There is nothing in my life that takes priority over Him, His agenda, His voice, His leading, or simple and sweet time with Him.

After a minute or two I went ahead and put my bags in my car and climbed in once again intent on beginning my day as usual. As I started the ignition the radio came on and I began to sing along to my morning praise music that I listen to every morning as I drive to the school, but this morning something just didn’t feel “right”. I turned off the music as I slowed to a stop at a stop sign and I sat still for just a few seconds until I heard the impression in my Spirit:
“All of those stars and I know them by name, I put them in place, I know where they are, I know when they move; All of the people in the world and I know you by name, I put you in place, I know where you are, I know when you move, you are not insignificant to Me”

I’m a 23 year old single female who lives in the middle of nowhere Texas. I graduated college at Texas Tech University and now I teach school at the local junior high, coaching various sports. I attend church and try to be as involved as possible serving when needed. Perhaps to anyone who receives my resume’ I seem quite insignificant and unimpressive, and yet I get to use the Creator of the Universe as a reference.

All I can really say is go talk to Him about what He says about me because He says I matter to Him. I may never be internationally known or have great influence over millions of people, but I can pray and He hears me. I can hurt and He cares for me. I can weep and He catches my tears. I praise and He inhabits my praise. I intercede and He moves on behalf of my prayers.

Small and Insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but I find my identity in Him.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Bufelo

2011-09-01T18:39:00.000-05:00

Today in my class my students were playing a modified game of tag in the gym. I decided to have some music playing to make it more entertaining for them. As they were taking their water break I just started dancing to the song that was playing. I make a habit of often being a little goofy to let my students see that yes I am stern, tough, and demand respect, but I also have a fun side and am human. Being goofy and opening up often leads to opportunities to find out more about who they are and to share more of who I am... a Christian.

As I started dancing the girls just laughed and laughed and one said “Coach Tate, you’re always just so FULL OF LIFE”. I thought to myself praise God, she’s noticing!!! As we were going into the locker room she said “Coach why are you always so happy?”. Of course you know me I’m waiting for any opportunity for a door to open. So I said well, I’m happy and full of life because I am a Christian and FULL OF JESUS! She just sort of looked at me weird and went on in to the locker room.

I firmly believe that every time I’m in similar situations and I’m given opportunities to explain why I am joyful, why I don’t listen to that type of music, why I don’t watch that show, why I act the way I do, every time I’m planting a seed for them to remember that Coach Tate was different, and different because she had Jesus.

Everyday we make decisions. We make decisions on what our attitude will be like, how we choose to react to various situations (positive and negative), we choose to be joyful or not, we choose to see everywhere we go as a mission field or not, life is full of choices and someone is always watching those choices.

Joy is something that every Christian should have. The bible says that in the presence of God is fullness of joy, it says that a fruit of the spirit is JOY (and the Spirit resides in me), we have a Savior that died for us. We have no reason not to be joyful!!

I remember while teaching in Botswana one of the young ladies on staff for LBOM told me one day that she was giving me the African name of “Bufelo”. Bufelo meant “life” and she said Jessika, You’re just so full of life!!!

I know what I’m full of and it is life, it is THE life of Jesus Christ. He fills me up and He flows out of me. I pray that in the hard days and the easy days I’ll remember what I’m full of and make the choice to let Jesus flow out of me. To let His joy, love, mercy, compassion, humor, and care flow out of me to everyone I’m around, so that they will see that Jesus brings life.

The blog I wrote in Africa when I got my nickname: 
http://jessinbotswana.blogspot.com/2010/02/bufelo-quick-update.html

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Steering Wheel or Spare Tire?

2011-08-29T21:10:00.003-05:00

Well I'm sure you all know of my respect for Corrie Ten Boom and it just so happens that a friend of mine recently gave me a greater incentive to dig into more Corrie Ten Boom quotes. He said that on facebook every time I post a Corrie quote he'll post a quote from a man that he looks up to. So, this morning as I was trying to decide what I wanted to post that Corrie has said I thought of this quote.

"Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire?"

You see a steering wheel determines the course for the car. If the steering wheel turns right, the car will go right, if left, then left. The steering wheel causes the car to get to it's destination. The steering wheel is a necessity if the driver wants the car to follow a path.

A spare tire is placed in the trunk. What is interesting about the spare tire, is that it is never used until a dilemma presents itself. When a problem arises then we grab the spare tire. We can drive for miles and miles and miles before ever using the spare tire.

Which is your prayer life? Do you pray as if it is a necessity? Do you pray and allow the Holy Spirit to guide your life or is prayer something you turn to in desperation when things have gotten so bad that you see no other option?

I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. This relationship REQUIRES communication. I have to fellowship and spend time with Him in prayer and in His word so that I can know which directions to take in my life.

The fun thing about this relationship is that prayer is not something I HAVE to do, it's something I GET to do. Jesus tore the veil. He paid with His blood so that I could have open access to the Father. Prayer is a gift. The ability to enter into the throne room of God and speak to the Creator of the Universe is a privilege that was paid for with blood. The blood of the Holy One, Jesus Christ.

Prayer is something that is all too much neglected by Christians. We have so many promises for our prayers. Ask and you will receive, you have not because you ask not, etc. I am promised an answer to my prayers. As I come before the Father, He will answer. I'm not saying you'll always love His answer, but you will be answered.

God waits for us to come in to His throne room and make our requests known to Him. To ask Him the direction we should take, to ask for things we desire, to intercede on behalf of others, to simply be with Him, to spend time with God learning who He is and asking of our Daddy God.

Prayer must be a priority, it is a necessity, it is a privilege. Jesus paid with His life for your ability to have open communication anytime anywhere with our Father God, and He deserves what He paid for.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

An old blog I wrote from an excerpt of Corrie Ten Boom's book "The Hiding Place"

http://jatate.blogspot.com/2009/12/necessity.html

Don't Lose Heart

2011-08-28T07:20:00.002-05:00

The first week of school is OVER! Whew.

As a teacher/coach I was greatly looking forward to this week, because in all honestly I love the opportunity to educate kids, to motivate kids, and to try and be a positive role model for their lives. Everyday my life will be on center stage for over 300 kids.

Ad much as I was looking forward to this week, I'm going to be honest, it was ROUGH. A lot of things went wrong or were difficult and all of it began to take a toll on me as the week went on. No matter what goes on day to day I've learned that the Word says to HAVE JOY, take joy when you fall into various trials, in the presence of God is fullness of JOY, the fruits of the Spirit are love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control... and as much as I need to remember these things for myself, I need to remember them because I have tons of little eyes watching me, evaluating me, trying to figure out who I am.

Tired and frustrated I know my attitude began to decline toward the end of the week. Then the Holy Spirit began to get a hold of me!

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. (Hebrews 12:3)

As I read this scripture, it was like the breath was taken out of me. Jesus Christ, my best friend, and Savior... suffered for me. He endured hostility when He didn't deserve it. He took a beating He didn't deserve, He took mocking He didn't deserve, He died at the hands of mere men when He is a King... All Jesus would have had to do was speak a Word and He could have stopped the beatings, proved to them His deity, climbed off the cross, and gone on back to heaven in His perfection, BUT He stayed, He endured, for me.

He is the ultimate picture of self-sacrifice, obedience, endurance, and love. If He was able to do all that for me, I must not grow weary or lose heart in the journey that is supposed to be for Him. This life that I live is not for me, but for Him. We have a purpose, we have assignments, and we are supposed to be advancing His kingdom so that His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

When I truly consider what Christ did there is no room for me to be weary or to lose heart. He endured much more than I will ever imagine. So rather than sulk in the exhaustion and frustration, I went to the Word for some encouragement. (I needed some encouragement after the slap from the Holy Spirit LOL) So if you're there and just needing some strength, read through these scriptures, print them, post them, say them, heed them....
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (Phil. 4:13)

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. (Gal. 6:9)

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary,and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song. (Ps. 28:7)

The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace. (Ps. 29:11)

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Ps. 73:26)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

The name of the LORD is a strong tower ; The righteous runs into it and is safe. (Prov. 18:10)

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken. (Ps. 55:22)

Pride, Condemnation, and Examination

2011-08-24T21:07:00.003-05:00

Many Christians struggle with the issue of pride. Whether you struggle with pride because you walk around thinking you've got this thing figured out or you struggle with pride because you're walking around in condemnation. Living in condemnation is still a derivative of pride because in order to be condemned you much think that grace is based off of your actions rather than who God is and what Christ did.

Let's look at a few scriptures.
To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. (Prov. 3:7)
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:1)
For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:15,16)
For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. (Matthew 23:12)
So then as through one transgression there resulted condemnation to all men, even so through one act of righteousness there resulted justification of life to all men. (Romans 5:18)

God absolutely hates pride, but at the same time Christ's blood paid for us to not live in condemnation of our sin. Is there a balance?

The answer is found in this passage. Romans 5:
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

While I was still a sinner, Christ died for me, and justified me through His blood... and now we exult God for sending His son that paid for our reconciliation.

In other words there is no room for pride because CHRIST DIED FOR ME KNOWING THAT I WAS A SINNER... I didn't achieve some "Holy" status that made it possible for me to earn forgiveness. Where I was, where I am, and where I will be Christ died for me. He shed His blood which purchased redemption, salvation, reconciliation, and so much more for me.

Also, BECAUSE CHRIST'S BLOOD bought redemption, salvation, and reconciliation for me I don't have a right to live in condemnation. As Romans 8:1 says there is NO CONDEMNATION for those who are in Christ Jesus. If you have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of your life and you have been transformed from a slave into a child of God then your sin has been paid for. Living in self condemnation is a lack of faith in what Christ has already accomplished for you.

I cannot be in pride because I didn't earn my justification, but I can't live in condemnation because I HAVE BEEN justified.

The final step is examination.
Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you—unless indeed you fail the test? (2 Cor. 13:5)

We need to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith. Do we not know that Christ is inside of us???
Faith in the fact that Christ is on the inside of me does not allow pride or condemnation!

We are challenged to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith... not so that we can have pride and not so that we'll be condemned, but rather so that we will continue to grow in faith in who God is, what Christ has done, and who we are to be, with the Holy Spirit's help.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Some Radical Thoughts: Persecution Day 2

2011-08-21T08:12:00.002-05:00

I'm going to go a little out of chronological order today and discuss a topic that was on my mind this morning.

Yesterday I explained that after reading through Acts I noticed many things different from the believers of the early church and us today. There were thought patterns, mindsets, and lifestyle differences that they had that we don't and I firmly believe that we need them. We need to change in order to see God's kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven in the power that the early church saw it.

Today I'm going to talk about persecution. I cannot speak for those of you reading, but I can speak for myself. I don't like persecution. Who does? There are many times that I am persecuted verbally for what I believe and I always leave those conversations a little discouraged and disheartened. I don't believe that the early church "enjoyed" persecution, but they certainly were not afraid of it. Persecution did not hinder them from continuing to be bold witnesses of the gospel. Let's go to the Word.

Acts 4:13
"Now as they observed the CONFIDENCE of Peter and John and understood that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed, and began to recognize them as having been with Jesus."

Peter and John had just been put in jail for preaching the gospel (you can see how early on the persecution started). When questioned and threatened without hesitation and full of the Holy Spirit, Peter just spoke the truth of Jesus. And I use verse 13 because I love the end of the verse... I hope that when people look at me they will recognize that I've been with Jesus :)

Acts 5
In Acts 5 we see ole' Peter once again in front of the council. Told not to preach the gospel, He boldly says to them, "We must obey God rather than men" (v.29) They were flogged (beaten) and told not to preach the gospel.

v. 41,42 "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Not only were they persecuted and warned, but they left rejoicing!!! And they kept right on preaching Jesus.

We live in a country where the worst persecution (at this time) that will befall most of us is simple verbal abuse and yet we often allow this to keep us from opening our mouths.
Acts 8:35 Then Phillip OPENED HIS MOUTH, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

In Acts 8 Phillip opened his mouth and spoke the truth of Jesus Christ and an Ethiopian was converted. We have been called to be witnesses throughout the world, but especially in those we are daily around. We are suppose to open our mouths and speak the truth of who Jesus Christ is, but all to often fear of rejection, mistreatment, embarrassment, keeps us from fulfilling our purpose. I'm in awe of what the early church went through and yet continued to boldly witness.

We have been given the same Holy Spirit, the same truth, we know the same Jesus, what is stopping us?

Here's the last piece of scripture I'll use, but it's one that really hits home with me.
Acts 14:19,20
And Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. But while the disciples stood around him he got up and entered the city.

Paul was in Lystra ministering the gospel, Jews came and stoned him what they thought was to death, so obviously Paul was pretty badly beat up. However, he got up. Now check this out.

V.21 After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch.

Paul was stoned nearly to death, persecuted harshly, and yet he arose off the ground and returned to the exact places to the people who had tried to kill him.

Paul knew the heart of God. The heart of God was for people to be saved, so that He can spend eternity with His children.

I won't tell the whole story again because i've shared it so many times, but the story of the two young Moravians that sold themselves into slavery and as they're leaving for a lifetime of slavery so that some people will hear the gospel they cry out
"May the lamb that was slain receive the reward of His suffering"

These disciples, the moravians, are they radicals? Are they extremists? They simply understand the heart of their Father and are willing to give their lives away in order to see people come to know our God.

Oh Lord, help me to die to myself.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Some Radical Thoughts Day 1

2011-08-20T07:44:00.003-05:00

I have been reading through Acts over the past week.

Acts is the accounts of the apostles. It is written historical documentation of actual events that took place during the time that the early church began. As I've been reading through Acts what I've found are actions, thought patterns, mindsets, lifestyles, that if we truly lived them out today, we would be considered radical extremists. How sad that we find that, we the church no longer live even close to the standard that was set by those who were trusted to START THE CHURCH. Jesus called Peter the rock on which He would build the church and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). Many of the things I will talk about involve Peter. So what does this tell me?

Jesus called Peter to be the rock on which the church would be started. Acts documents what was done by this early church. A + B = ? To me it equals that we the church now should be modeled off of the Acts church. I'm not talking about we the church as in 4 walls with a roof. I'm talking about me as an individual and along with other Christians should be living in this "radical" way of living. It's scary to me to think that if we stepped out and began to live as they lived in Acts, the church of today would probably cast us out. Let's take a journey through the Word.

We'll start with one specific passage.
Acts 2:38-47
38Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39“For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. 44And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; 45and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. 46Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, 47praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved.

First we see Peter with an extreme boldness to witness and speak the truth of Jesus Christ. How long has it been since you've used extreme boldness? The truth is Peter didn't know what persecution was about to come from what he was saying. He wasn't inside a church building. Peter proclaimed without hesitation the truth of Jesus Christ.

Next we see direct result... "added about three thousand souls" ... How long has it been that your boldness led to people being saved. I'm not talking about getting someone to sit in a church pew. I'm talking about a radical boldness that proclaimed Jesus Christ and led to salvations? The Holy Spirit does His work, He is the convictor of the hearts of men, but we have to open our mouths and speak the truth for them to hear and be convicted!

I could go on about verse 42, but I'll allow you to read that and examine your own life as I must do as well, but I will say it sounds like the early church found it important to be TOGETHER and hear the Word TOGETHER and to pray TOGETHER.

Verse 43. Why were they feeling a sense of Awe??? The apostles were led by and full of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit led them to do the same things that Jesus did as He walked on the earth. These mere men were simply believers and God used them to heal the sick, cast out demons, perform signs and wonders, lead people to the cross of Christ, and begin a RADICAL movement of showing the world who God is.

Verse 45. I'm sure you're thinking oh please don't go there!!! But that's right. The early church talked about money. ouch. They discussed who had need and they gave unselfishly of themselves to make sure that everyone's needs were met. This was not just the leaders, it wasn't just the followers, it wasn't just the apostles, and it wasn't just the pew setters. I hardly see this at all in our body today. Those who have need are to ashamed to admit it and those who have abundance are too selfish to share it.

46 & 47. The body was in unity. There wasn't strife and division or argument and tension and debate didn't split them apart. They were in unity with love for each other and Jesus Christ. And we see the result in verse 47. They praised God, they had favor, and many began to be saved.

Verse 47 is true because verses 38-46 took place. I know that Christians want to see salvations, but unfortunately they want to see them without the discomfort or sacrifice in verses 38-46. We've lost our boldness, we choose not to use our authority that Christ gave, and we don't live sacrificing self.

I write this because as I read Acts I am more convinced than ever of changes that need to take place in my own life so that I can be the contributor to the body of Christ that I am called to be. My prayer is that a few of you will share my thoughts.

The plan was for this to only be one blog, but we're only one passage in and there's so much more to go. Keep checking back.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A Living Word Convicts

2011-08-15T21:20:00.003-05:00

One of my most favorite part of everyday is waking up to read the Word of God.

Right now I'm going through the New Testament in 90 days. I thoroughly enjoy digging deeper into the Word and challenging myself to learn more, read more, and get more out of the Word daily. I'm often finding new Bible reading plans to commit to such as reading through the whole Bible faster, or the New Testament, or the gospels, or the prophets, anything for a new challenge to get more Word in me quicker. I enjoy taking words and looking them up in the Hebrew and Greek to find out some more revelation on what exactly God was saying in each verse. Anyway you get the point, I am a student of the Word and I love my studies.

One of the greatest things about the Word of God is that it is alive. It is a living Word. Though it was written many years ago it has the power to impact and change lives today. It is amazing how the Word will speak truth to your current situation in life.

As you know I have been studying faith. I've continued to press in on my faith workbook, looking through every scripture I can possibly find on faith, and continually asking God to teach me more about the subject of faith. As I stated in a previous blog Hebrews 11:6 has impressed me to the core of my being. It says that without faith it is impossible to please Him and the cry of my heart is to be pleasing to my Father.

Today in my personal reading time I read a scripture that has caught my attention before. It's a scripture that my Pastor has often mentioned or talked about and it is a scripture that today the Holy Spirit used to convict me.

Romans 14;23- But whoever has doubts is condemned if he eats, because the eating is not from faith. For whatever does not proceed from faith is sin.

WHATEVER DOES NOT PROCEED FROM FAITH IS SIN.

When I read scriptures like this and it convicts me to the core of my being, it is then that I have to remind myself of what I wrote in the first 3 paragraphs. I love the Word. I love the Word. I love the Word. The Word is good. The Word is Good. The Word is alive, I need this Word. This is for me RIGHT NOW.

Have you ever read something in the Word and the Holy Spirit began to move on the inside of you saying YOU NEED THIS, YOU NEED TO GET THIS, YOU NEED TO FIX THIS!! and your first reaction is just keep reading, just keep reading LOL. (Am I the only one who does this?)

I know that I am studying faith and I know that I promised that I was going to intensely study faith for the next 9 months, but here is a new level. This is a standard that seems WAY HIGH. Anything that does not come from faith is sin. That means every action I take, every word that pops it's way out of my mouth, if it's not said in faith.... I'm sinning.

As I previously stated, this is not the first time I've heard this, but the Holy Spirit spoke to me today, Jessika if you're going to study faith, you're going to study all of it.

If I'm claiming that I want to be a woman of faith, faith that pleases my Daddy God, then I'm going to have to learn to do all things in faith.... if not, it's sin.

Every word that comes out of my mouth must be spoken with the assurance that God is who He says He is, He'll do what He says He'll do, and I can do what He says I can do. Every action must line up with the Word believing that He is.

I am a work in progress, but PRAISE GOD, He who began a good work in me WILL see it through to completion and THANK GOD, that the Word is alive and speaks to me where I am.

Be Blessed, Be challenged,
J. Tate

Revelation of Muscle/Mouth Memory

2011-08-10T16:13:00.003-05:00

Today during volleyball practice the Holy Spirit began to show me some things.

As an athlete you develop certain motions or actions into muscle memory. For instance, if you threw a ball at me I wouldn't flinch, I wouldn't have to think about it, I'd simply and easily raise my hands and catch the ball.

As our incoming 7th graders enter into our volleyball program and we begin to teach them how to serve the ball over the net we make them serve EVERYDAY and continually remind them the more they do the motion, soon it will become muscle memory. They have to take something their body has never done before and teach it to become the natural, first response.

We all have certain things that we have trained our muscles to do naturally that at one point weren't natural. When you are driving a car and the light turns yellow, you don't have to pause and think, okay now I need to move my foot over to the brake, your body does it by muscle memory. Your body has been trained that when you see the yellow light, it's time to slow down to come to a stop, and your foot needs to move to the brake and stop.

Young athletes have to start out constantly repeating the correct steps in order to serve efficiently and one day they will be able to do it without much thought.

As I was watching varsity practice, I corrected one of our passers on their form, and the Holy Spirit began to speak to me.
Just as we as athletes or people put things into muscle memory, we need to develop not only a muscle memory but also a mouth memory.

I was a defensive specialist in high school, in other words one of the better passers. I can watch an athlete pass a ball and immediately know what was done right or wrong, because passing has become second nature to me. I've done it enough times that my body knows just how to react when a serve is coming at me.

In life many circumstances will arise and we'll have many choices for how to react to it. We need to be in our Word to know exactly how to react when situations arise. We need to not only develop a muscle memory of what to do but also a mouth memory of how and what to say when things come at us.

The Bible is clear that no matter what circumstances come at us we are to praise God.
We are to praise when we have received from the Lord. (Luke17:15-16).
We should rejoice even if things aren't going our way and began to declare God's goodness in spite of what we see or feel. (Habakkuk 3:17-19) (Ps. 42:5) (many more)

We should also remind God of the promises He has given us (Isaiah 43:26). Take scripture and tell Him that He is our protector, our hope, our shield, our present help in times of need.

As circumstances come if we continue to train ourself we can have mouth memory. When the enemy comes in like a roaring lion and comes to steal, kill, or destroy from me, I'm not supposed to mourn and weep, become bitter, or lose faith, but rather be trained to have a mouth memory that begins to declare the Word of God.

What does your muscle memory tell you to do when hard things come our way? What does your mouth memory tell you to do?

Just like my body knows how to pass a volleyball so can my mind, body, and mouth learn to line up with the Word of God in any and all situations. Occasionally I step out on the volleyball court and for one reason or another I mess up. I do something different than what I've been trained to do, but the more I train and the more I fight, the easier it becomes.

I want my actions and mouth to line up with the Word of God in any and all situations, wether it be times of success, failure, hard time, easy time, disappointing circumstances, or exciting moments... in all times praise God and speak the Word.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Faith vs. Hope

2011-08-04T06:56:00.002-05:00

As I wrote about in my last blog I am doing an in depth study of faith.

I am learning so much and seeing where my mentor truly knew how badly I needed to go more in depth on my understanding of faith.
I go to a full gospel, non-denominational church, where faith is talked about almost every Sunday and yet so many things taught have not "clicked". I know that many of my readers go to a similar church and many or I might even say most are from a denominational church, such as the Baptist church. I'm so thankful that yal' continue to read my posts even if their are slight disagreements occasionally.

I've always thought I had faith, even strong faith. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God without a doubt in my mind, I believe He died for my sins and resurrected on the third day, and I believe He is coming again. You couldn't talk me out of this belief if I tried, but there is so much more to faith.

Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen. Faith is knowing that God is who He says He is, He'll do what He says He'll do, He did what He said He did.

During this time of study on faith I'm using a few aids along with the Word such as a Faith study course. Today I was reading about the difference in faith and hope.

You see Mark 11:24 says that whatsoever you ask for BELIEVE you receive them and you will have them. Isn't that what faith is? It's asking for something and truly believing that we will receive it before we even have evidence of having them!

I think we've made something negative out of asking God for things and I hope that you all reading know me well enough to know my heart about "things" "mammon" etc. We can ask God for things and it not be a negative thing. We can even ask God for "non-spiritual" things and it be okay. He is Daddy God and He listens to us and knows our hearts.

What I see in Mark 11:24 is that I have to believe I receive it, before I receive it. That is faith. Believing in the unseen. Whether what I asked for was joy, peace, salvation for someone, a bike, an answer, a boat, wisdom, healing, etc... (I use diverse petitions on purpose)

But how many times do I ask and hope for rather than ask and believe I receive? There is a difference between faith and hope. Christ in me the hope of glory, I have a Blessed hope that Jesus Christ will return one day. Hope is believing that something will happen in the future, faith if you notice, is now.

Faith must believe before it receives... you don't need faith for something you already have.

We need to begin to examine ourselves to see if we are in faith as 2 Cor. says. When I come boldly into the throne room of grace ask according to the Word and will of God do I ask in faith, believing I receive?

I think that many times we hope rather than have faith because we can't believe for something we're not sure we have. I don't think this is a lack of "faith" necessarily, I think we question what God's will for our lives is and then we doubt we will receive what we ask. This comes from a pure heart of truly wanting what God wants for our lives, but in order to receive we need to know what the Word says God will do, who He is, what He wants for us, and then we could ask in faith.

Perhaps more on this later,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A student

2011-07-26T05:28:00.002-05:00

One of the greatest blessings that I am thankful for everyday of my life is that God has always strategically placed mentors in my life. From the time I began to follow the Lord I cannot think of a time that someone didn't walk into my life and take me under their wing. I've had friend's parents, coaches, youth pastors, lead pastors, ministers, counselors, pastor's wives, you name it, God has always provided someone that was willing to pour into me individually.

It's sort of a joke in my circle right now that my love language is correction or discipline. Obviously this isn't my love language but it is a main way that I feel loved. I desire someone in my life who will encourage me but is more than willing to be honest with me and show me areas of my life that I need to grow. Right now my mentor does exactly that and I absolutely LOVE it.

She recently sat me down to explain an area that she saw that needed some work. This was the area of faith.

I knew when she said it how right she was. I have faith, but who couldn't use more? It's amazing what you can stretch your faith out for when dealing with others, but when it comes to your own personal life it's harder. It's hard to believe God will move miraculously when you're the one in the midst of the situation, or you're the one that feels the pain, or you're the one that has the bank account that is low, or you're the one that doesn't feel peace... It's hard to have faith when everything you see tells you the opposite of faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please Him.

We have to believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

He is what? He is the I AM. He is everything He says in the Word that He is. I believe God rewards those that diligently seek Him. I've seen Him do it.

I am about to launch into a 9 month personal study of faith. I'm going to dive deep to find everything the Word says about faith and what faith should look like in me. If it takes faith to please Him and faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God, then I want faith and I know where to find it. I'm excited about this and ready to share what God teaches me.

As you check back over the next few months it'll mainly be lessons on faith as I take this journey... and of course my occasional updates :)

I want to please Him.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Fear, Hate, Evil, Love, Compassion

2011-07-13T07:11:00.003-05:00

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech. (Prov. 8:13)
Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. (Ps. 97:10)
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil, cling to what is good (Rom. 12:9)

I have been praying these verses and several others over the last month or so all having to do with asking the Lord for my character to be like His. I pray that I would hate what He hates and love what He loves.

In this process I literally see my heart becoming more compassionate toward people and more disgusted with sin, my sin, your sin, the world's sin. (It's amazing the power of claiming word over yourself everyday.)

Our cry as a bride has been for years Jesus make us like you, we want to be like you, and yet I haven't seen much change. There hasn't been an overwhelming movement of love for others and hatred for sin. Instead I've seen a moving standard. As the world's standards have gone down the drain the church's slowly move with it.

We still have standards and they are better than the world's but they haven't stayed in line with the Word. The Word says we hate evil, we focus on only pure and noble things, we must be pure in heart, full of 1 Cor. 13 love, 1 John says if we don't love our brethren we don't love God (OUCH), Proverbs says any man who doesn't bridle his tongue is a fool, etc. Have we continued to say God I want to BE LIKE YOU. In other words a walking example of Your Word, not some false sense of standard.

Exodus says the fear of the Lord will keep us from sin. Most of you reading this probably have heard my teaching on fear or have listened to the cd (if you haven't I can get a copy for you). We have to understand the difference of the fear of God and a fear of heights, snakes, etc. The fear of God is a reverential fear of who God is and in His presence this grows and grows. The fear of God in your life is shown by your character, do you hate what God hates and love what He loves? Take a look again at Proverbs 8:13.

To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.

Perhaps you've been praying now for a long time saying God I want to be like you, make me like Jesus, and yet don't feel like you are improving. Sanctification is a 2 side process. God will do what you can't do, but you have to do what you can. Get into the Word. Begin to claim scriptures over your life everyday.

I want to be like Jesus. I want to hate what He hates, love what He loves, I want to be sickened by sin, and moved to compassion as He was by people. We have to fear God and desire truly to be like Him.
Blessed are the pure and heart for they shall see God--- I WANT TO SEE HIM
Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled--- I WANT TO BE FILLED.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate
The fruits of the Spirit are Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self Control. Do we walk in the fruits?

A God Who Walks In the Fire

2011-07-09T06:07:00.003-05:00

I woke up meditating on the sheer awesomeness of my Creator this morning.

Bible Story after Bible story flooded my thinking as I was considering how great of a God I serve. (This in and of itself is an answer to prayer because i've been praying Psalms 1 for a while now that I would meditate on the Word day and night)

I thought about Daniel in the lion's den and how we serve a God who shuts the mouths of lions. When a child of God chooses to honor God above all else God comes in to shut the mouth of the enemy. The Word says that the enemy roams around LIKE (not that he is one but he tries to act like one) a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour, BUT IT'S OKAY, we serve a God who shuts the mouths of lions.

Now I think about Shadrach Meshach and Abednego. These men were thrown into a fiery furnace 7x hotter than what the normal temperature was. It was so hot that the men that threw them into the furnace were burned!

I want the faith of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. I find in our own lives that as we walk towards the fire (any trial) we immediately begin to lose faith. We ask God WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME! WHAT'S GOING ON? WHERE ARE YOU? We begin to second guess our own decisions, perhaps we second guess God, anxiety and worry often set it. Here is these guys' response as they come to face the fire and Nebuchadnezzar asks the men if God will save them from their sure death.
DANIEL 3:
16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. 17 If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king.] 18 But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.”

In other words: We know our God CAN deliver us, We know our God WILL deliver us our of your hand, but if He doesn't we still serve God.

These men weren't doubting whether God would save them, they were saying no matter my circumstances, in a fire or out, lifted high or very low, alive or burned, God is THE GOD, THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE, and NONE BUT HIM WILL RECEIVE OUR WORSHIP!

Then the Lord showed up in the midst of the fire. He didn't stand beside it, He didn't reach a hand down and pull them out, He walked into the fire with them. That's my Jesus. That's His Character.

These men had a decision to be beat down, to lose heart, to lose faith, but they STOOD UP UNDER TRIAL, and Jesus came and walked in the fire with them. Even the king yelled out, I thought we only threw three men in the fire, who is that fourth man that looks like a son of the gods?!? (Daniel 3:25)

Then even the king worshipped the God of Shadrech Meshech and Abednego. The God of Abraham Isaac and Jacob. The God of Jessika. The God of you. The Creator of the Universe. The One True God.

So what if? What if often times we're led through fire, so that Jesus can come in and walk with us through it, drawing us closer to Him, and if our faith will stand, if we will not deny the Lord, through the fire others will see Jesus and praise Him.

We serve a God who walks in the fire, will you stand firm in your faith in the midst of fire?

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The Higher Life

2011-07-07T21:35:00.003-05:00

Many people have different analogies and metaphors for life. Here are just a few.
Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're going to get.
Life is like a jar of jalapenos (a personal favorite), what you do today may burn your butt tomorrow.
Life is like a carousel, there are times your up and times your down.
Life is like a coin. You can spend it any way you wish, but you only spend it once.

You get the point, but no matter what we can compare life to there are a few things about life i've determined. One is that my life has a purpose. A purpose that supersedes anything I may determine as important. A purpose to know God, to be known by Him, to make Him known, and a purpose or assignment that God has made specifically for me. Another thing is that life is too short to waste time.

I remember someone telling me once "we have to be accountable to our anointing". As I think about that statement I want to say we have to make a day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute, decision to hold ourselves accountable to our assignment that God has given us.

Life is many different things, it will have many trials, it will have highs lows, successes and failures, but no matter the circumstances or situation we should remember the promises and vision God has given us and remain accountable and faithful to that assignment.

The best example I can give is two specific assignments God has given me and the choice I made to remain accountable to those assignments.
When I was 16 years old I was praying alone in the sanctuary of the church I attended. God spoke to me and said Jessika you will stand behind a pulpit with a crowd larger than this to share the gospel.
I was only 16 and I thought the Lord was CRAZY... however I knew I heard Him, and I trusted Him. So what did I do? If I was supposed to share the gospel I began to dive into the Word like never before. I read the Bible through twice in the year that followed that. I wrote sermons in my spare time. I began writing devotions. I did everything I thought that someone who preached the gospel should be doing. Everyday I prayed for boldness and opportunity to fulfill the assignment I felt God had called me to. Did you know that this assignment didn't come until almost 5 years later when I spoke to a crowd of around 500!!! But for 5 years I held myself accountable to what I knew God had called me to do. I stood firm on His Word, I studied and I prayed to be prepared for the time that it came forth.

The second time was my first call to missions/Africa. I won't restate the whole amazing story because i've already told it so many times in this blog, but I will say I was 18 years old with no desire to go on the mission field and then God spoke to me and told me I'd go to Africa. The very next day I was on the internet searching missions teams and trips. I was researching Africa and what type of missions were done there (I really knew nothing at all about africa or missions). I began to pray daily multiple times a day for God to open a door for me to go, for God to move on the continent (at that time I didn't feel called to any particular country), I prayed for finances to support my trip. This went on for another 2 years until I took my first trip to Africa!

Perhaps you're young and haven't heard God tell you something specific like these two things. Begin to ask God what your assignment is. Ask Him what are some things He wants you to do with your life. But also remember that we all have one calling, many various assignments, but one calling. We are all called to win souls for the Lord Jesus Christ. Never let a day go by that you aren't growing deeper in your relationship with Christ by time in worship, prayer, intercession, and Bible study. Don't let a day go by that you aren't sharing the love of Christ to another person, loving others as Christ has loved us.

The enemy loves to get Christians distracted from their God given assignments. Many times we can get so focused on what we've chosen to do that we forget that God has things for us to do. We can be so wrapped up in class, work, eating, resting, shopping, driving, etc. that we don't listen the Holy Spirit as He tries to guide and lead us to do things for the Kingdom.

We talk a lot about the fact that God will never leave us nor forsake us. And it’s true, He is always with us. But we have to admit, His power is not always in manifestation. In Jesus’ life, however, God’s power was constantly in manifestation. Every moment of every hour of every day, Jesus walked in the measureless, manifested power and presence of God because He always did those things that pleased the Father.

I long to live that life of obedience that Christ had. He knew His assignment, He knew why He was on earth, and His lifestyle showed that. His life was not His own, it was all about the Father's will. The things of this world were of no concern to Him.

If you could see what God has for you in the higher life, you would immediately let go of the mundane things of the world. You would drop that junk so fast you wouldn’t even know which way it went. But you’re not going to be able to see it and then make your decision. You have to step into that higher life by faith. You have to lay down your life because the Word says to do it. Then and only then will you discover the wonders that are waiting on the other side of your obedience.

A life that is accountable to it's assignment. Help me Lord.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The Problem of Pain

2011-07-01T22:00:00.003-05:00

“But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pain: it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

This is a quote from CS Lewis' "The Problem of Pain".
I read this book a few years ago as I went through a CS Lewis phase and bought practically every book he's ever written and today this quote jumped to my mind.

I've seen a tremendous amount of pain in the last few weeks, some of my own and plenty for others. Death, Divorce, Sickness, Emotional Hurt, Confusion, Failed Attempts, Broken Plans, and Loss of Direction. There's been more than enough pain.

Today I received a phone call from another friend, in pain, and I thought about this quote and I clung to the belief that God speaks to us in our hurts and hope that this person would listen for Him.

There's so much about life that is unexplainable to us in this moment. I will say I am thankful for my personality in that I'm not so much of an analyzer that I need an answer for every situation, I can let life roll and not get to hung up on the things I don't understand, yet I fully realize not everyone has that luxury.

People are built with a hunger for knowledge, a want to explain and understand, especially when the thing we don't understand caused us pain.

When someone young dies, when a girl who was raped gets pregnant, when we worked extremely hard for something to no avail, when we thought we made the right choice and it doesn't work out, when you thought that relationship would work and it didn't, when love fades, when cancer strikes, or simply when life doesn't feel right... questions come, There is a desire for comfort in explanation and knowledge.

We're not wrong for wanting to understand... check this out: Proverbs 4:7
The beginning of wisdom is: Acquire wisdom; And with all your acquiring, get understanding.

My concern is where we choose to get understanding from. In times of pain we want understanding from others (not that this won't happen), perhaps we want God to speak it to us (not that this won't happen either), but the true place of wisdom is straight from the Word.

When life throws a curve ball see what the Word says about it.

First off we know that this hard stuff is going to happen:
1 Peter:
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

or even better look at what Jesus said

John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.

I know things have been difficult. I know that death, discouragement, disappoint, etc are hard, but the Word promises great reward for those who rejoice and stand firm in suffering (James 1, 1 Peter 1) It's in these times that we get to prove our faith is genuine and remember without faith it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6)

Standing firm doesn't mean we can't cry, it doesn't mean we can't mourn, it means not losing faith, finding Word to put on our situation, and remembering that weeping is for a time but joy comes in the morning. The Word says to rejoice when faced with these trials.

I know many times my heart has hurt over various situations in the last few weeks and my desire is to be found faithful. To cast my care upon the Lord knowing that He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7), to seek Him and His word for my comfort and understanding. I love this quote.

We all know people who have been made much meaner and more irritable and more intolerable to live with by suffering: it is not right to say that all suffering perfects. It only perfects one type of person ...... the one who accepts the call of God in Christ Jesus. --Oswald Chambers

I don't want to be beat down under trial I want to rise up in faith. My prayers go up and my heart goes out for those hurting in the midst of various trials right now! Breakthrough will come.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

As always,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Priorities- A day in the life

2011-06-18T21:58:00.003-05:00

Our lives clearly state our priorities...
Examine someone's schedule and you know what they care about...
ouch.

A minute of self examination (kayce clark go ahead and be proud) leads me to scream at this last statement. NO NO NO... Don't judge my priorities by my time, that's not what I really care about.

You know of my love for self-discipline. I crave discipline and work diligently for it. Discipline in my eating habits, exercise, time with God, in my mind, in the cleanliness of my home, in self sacrificing... etc. To me saying that I live a disciplined life would say that my priorities in my heart are clearly priorities in my schedule, but the moment of self-examination tells me otherwise.

If you have the time, do this self examination exercise with me real quick. If you don't, then think about it for a minute. Grab a piece of paper and a pen. Go ahead and make seven columns for the seven days, then make rows for the hours of the day. Start the hours at the typical hour you wake up and you can stop it at the typical time you go to bed. For me I start at 5 a.m. (not that I wake up everyday at 5 a.m. but at least one day a week I do) and I end my day at 11pm (I hardly ever go to bed later than 11). Then account each hour of your day. If you don't have time to do this now, or don't feel like doing all seven days now, do one day. Here is an example of Wednesday for me. (Wednesday was an extreme busy day for me this week, but the day that triggered this blog post).

5 a.m- 6 a.m.- Wake up, Worship, prayer, bible study.. begin coffee and breakfast
6a.m- 7a.m - Getting ready (brush teeth, hair, makeup, dressed etc.) journal for a few minutes, facebook, emails etc.
7:15-9 a.m- coach summer workouts
9-11 a.m- coach middle school volleyball camp
11-11:45 a.m- lunch at subway with boss
11:45-2p-coach elementary school volleyball camp
2p-3p- Get home from camp, rest a few minutes, get prepared for workout
3p-4p- 60 minute run
4p-5p- shower, get dressed, hair, make up etc.
5:15-6:15p- dinner with friends
6:30p-9p- at church
9p-10p- prepare for bed, fbook, emails, twitter, etc... get in bed

This is my whole day on Wednesday. It didn't involve much interaction outside of what was built into the schedule in other words i didn't have a lot of phone calls or texts that day. And it was an abnormally busy work day for the summer for me.

As this past week went on (an extremely busy week for me) I thought about priorities. Does the way my time is spent reflect my priorities? In a 17 hour day the Lord was given a solid 45 minutes. I'm not saying I didn't pray outside of that 45 mintues or think about Him, but He was given 45 minutes of my undivided attention. Work must be a priority in our lives, I'm a firm believer in hard work, but how often do I invite God into my work? Is He acknowledged and relied upon? Is He given my full availability to stop and listen if He speaks or do as the Holy Spirit guides... or does God get 45 minutes of undivided attention only to be put on a shelf for the other 16 hours and 15 minutes?

What profits if I give God 45 minutes of undivided attention and then never allow Him to move me to compassion for others throughout the day, or allow Him to use me to speak to someone, witness, love, minister, pray for etc.

What really is my true priority? I know my heart priorities. I know the things I care deeply about. I know the person I want to be. Does my schedule reflect those priorities?

I'm contemplating priorities this week. What are my true priorities? What are the things I consider priorities and what do I give priority to? Is there a difference? How can I fix that or Can I fix it?

Just some thoughts...
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

From a coach

2011-06-03T08:55:00.003-05:00

I've been thinking a lot about victory.

I heard an announcer say "And the team went on to victory, but it was short lived due to a loss on...".
Sports. They're a huge part of my life, I'm a coach, ironically I hardly every watch them on tv. In fact, I'd much rather sit down and watch the hallmark channel, a chickflick, perhaps life time, anything with julia roberts or dolly parton, than watch a sports game. All professional sports get on my nerves and it has to be the right team to get me to sit through an entire college game, but I digress.

In sports, victory is often time indeed short lived. The sweet aroma and emotional high of winning can as easily be followed by the crushing depression of a loss. Perhaps I'm over exaggerating for the majority of the population and most likely for most of the readers of this blog, BUT when you are directly influenced and connected with the game the results have a greater effect on you.

For instance, if you go to the school of the team that's playing, you're more involved than someone who doesn't, if you know someone personally on the team, you're more involved than someone who doesn't, if you're a parent of a player, you're more involved than someone who isn't, if you're the coach, you're more involved than someone who isn't, if you're a player, you're more involved than someone who isn't. Do you see how involvement causes more emotion than not being involved?

As a coach you win some, you lose some, but every game goes to heart. There's not a single loss that I didn't go home and spend time thinking about, praying about, what could I/we/them/us done differently. I was directly tied into the match. Wether it was a win or a loss it invoked emotion.

As a Christian I stand on a battlefield. I see two teams and the battle has never stopped, I won't lie, often times I can't tell who is really winning. I'll look one moment and it'll seem as though we're bruised, beaten, bloody, and lying down with no hope of recovery, then i'll turn and it'll seem as though we're 5,000 strong against 2.

Because we are directly involved in this match, it often times produces high emotion. Of course when things are going rough we get frustrated, of course when things are going smooth we're happy. You're directly involved.

This morning I got a revelation in my heart. It's one we've all been taught most likely since day one of our journey with Christ. The revelation is I win.

The coach would not sweat and throw their clipboard if they knew what the final score would be, yet here I am. Often times weary, anxious, exhausted from fighting, wondering if we'll make it out okay, when all along I've known who wins. Our perception of the game must change.

I read a quote yesterday. Truth is universal, but perception of truth is not.

If we're watching the game specifically at the 3rd quarter at 4 minutes and 37 seconds our emotions will be directly tied to whoever is winning or losing at 4 minutes and 37 seconds. However, if it's a recording and we already heard who wins, why would we care who seems to be winning at 4 minutes and 37 seconds? You know the final outcome!!!

The emotions of a winner aren't of despair and let's be honest though the athletes might have been haunched over for breath in the final seconds of the game, when the buzzer goes off they're running around jumping and yelling like a new found energy has found their way into their system. Winning will invoke joyful emotion and cause a weary person to act as though they have new life.

Well, I win and what emotion is that causing for me?

I can be down in points, but I know when the buzzer goes off who will win. We can't grow weary, we can't hold back, we can't relax, the truth is though I know who wins in this battle for me, there's many others who are on the losing side and they need us to come share with them what we know.

Victory in the life of a Christian is not short lived and will never be short lived. A team may win one and turn around and lose another, but I'm in a match where I WILL WIN. It may be hard and I may feel down, but circumstances aren't always what they seem. Faith is believing in what's not seen, faith is knowing the truth given to us in the Word of God despite what things may look like, faith is knowing that even though I'm sore from the battle, Christ did give us the victory.

Galatains 6:9- Don't grow weary in doing good for in due time you will reap a harvest if you endure to the end.
1 Peter 5:7- Cast your anxieties upon Him for He cares for you.
Proverbs 24:10- If you faint in the day of adversity your strength is small.
Hebrews 4:15- For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Just a few scriptures I've been clinging to lately.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Will You Enjoy Me? PART THREE, THE FINALE'

2011-05-16T21:23:00.004-05:00

I stopped the last blog with quoting Psalms 16:11 that says in the presence of God is fullness of joy and I posed a question I hope you have reflected on. I asked if in the presence of God is the fullness of joy then should't we be enJOYing God?

The last part of this blogging tirade I have been on I want to simply discuss God enjoying us and how we enjoy God. I don't think after reading these last two parts of this blog or perhaps even before reading this blog you would argue with me that God is meant to be enjoyed.

When I think about someone enjoying God I immediately think of the life of David. I can recall several instances that just display David's heart, His love and zeal to know God, He enjoyed being with and serving God.
How else do you dance around like a mad man in front of people and when questioned on your actions say that you will continue to celebrate the Lord and become even more undignified!
or my favorite picture of David's relationship with God that is found in Psalms 27:4
"One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple."

David just wanted to be with God. I truly believe David studied God. He made God His personal pursuit, the One he looked to. David pursued to know God's heart.

I think perhaps one reason David could so enjoy God is that David had an understanding of how God enjoyed Him. David knew whose who he was.

We need to understand the concept that God enjoys us. We need to step out of our ways of thinking to get a glimpse of what God sees. God sees the blood of Jesus. I don't want to get into abusing grace and our responsibility in sanctification, so let me just say we know that those who have been born to God must die to sin. So when I ask for forgiveness God looks at me and He sees that blood, that blood that washes away the sin, He can enjoy me because the price was paid for us to be intimate with our Father. God isn't the one condemning me that is the enemy.

I reposted an old blog title on my facebook the other day, it's in my blog, by the title of "I'm not a beggar I'm a daughter". In that blog I say that the enemy doesn't care what lie He has to tell us, He just wants to keep me from the revelation that I'm a Daughter (or Son for you guys). If I don't understand my relationship with the Father that He paid a price for me, that He loves me, that He wants me, that He enjoys me, that He's not constantly waiting to tell me everything I've done wrong and what I need to fix, and how I have to be better, and that I need to grow up, and that I'm not good at this and I'm not good at that, and I should have witnessed to that person, and He wanted me to do this but I wans't listening............ ETC! God isn't constantly waiting to correct me, He's constantly waiting for me to enjoy Him.

If we come to a place where we enjoy Him, we'll want to spend time with Him, and if we spend time with Him WE WILL BECOME MORE LIKE HIM. Time with God changes us. It molds us. When you get a glimpse of the heart of the Father it does something supernaturally that invokes change, it invokes a desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to walk like Him, to talk like Him, to BE LIKE HIM.

Do you see this glorious cycle? God wants to be enjoyed. Let me talk to you about how this has changed my life.

The revelation has hit my heart that God enjoys me. Because I KNOW it (not just mentally, but in every essence) I'm not living under condemnation and I'm not ashamed. I never knew I was ashamed, but now I can see that I was. I hardly ever opened up a single prayer without begging for forgiveness (repentance is a good thing I'm not discrediting that) and when you're constantly feeling like you should be better you don't really feel like you can just talk to God about the simple things, because maybe He's still mad, maybe He thinks I need to fix a few things before I deserve what I'm asking for...

Now remember what I said. . . I was constantly being attacked with lies from the enemy, some i believed, some i didn't, some i listened to, some i didn't, some i listened to for a while and then stood against... so as I let you in on some things that went through my head, remember that this mental battle is one I was constantly fighting. I knew these lies were lies, I just struggled to fight them off all the time.

I've found my prayer life grow tremendously since this experience. I'm talking to God constantly. I'm asking Him questions, I'm telling Him how awesome He is, I'm listening for His voice, because I know He's going to speak to me throughout the day, it's not that He couldn't, wouldn't, didn't before, it's that now more than ever I truly want to HEAR Him throughout the day. Him asking me to do something or speaking to me isn't an inconvenience, it's a joy! I'm asking for things because I know I'm His daughter and If I ask, I'll receive.

I'm finding some boldness I didn't have before. Today in class I felt God telling me to talk to a young girl, so I got bold, I told her if she died today she'd go to hell and I really didn't want that to happen. She admitted that I was right. Her and 2 of her friends are coming to church Sunday. God knew she was ready to hear the truth.

Now I know that you all know that I prayed before, I witnessed before, I did those things, but it feels different, it's more intimate than before. It's not out of duty, it's not out of obligation, it's out of enjoyment, it's out of love.

I find that I am honestly just more joyful, funny, all I have to do is think about God enjoying me and it makes me put things into perspective.

I want to know God's heart, I want to know His emotions, I want to be a woman after His heart, I want to hear Him speak to me throughout the day, I want to be in tune with Him, so that He can use me to do work for His Kingdom. Enjoying Him isn't hard when you get that He enjoys you. Spend time with Him, let Him be God, it's easy to enjoy God even when life around you seems miserable, He's a rock to run to, a pleasant escape.

There's more things I'm learning and more things that have happened in me and in my circumstances, but I think this is a good place to close up shop for now. I'm going to be spending more time studying the Word on this topic. Really digging deep into the character of God, how He enjoys us, and us enjoying Him.

Let the realization of God enjoying you captivate your heart, you'll never be the same.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Will you enjoy me? PART TWO

2011-05-16T11:25:00.006-05:00

If you haven't read "Will You Enjoy Me? PART ONE" go check that out because this blog won't matter as much without it.

So here I was I'd had an incredible few hours where I really felt the presence of God in the room with me, talking with me, molding me, teaching me, showing me, changing me... It is an experience like no other I've ever had before.

I ended the last blog with telling you some about that night and how we were created to be enjoyed by God. Not only are we created to be enjoyed by Him, but we are created to enjoy Him. Here is an excerpt from the end of the last blog and then we'll start again from there.

"Christ paid a price for His bride, He wants to be with her, He enjoys us! He likes me. He likes spending time with me, He likes watching me flourish and grow, He loves when I come to Him and admit my faults and my hurts, my aches my pains, my concerns. He likes to watch me coach because I love it. He enjoys me living life and enjoying the life that He gave me and the truth is He wants me to enjoy Him as much as He enjoys me."

At about 5:15 that morning I finally laid back down to sleep. I had spent a night in prayer, worship, and learning. I'd even made a phone call and sent a few emails to people for different reasons that I had felt impressed on during that time with the Lord. As I laid my head on my pillow, I thanked God for that night, I asked for strength for the following BUSY day, and the last thing I remember saying as I fell asleep was this "God I want to enjoy You, I want to know what that means, I want to know what it feels like, show me that this is real"

As awesome as that night was and as much as I was thankful for it and I did enjoy it, I still didn't quite comprehend this enjoy God thing. I know you could say I'm slow, but it's hard for me to say I get that I can daily enjoy God the way I daily enjoy my best friend, a romantic relationship, a parent etc. and if God was saying that I could have that then I want it. Yes, gasp with extreme disappointment, but like I said, I'm changed, I've found something new for me, and I'm going to put it all out there in hopes that someone else will catch on to this...

I am and have been a passionate Christian. When I was 15 years old I caught on fire with enthusiasm for God. It has been a journey of some ups some downs some successes and some failures, but I have been passionate about Him since that point when God spoke to me as a teenager while I was drunk in my bed after a party. I love Him. I hear Him speak and I know His voice, I spend time with Him, read the Word, do missions, love on people and LOVE SHARING THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST... but I was all that and I still wasn't enjoying God everyday of my life.

I woke up at 6 a.m. to head to a training with Redeemed ministries to help rescue women in the Houston area out of sex trafficking. I was just driving down the road, early, sleepy, and excited about the training.

I'm not too sure the best way to explain what happened and some may chalk it up to charasmatic emotion and if you want to devalue it to that level, it's definitely your choice. As I drove I wasn't worshiping, I wasn't praying, I was just driving and something hit me like a brick. It was this overwhelming reality of the love of God for me. It so impressed me internally that it had external effects. I began to weep, uncontrollably weep, as I could barely mutter words of "Jesus, thank you". I had to pull over. You would think it'd stop, it didn't, I cried more, then after crying, I laughed. When all of this was finished I just sat to listen.

God spoke to my Spirit. "Will you enjoy me like I enjoy you?"

I've read the Beatitudes a billion times, but as I read them not long after the experience in my car this stuck out to me.
"Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh".

We've all heard the scripture that the Joy of the Lord is our strength and I think we all know the reason that it must be our strength is because God is never changing. Our joy will be constant if we find our joy in Him. My joy will be constant because I know that Christ died for me, so that I could have relationship with God. A relationship where He enjoys me and I enjoy Him!

Check out this passage of scripture from Psalm 16:
8 I have set the LORD always before me;
because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.

9Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices;
my flesh also dwells secure.
10For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
or let your holy one see corruption.

11You make known to me the path of life;
in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

WOW. In His presence is fullness of joy, if in His presence is fullness of joy doesn't that mean that I should enJOY Him?

I think I'm going to leave you with this thought. It looks like this will be longer than 2 blogs... part 3 to follow when I have time.

Be Blessed,

J. Tate

Will you enjoy Me? (this is me being vulnerable) PART ONE

2011-05-16T06:14:00.004-05:00

I have been touched this week, I have been changed and it's with a message that I want the world to hear. So I'll start with my first platform, this blog... then I'll move to my other platforms the Lord has given me and any other He opens up... I'll shout it from rooftops if I need to. As you read this blog, know that I am opening up some of the things that I've felt and have hardly talked to anyone about, in an effort that others will be touched too!

Let me first say I should have known that breakthrough was coming. The past two weeks have been rough. I've been attacked physically and emotionally. I had some hard circumstances, I had to make tough decisions, some hurt, some came easily, some I may not fully understand even now. As I was sitting at my mentor's house on Saturday having lunch I was telling her about what all had happened in the past 12 hours (yes most of this came from one 7 hour night of just me and God) and she said well I knew that God was about to do something big in your life because look at all the preparation, resistance, and growing you just went through! I was like what are you talking about? I just went through 2 really bad weeks. She said if you think about them as bad you're never going to stick with this, but if you look at them as a growing period, a time where God is trying to do something and the enemy is trying to stop it, you'll grow through it. Gosh, she's always right. So I should have known breakthrough was coming, I went through a not so fun growing period.

Let me just dive in and explain circumstances so I can explain my revelation. Friday night I laid down to sleep and just COULD NOT SLEEP. I began to pray (mainly to get some sleep I had to be up at 6 AM to head to Houston the next morning!) and then I would lay my head down tossing and turning for another 10 minutes. Finally (light bulb) I said God do you just need me to shut up and listen? I got up out of bed to really say "Lord here I am, I really am listening". He spoke. God is faithful like that. He said draw near to me and I'll draw near to you (James 4:8) He didn't say He might. He said He would, so when I got up and said okay God I'm listening for YOU, He came near. God speaks to me the way I wish more people would speak to me, to the point, direct, loving and compassionate, but not beating around the bush. He said "You don't enjoy me".

Those of you who have heard me speak know (I tell on myself a lot in messages) I for some reason argue with God. You would think after years of doing this walk and realizing He never says anything that's not true that I would just be a "Yes Lord" kind of gal, but not yet, i'm working on it. I responded to Him. "GOD! I DO ENJOY YOU. I love you. I pray, I read my Bible, I sing, I dance, I worship, I ENJOY YOU!".... AGAIN HE SAYS "You don't enjoy me". I respond.... "God if you're saying I don't enjoy you then fine you're going to have to teach me what you mean and how to do it, because I obviously don't understand!"

The next 5-6 hours were spend praying, listening, worshiping, and feeling impressed to do certain things, feeling convicted about certain things. God basically showed me how I have made my relationship with Him a job.

My personality is task oriented. Make me a list and I'll get it done. I am a hard worker (thank you randy tate for instilling this into me). Just tell me what to do and I will get it done. At some point I applied this to Christianity. This is not to say I haven't had a relationship with the Lord for the past few months and it's not even to say it became routine, it's to say that I lived in constant condemnation and in over achiever mode. I read the bible in 90 days because I just knew I needed to get more Word, I would wake up at 4:30 to read and pray because I just needed to be a better daughter, I'd do this do that do this... etc. All the while still feeling like it wasn't good enough I HAD TO DO MORE IF I WAS EVER GOING TO BE WHO GOD WANTED ME TO BE. I had to spend more time in prayer, get less sleep, lay around less, do more work, be at the church more, help out more, read the Bible more, preach better, witness more, share Christ more. etc.

Can I stop and say one thing. All of those are good things. All of those are true, we should be doing more. It wasn't what I was doing that was wrong, it was my mind set, I wouldn't even say it was my heart. My heart was that I wanted to be the best Christian I could be, the best Child of God I could be, the best friend I could be, the best person I could be, the best teacher/coach I could be, the best youth worker, the best speaker, I just wanted to reach my potential, but through it all I still just felt discouraged like I would never be good enough to really achieve what God has in store for my life. I would go through a sort of roller coaster emotions as I would spend time with the Lord and feel His love, grace, peace, and mercy then I would feel like I still am not doing enough, I still need to do more, "my God why isn't the whole 6th grade saved yet I've been teaching here a year?!?" I know it sounds laughable when you write it out, but I seriously battled condemnation.

As the night wore on with the Lord, I felt His tangible presence. He did convict me of a few things I needed to change, tangible decisions that needed to be made, but He also showed me how condemnation flees when I realize He enjoys me.

Whoa. Hold up, wait a minute, the God of the universe enjoys me? But, I'm not where I should be, tons of kids aren't flocking to me to lead them to Christ, the alter isn't always flooded after I give a message, I broke a clip board in class the other day because I lost my temper, how can you say you enjoy me?!? This is the revelation that needs to spread from the pulpit to the pews when Christ died to cover your sins, HE COVERED YOUR SINS! God sent Jesus to break down the middle wall of separation and bring you to HIMSELF, WHY? Because He created you so that He could enjoy you.

You don't marry someone you don't enjoy being with (it's sad we have to alter that statement in today's society, but you know what I mean). Christ paid a price for His bride, He wants to be with her, He enjoys us! He likes me. He likes spending time with me, He likes watching me flourish and grow, He loves when I come to Him and admit my faults and my hurts, my aches my pains, my concerns. He likes to watch me coach because I love it. He enjoys me living life and enjoying the life that He gave me and the truth is He wants me to enjoy Him as much as He enjoys me.

I could talk about enjoying Him for another 16 passages, but i know the longer this gets the less people will read it to the end, so we'll make this part one and I'll continue talking about what happened next and what enjoying Him means in the next blog.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Human Trafficking Training

2011-05-15T07:27:00.003-05:00

Hey Friends and Family.

Let me start with saying God is doing some AWESOME, AMAZING, INCREDIBLE, LIFE CHANGING, things in my heart and I cannot wait to share about those things. However, this blog isn't going to go there yet :) Just want to keep you on the edge of your seat for the next blog LOL actually I'm just waiting until I have some more understanding and feel like I can convey some events that happened and how that affected my heart.

What I want to talk about in this blog is the training I went to yesterday for Redeemed Ministries. Redeemed Ministries is a ministry in Houston TX that works specifically with Human Trafficking in the Houston Area. They work on different levels of Prevention, Prosecution and Protection. In other words they try to keep it from happening, they rescue people out of this horrible business, and they work on the legislative side trying to change laws to help protect girls rescued and prosecute the ones responsible.

While I was looking for mission trips to do this summer I was looking at Cambodia and was seeing how horrendous the problem of Human Trafficking was there. If you're unfamiliar with human trafficking I'll give you the Jessika (non-official) definition it's taking any persons and illegally putting them into a lifestyle of sexual exploitation, labor exploitation, etc. Redeemed Ministries works specifically with sexual exploitation (i.e. prostitution). So, I was studying Cambodia and my heart began breaking for the issue of human-trafficking in the world. Light bulb, does this happen in America? As I researched I found that it not only happens in America, but it happens in my "own back yard" so to speak. Houston is ranked 3rd in the country for the amount of human trafficking it has.

Yesterday's training was just the tip of the iceberg really giving us all the information on human trafficking and how real it is. We were given shocking statistics, but also hope. REDEEMED, what a name. These girls can be redeemed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I'm ready for the trainings that I have up ahead (2 more until I start volunteering) and I wanted to give you some statistics that shock and awed me...

-There are 219 KNOWN brothels in the Houston area... This only includes brothels out of businesses, in other words it doesn't include prostitution being sold out of hotel rooms, apartments, houses, etc. and once again only the KNOWN ones.
-50% of runaways will be approached by a "PIMP" in 48 hours or less. There are 300,000 runaways a year in America.
- There are 250,000 sex slaves in North America
- The avg age for these girls is 14
- They avg amount of time in the "business" is 7yrs before they die or are kicked out because of one reason or another (too worn out, diseases, etc)
- The women service on avg. 15 men a day

There are tons more statistics, but I am running out of time to type them all out. The point is we have to do something about this problem. Young women are being sold as sex slaves, illegally, they're being forced into prostitution by threat of harm done to them, or someone they know, or perhaps manipulative coercion.

I cannot hear statistics like this, I can't hear about a problem like this and be inactive and ignore it. These victims (and honestly all others that are in this business or use this business) need hope, they need Jesus, they have spiritual and natural needs, all of which mean life or death rather spiritually or physically. Im ready to help in any way I can.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A plethora of descriptions

2011-05-08T08:36:00.000-05:00

WOW... what a week!?!

I want to take some time to go through some emotions and events of this week in a desire to share praise to God, to ask for some prayer support in several areas, and because I'm writer and this is what I do :) Try to stick it out to the end.

Let's start out with the past weekend as I give a few details on a battle that I'm fighting physically this week and ask for your prayer in this battle. Sunday night I split a sermon with one of my best friends, he did his half of the sermon, and as I was giving my part... I began to feel something weird in my body. When I wrapped up the message, hugged some necks, etc. I went straight to my Pastor's wife (who acts as a 2nd mother in my life) and told her my body didn't feel right. With some prayer and medicine I went home. By Monday I had a terrible headache, diarea, vomiting, and a fever that got up to 103.5. On Tuesday I woke up with a low fever and my throat so swollen and hurting that I could not get pills down to take for the headache. By Wednesday I was feeling well enough to go to work and then Thursday I woke up with a fever again, a rash all over my body, and the returning headache and swollen throat. Needless to say my stubborn self finally went to the doctor. My symptoms have been all over the place and I'm continuing a battle of not feeling 100%. I have a little over a week for some other issues I'm having in my body to leave or my physician is making me go to a neurologist. Please pray for healing in my body. It has been a week since I've been able to workout and obviously that in and of itself is frustrating for me when I workout 1-2x a day usually!

Battling sickness was not exactly something I wanted to do as I also found out disappointing news this week about going to Japan. Let me say this. It is a difficult process to communicate with people in other countries and try to coordinate plans, it's often a slow process that requires patience, but more than anything trust that you are doing what God wants you to do and that He will direct your steps. If you read this blog often you know that being a teacher was not my choice job for this year (feelings have changed) but I encouraged myself throughout the year by telling myself Jessika this is the best job to enable you to do what you really want to do! Be in ministry and travel the world telling people about Jesus. As a teacher every weekend is open, hardly ever events on Wednesday nights, and summer is free to travel the world. So as it got to be time to start planning for my summer (yes i began early because of eagerness) I just thought of the places that were on my heart and began exploring options.... Well I'm now at 4 failed attempts of planning trips for this summer... After hearing about Japan this week... I'm having to take some long hard looks at myself and in prayer. Yes, in humbleness I admit that I was trying to make it happen. I was trying to pick where I'd go and what I'd do. I was going to make sure that I created an opportunity for me to go and be a light to minister about "what's His name again?"... hopefully you can catch on to the sarcasm of my own failure, but that's what I had done. I was so busy trying to make a way for me to go share the love of my Jesus that I didn't take as much time as I should have asking Jesus what He wanted me to do. So here I am. 3 1/2 weeks of school left and I don't know where I'll go this summer or honestly if I go and now I know that wherever/whenever I go or stay I'll be a missionary, because it's not about going that makes us missionaries, it's about knowing. I'm a missionary because I know Jesus, that is part of who we are as Christians, sharing the love of Jesus. In America and/or abroad. Pray with me about my summer plans, that I will stay out of them... :)

MAEGAN IS GOING TO BOTSWANA. Yesterday, Maegan left for Bots. I am so excited for her. LBOM was an awesome experience for me and I know it will be for her as well. Maegan has felt the calling to be an African missionary since she was 12 years old. Last year I was blessed to get to go with her for her first time to go to Africa. Maegan was in her element. As we walked down the dirt roads of Rwanda young children flocked to Maegan (admittedly not me lol) and she would hand them smarty's pick them up, kiss on them, love on them, and tear up as we'd leave them. Maegan's heart is for Africa. That is why I can be so excited as I watch her leave to spend 3 months in Botswana. Love Botswana Ministries has a school, orphanage, church, outreach programs, widows program, etc... Maegan will have every opportunity to use her gifts and passions as she spends 3 months helping out an amazing ministry that has greatly impacted the country of Botswana.

Let me share something AWESOME about this week. I had been hearing a lot about a local youth group and the passion and growth they had been experiencing. It was such a God thing that I was asked to come and speak to them this past Wednesday night. *Notice that Wednesday was the one day this past week that I was not feeling strong side effects of being sick, wasn't running fever, and was able to work.. is our God not awesome?* Wednesday all I kept getting from the Lord to share about was "I'm Daddy God, share about me"... honestly God that's a very wide spectrum, to just talk about You, but okay... so I went and I just talked. I talked about the heart of my Father. The heart of my Daddy. How He loves me adn cares about me... I shared stories of supernatural protection, healing, guidance, and love... I talked to them about sharing the love of their Daddy with others. It was just a night praising my Daddy for being Daddy. I wasn't sure what God wanted to accomplish, but kids flocked the alter. 10 KIDS GOT SAVED... several others came up for prayer to renew passion and relationship with Him.. several came up to pray for friends and family members to know Him... I'm so glad that I could help kids know who God is, I'm so thankful for the opportunity to indroduce them to Him. In the midst of my own sickness, confusion, disappointment, weariness, God healed, He talked, He spoke, He met with His children, and He reminded me of who He is to me and why I serve Him. I won't lie I'm tearing up writing this now because His grace and love and mercy so melts my heart. While I struggled, while I doubted, while I was hurting... He gave a message, He spoke a message through me, that needed to be heard by me and He used it to bring children to Him... That's my Daddy.

Today is Mother's Day. I just want to give a shout to the mommy's out there. I have one of the best mom's in the world who has never stopped telling me that I can DO ANYTHING... literally anything. Ususally to the point of annoying me (lol) my mom thanks I can do anything I want. She believes if I want to travel and preach I can be a Joyce Meyers, if I want to write then I can write 1,000 best sellers, If i want to be a wife/mom then I'll be the best wife/mom in the world, whatever I want to do my mom truly believes I'll be the best at it. She's awesome that way.
I've also had several 2nd mother's in my life. Women who have literally taken me in bought my dinners, prayed over me, cried with me, loved on me, kissed my cheeks, and believed in me. These women have poured into my life to teach me how to be a woman of God who is a loving and caring wife/mom one day.
I can't wait for the day that I get to be a Proverbs 31 wife/mother. I believe in praying for my husband/children now, learning and soaking from wiser/older women, so that when it comes time for me to be a wife and a Mom I've listened and learned from those who are more experienced than me. Thanks mothers...

I know your eyes probably burn, but thanks for continually loving and supporting me.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The message

2011-05-01T20:38:00.002-05:00

A good friend and I decided to tag team a sermon for our youth. We spoke on media and entertainment. I must say that Paul did an INCREDIBLY awesome job and I am going to find a way to upload the sermon to post to my blog for everyone to hear.

Paul took from the view point of music and I took movies. I want to note here that we were not doing this from the stand point of ALL secular entertainment is bad!! Neither of us believe that. In fact Paul LOVES music and I LOVE movies... hence why we took the parts we took.

I'm writing this blog because Paul's part really pierced me and it led me to want to do a little research. Paul read some lyrics from the popular songs for right now, a few artists in particular, one being Lady Gaga.

I came home to read some more on her story and among some lady Gaga quotes I found these.

"I'm telling you a lie in a vicious effort that you will repeat my lie over and over until it becomes true"
"I don't want the 5 dollars in your pocket, I want your soul"
"Sexuality is half poison and half liberation. What’s the line? I don’t have a line. "
"I remember watching the mascara tears flood the ivories and I thought, "It's OK to be sad." I've been trained to love my darkness."

There were a few more I would have loved to posted but felt were way too inappropriate for my blog.

I want you to read these quotes and I want you to think. Do I as a Christian have any business listening to music by someone who willingly admits she is lying.

Philippians 4:8

Music is influential. It can be positive or it can be negative. But I see the media of our time making a huge impact on our generation and I'm not a huge fan of the direction it's taking us.

When I get the message uploaded listen to it. It'll make you examine yourself.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The Journey of Self Discipline

2011-04-12T07:26:00.004-05:00

A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls (Proverbs 25:28)

Growing up as a child the idea of self-discipline was a rather foreign concept. Don't get me wrong I had several people in my life hounding the importance of self-discipline, but you never really get it until it becomes just that "SELF"-discipline.

In highschool I learned to implement certain principles into my life such as a quiet time with the Lord, managing temper, not watching too much television, etc. I had discipline in the areas of working out and being healthy due to being in athletics, I wouldn't call that self-discipline because it was mandatory not optional.

When I went off to college many things became inconsistent. I can honestly say I was NOT self-disciplined. My sleeping patters were sporatic, my eating habits were incredibly unhealthy, my workout routine became limited at best almost non-existent, quiet times were often done in a sleepy haze or rushed because of class, many strongholds from the enemy were allowed to run my thought processes without confrontation... etc. I could go on, but we'll stop.

As college rolled on I began to make more and more things disciplined in my life starting with my times with the Lord, sleeping patterns, and reclaiming areas of my life that had been taken over by, well let's be honest, laziness and immaturity.

When I followed the leading of the Lord back to Liberty I had many mixed emotions about teaching, coaching, and returning to my hometown, but I saw opportunity here. Opportuntiy for redemption in many areas of my life including self-discipline. Liberty is where many people reside that are true examples of self-discipline and have a huge influence on my life including my Dad, Coach Stroud, my pastor and Mrs. Laurie, and several others.

Among these influences I found encouragement to really discipline my life. I began waking up every morning between 4-5a to spend intimate time with the Lord, I committed to and completed reading the Bible in 90 days, I began running everyday and completed a half-marathon, I worked on cleanliness in my house and office, I worked on taking back ground mentally against the enemy etc. Once again these aren't all the areas that need/needed work, but these were my starting places.

I think that I began to view self-discipline as an achievement rather than a journey. After all I had "achieved" discipline in major areas in my life (please note sarcasm). Then there was this one day...

On this particular day I overslept until 6:15 am, when I arose late I didn't feel like reading the Word, so I didn't, I was too late for my morning workout (I run in the morning and do a workout afterschool) I came to work and I was overly hungry (I did avoid this temptation), a student lied to me which really challenged me to lose my temper, and so the day went on minute by minute my self-discipline being attacked. This is when I realized we don't achieve self-discipline... we journey.

Self-discipline is a daily choice to put our flesh into submission. Self-discipline covers a large and broad area that range from spiritual, physical, and mental things in our life that need to be run by the Spirit. Telling your body how it is going to live rather than it telling you.

I encourage you to spend some time thinking about the areas of your life that need to be put into submission. We don't achieve a point where discipline will not be tempted, but we do come to a point where being disciplined comes more naturally. I don't still battle whether or not I will workout today, I will, I don't have to wonder if I'll read the Bible or spend time in prayer, I will, I don't have to wonder if I'll eat until I"m so full I want to vomit, I won't, and the list could go on... As we begin to discipline our body it gets easier and easier with time.

It's time to let our flesh know that our Spirit runs things in this body.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. 25 Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. 26 So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. 27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified." 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

The problem of Comparison

2011-04-08T06:21:00.002-05:00

I remember once hearing a quote that "comparison is a thief of joy".

What an interesting perspective that I must say I agree with. I wouldn't say that this blog is one of those let me tell you about a new lesson I've learned, it's more about letting Jessika voice her thoughts on an issue.

This past week in my class I have been doing the state mandated "Fitness Gram". It's a fitness test that requires us to do various tests to basically assess body composition and fitness of the students in the school. I tested every girl in our school and I saw this quote before my eyes. "Comparison is a thief of joy"

As I saw girls with various levels of fitness have reactions (mostly negative) to their bodies compared to others I thought about, us, Christians, people in general, society.

Almost everyday we are in situations where we have the opportunity to compare ourselves to someone else and I'd say for the majority of people we take that opportunity which results in a loss of happiness.

Here is where I see a problem. Comparing ourselves to another human simply causes more problems than good and is altogether unbiblical.

Take for instance Galatians 6:4
But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.

In other words just as Paul says in Corinthians... examine yourself...
2 Cor. 13:4-5
He was crucified in weakness, yet He lives by the power of God…we also are weak in Him, but we shall live with Him by the power of God toward you. EXAMINE YOURSELVES to see whether you are in the faith; TEST yourselves. Don’t you know, your own selves, how it is that Christ is in you [dwelling & living], unless of course, you fail the test?”

So we know that we should be examining... we should be comparing... but here is where we miss it...
We MUST COMPARE OURSELVES TO THE WORD OF GOD, and to THE WORD OF GOD ONLY!

If I compare myself to any other person I will get a distorted view of who I am and who I am supposed to be.
Let me just get real for one second.

If I compare myself to a particular person I know who is not saved and not living righteously then I will come out of that comparison thinking... "Well, I am doing pretty good here, I go to church, I read my Bible, I pray, pat on the back for Jessika I am one step ahead and doing real well."

Now if I compare myself to the likes of Mother Theresa, Corrie Ten Boom, or let's be realistic how about just this girl I heard a story about the other day. She is 23 (MY AGE!) who gave up everything to go to Africa and start an orphanage, she now mothers over 20 orphaned kids and spreads the love of Jesus to an entire village... well let's not think about how that makes me feel. Ok we can go there.
"Jessika you're lazy, you're content, you're in a comfort zone, you must have missed God because you're still in Liberty" or perhaps "why did God pick her to do that, why don't I have the gifting to do that" etc.

I could go on and on with comparisons we make that sound all pretty much the same basically... why am I not like him/her?

The Bible is clear on this. We are not to compare ourselves to others, we are to compare ourselves to the Scriptures only to see if we are in faith. We are to study scripture to show ourselves approved.

It's about being who God created you to be and not who He created someone else to be. It doesn't do us a lot of good when the body of Christ spends a lot of time wishing they were another member of the body of Christ. (1 Cor. 12)

That being said it is also productive to often examine our own hearts and actually COMPARE YOURSELF TO THE WORD OF GOD. This challenges us.

Many times I will hear stories of someone doing a great work for the Kingdom of God and it challenges me to step up. Testimonies are indeed meant to inspire and encourage us, but the truth of the matter is that the Word of God should be doing the same thing in our lives. READ ACTS! Read the Acts that were done, if that doesn't inspire you about what we should be doing here on earth, I'm not sure what will?!?

I rant because I see a problem. I see members of the body of Christ not playing their role because they're too busy comparing themselves to someone else. God created you with the giftings and talents that He wanted placed inside of you. Are we all who we want to be yet? NO, but this is life, there is a process of sanctification. Seek God, compare yourself to the Word, and play your part. We have too much work on earth to do to be moping about the role we play in it.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

"Jessika Arise"- It's harvest time, get ready Liberty

2011-04-01T16:43:00.003-05:00

Let me tell you a story that has my heart full of joy.

This story is about some events that have taken place over the last 4 days. Let's start on Tuesday.

On Tuesday i began rereading "A Heart Ablaze" by John Bevere. If you have never read this book, read it. As I was reading it, the introduction convicted me! I prayed that afternoon for God to create opportunities for me to be a better witness to my students.

Also, on Tuesday night was our district track meet. That night at the track meet a situation happened that had about 10 girls looking at me to see how I would react to it. I knew this was the opportunity I'd prayed for. I can say that I carefully watched my demeanor and the words I said to make the most of this opportunity.

After the track meet one of the athletes that had been with those girls came up to me and said coach I need to talk to you tomorrow morning can we meet in your office before school. Let's move to Wednesday.

Wednesday morning she came into my office and began to share some things that were going on in her life as she wrapped up she said I think I need the Jesus you always talk about. PRAISE GOD!

Wednesday night at church our worship team played a song that always gets me. "I Give Myself Away" (If I remember I'll attach at the bottom of the blog) Often when they play this song I cry and pray with feelings that go something like this...
God I'm so sorry I'm not giving myself completely away, help me to be more selfless or in the other direction like this...
God I'm doing all I can why am I not seeing more results!...

Either way it's about me. On this particular Wednesday night as I heard the words "I give myself away so you can use me" I got facedown before the Lord and I broke. I wept. This time the prayers were this...
God help this young girl. God help me to be led by Your Spirit so your will is accomplished.

My heart broke for the young girls I work with daily! Let's go to Thursday.

On thursday a student in my class came running up to me so excited, screaming actually. She told me about how she had been at a youth group the night before and God had touched her, He moved, and how she would never be the same.
As we talked other students began to crowd around and when she was finished the questions started.

"Coach what does it mean to be saved?" "What does it mean God touched you" "I don't understand why you say you have a relationship with Jesus"

For nearly 25 minutes I got to share the gospel and the love of Jesus Christ with my students. Then the next class came in!

This class had heard about the conversation and wanted to know more, so I got to talk to them about it too! Then the next class came in!

During that class for some reason a song I hardly ever listen to was playing on my playlist as they walked in. The song was "Souled Out" by Lecrae. The students exclaimed "Coach Tate I thought you didn't listen to bad music?" I told them girls this is Christian music. They didn't believe me so I printed off the lyrics for them.

As they read the lyrics they began to ask questions about Jesus!! I once again got to talk about my wonderful Savior!

Now it's Friday. I woke up this morning and the Holy Spirit said "Jessika Arise". I said okay Lord and I got up and went to go take my shower as usual. As I was in the shower I heard the Holy Spirit say "Jessika Arise". I said "Lord I'm up I'm in the shower". I went to the living room to do my quiet time as I was reading the Bible the Holy Spirit said "Jessika Arise"! Finally I said "Lord I'm up, I'm spending time with You, what are you talking about Arise?" Then He spoke.
"Jessika I'm not talking about your physical nature, I'm talking about the spiritual, I'm talking about seeing a harvest"

PRAISE GOD! ARISE, I WANT TO SEE A HARVEST.

Hope you're as encouraged as I am!
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Full Circle- I need Him

2011-03-29T07:01:00.003-05:00

We've all heard it said that everyone is equal in their need for JESUS.

I often reflect on that point in my life where the light bulb came on. That moment when I knew I needed Jesus. As a Christian you must have a similar story. Think about it for a moment. Where were you? What were you doing? Did something spark this thought or was it simply the love of God flooding you? Did it take seconds, minutes, days, weeks, months, or years for you to respond to this epiphany?

We all have a love story.

As my relationship with Jesus grew I learned that it wasn't just a need for Jesus, I desired Him. I wanted Jesus. I wanted Him to be apart of my life. I wanted Him and I want Him. I love Him.

As the circle of life goes there are often times that He has to remind me, Jessika, you need me.

I want to make a small side note at that. I discussed with someone the other day that I can't think of one person who just naturally calls me Jessika. Most people call me jess, j. tate, or some variation of my name. When the Lord speaks to me He always calls me by name. That being said last night someone asked me what my name meant and i realized I didn't even remember. So today I looked up what my name meant... my name means "He sees". I dont find it coincidence that God calls me by name and I surely don't find it coincidence that my name means "He sees". Sidebar over :)

To be a Christian we all must have this epiphany, light bulb, whatever you want to call it, when we realize wow, I need Jesus. As relationship goes we'll develop into I want you Jesus. My prayer is that I never forget what first brought me to Him, "I need you Jesus"

No one has a greater need for Jesus. Not me who has been living faithfully for God for years, not my pastor who has been serving God for over 30 years, not the teenager in the midst of their sin, not the prostitute, the destitute, the drug addict. All of us are equal in our need for Jesus Christ.

So life continues on. My need for Jesus never changing, but my desire growing for Him. I want Him, I need Him, I've got to have Him and the love story will go on too.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate
JESSIKA "He sees"

Testimony and a lesson about money

2011-03-23T17:30:00.004-05:00

I want to talk about something that most people my age try to avoid... financial responsibility. Before you stop reading at the anxiety of those two words, hear me out, I really believe I have a message for us.

A few years ago while I was in college the Lord laid it on my heart to build a new area into my budget, "ministry". I already paid tithes, gave offerings, and had a missions savings account. So with the small amount of money I was making in college I didn't just have tons of extra cash lying around, but I was obedient and started out with $25 a month in my "ministry" budget.

This extra category was money only used for different types of ministry God laid on my heart to do. Perhaps I'd buy a friend's dinner, pay for the car behind me at a fast food restaurant, give it to a ministry that was on my heart, pay for someone's stuff at wal-mart etc.

I look back on college now and it is remarkable that I was able to do all that I did throughout college all the coffee and meals with friends, bowling, movies, etc. I never lacked. God always took care of me. Malachi 3 says that if we bring our tithes and offerings into the storehouses then he will fill our barns to overflowing. I was always overflowing. I was full of peace, joy, friendship, love, food, shelter, etc.

I've been on several mission trips and have always gotten what I needed to go and I believe it is because I let God be the director of my finances. He is my financial advisor.

This year I was taught a lesson by my Pastor's wife. She showed me that the Bible says God gives seed to the sower. So, I needed to be praying for seed. So I began to pray for seed.

First it started simple. Someone gave me $20 and I said okay God then I will plant this $20 and I gave it away. Then someone gave me $50 and I gave it away. Then someone gave me $100 and I gave it away. You get the point. Over the last 6 months I have been given and given away more money than I've kept up with. What a testimony!

The truth is that I think our generation needs to be taught that when we give ourselves to the Lord, we give away everything. Let's learn from the rich young ruler's mistake. Not only do we give our time but we need to give our money, all of it, to Him. Does this mean every dime must be given away? or that we can't buy things for ourselves? No. What this means is that we give God free reign to tell us what to do with the money.

If He asks us to give it away, give it away, to support a missionary, to buy lunch for someone. Never forget the Bible says it is much better to give than to receive.

I have found that every dime I earn is not my own. It's all His. He is Jehovah Jireh my Provider, and we will never be more blessed financially, emotionally, spiritually, than when we give Him everything we think is ours.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A reality check with DL MOODY

2011-03-20T08:51:00.002-05:00

Read this short passage:

The first two or three years that I attempted to talk in the meetings, I saw that the older people did not like it. I had sense enough to know that I was a bore to them. "Well, I went out upon the street and I got eighteen little children to follow me the first Sunday, and I led them into the Sunday-school. I found that I had something to do. I was encouraged, and I kept at that work. And if I am worth anything to the Christian church to-day, it is as much due to that work as anything else. I could not explain these Scriptural passages to them, for I did not then comprehend them, but I could tell them stories; I could tell them that Christ loved them, and that He died for them. I did the best I could. I used the little talent I had, and God kept giving me more talents, and so, let me say, find some work. See if you can get a Sabbath-school to teach. If you cannot get that, go down into the dark lanes and byways of the city and talk to them and sing some gospel hymns; or, if you cannot sing, take some one with you that can sing some of these songs of praise. Sing or read the twenty-third psalm, or pray, and you can get a blessing in that way. When you have won one soul to Christ, you will want to win two, and when you get into the luxury of winning souls it will be a new world to you, and you will not think of going back to the world at all.

This passage is written by DL MOODY. Moody was a well known evangelist back in the 1800's.

I find it interesting that even then we had ministers trying to provoke the church to action. Not the church as an organization and a ministry, but THE church, THE bride of Christ. YOU, ME, US, AS INDIVIDUALS.

We must find something to do to win souls to Jesus Christ. Perhaps walk down to your local park and strike up conversation with strangers, start a Bible study, take some food to the local homeless, find ways to give of the talents that God has given to you, to use for HIS KINGDOM.

Alas once you feel you have done all you can in the natural to win the lost, then sacrifice of your heart and time interceding as if every prayer meant heaven or hell for them.

I have come to the conclusion that the enemy has convinced us that we "do all we can", but yet my pillow is not stained with tears for mourning the lost and my knees are yet bruised from hours of intercession.

I pray that my eyes would be opened to the reality that every person who does not accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior of their lives will spend eternity in hell. I believe that when this really becomes reality we would no longer hesitate in evangelism. The hours dedicated to winning the lost would no longer be an inconvenience.

God help us.
J. Tate

Here we go let's go

2011-02-23T11:36:00.003-06:00

It's been a while since my last blog and I've obviously it's not from lack of things to say (LOL), but more lack of time.
I'm now sitting here on my lunch break at work where I'm usually running around madly trying to complete the day's tasks. Instead today I have a song playing and I'm relaxing, I actually ate lunch (I hardly ever have time to eat lunch on my lunch break)and I'm enjoying these moments to reflect.

For the past three days I've woken up with a song in my head.

"Open up the Sky" by Deluge.

It says:
We won't be satisfied with anything ordinary, we won't be satisfied with anything at all... we don't want anything but You

There are more great lines from that song, but those truly penetrate my heart. Here are my thoughts, the truth is, that those words are ad much a matter of choice as it is a matter of change.

I remember when Jesus touched my life and I radically changed, but I also remember those days when temptation came to be satisfied for less. There are idols all over this world offering a short cut, easy satisfaction, and short lived glory. We have to make a choice to not be satisfied with the ordinary, to press in to the heart of God and touch what we were created for, relationship with the Father.

"Here we go let's go to the throne the place that we belong right into His arms"

Do we realize where we belong? We were created for communion with the Father, we belong, with Him. That's why Paul tells us we are foreigners in this land, THIS ISN'T HOME, WE'RE JUST PASSING THROUGH.

This is humbling to me. The fact that truth says that an EXTREMELY minuscule and small portion of my life is spent in these years of living here, and the majority of my life will be the eternity that I spend with God and yet I'm so quick to look for other satisfactions, other fulfillment, while here. It's the epitome of Hosea of a lover that runs back to prostitution rather than the relationship that was given to her.

Make a decision not to be satisfied with anything, but what you are created for. Remember the eternal perspective.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Valentines Day

2011-02-13T20:11:00.003-06:00

I find Valentine's Day to be one of my FAVORITE holidays. In fact, it ranks just below Easter and if you know me you know I LOVE LOVE LOVE EASTER!

Valentines Day is a day that we celebrate love and it's really up to you whose love you choose to celebrate and how you choose to celebrate.

Of course I am not ignorant and I realize that for many women, if you are single, this holiday happens to cause more pain than celebration and frankly I just hate that; even though I do understand.

Love is why we exist, love is how I'm able to enjoy relationship, love gives me a hopeful future, LOVE. It's all about love. God is love. On this day I get to celebrate love. The love of a Father who created me, HE WANTED ME!, the love of Jesus, my best friend, my Savior, HE DIED FOR ME!, and of course the love of significant others, friends, family, etc. It's a day to celebrate LOVE.

I believe in love. I believe in the power and strength of love. I believe that we are beings created to love. Love ALL others as God loves us. We all have so much to offer, so much bundled up in our love.

Remarkably what makes this day so hard for ladies is something that God has placed inside of you, that the enemy uses against you. It's hard because you want to love and be loved, it's not coincidental that this happens to be the life God offers for us. A life of unconditional love.

On this Valentines Day I encourage you to celebrate love. Whether it be celebrating love between you and your significant other, between you and friends, or you and your Heavenly Father. You are loved and there is love to be celebrated. Don't allow the enemy to use this as a time to attack your heart and emotions.

If you're single and struggling, remember there is a reason you're waiting and when that person comes along you won't regret it.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Assignment

2011-02-11T05:47:00.002-06:00

In my personal Bible study time the last few weeks I have really been studying vision, calling, purpose, assignment, guidance, path, etc.

It's important to me to know what God says about my future, my day to day life, what is my responsibility, what has He promised to do, how many things about my life are those promises I talk about so often the "if you will I will" promises?

We know that all of us have a purpose, a calling. Honestly it's the same for all of us. The purpose of your life is to know God, to be known by Him, and to make Him known.

The difference is we all have a different assignment, we've all been "called" to achieve this purpose in different ways. For instance, at one point in my life I was a youth minister, now I am a teacher, this summer I will again go overseas and do missions. It doesn't matter what I'm doing or where I'm doing i've still been called to make Jesus Christ known.

It doesn't matter if you're saved at 4 or 54, whether you have a job or not, whether it's secular or ministerial, wherever you are in this moment you've got a purpose. Pursuing after God, opening up to God, and sharing Jesus.

Now here is the fun part. God has vision for your life. He gives you vision for your life. YOU SHOULD HAVE DESIRES FOR YOUR FUTURE. There should be things we want to accomplish, things we want to be, striving for more of God, and making His name known more. Maybe your dreams are to own your own business, to travel and do missions, to be a youth minister, to be a college professor, to start a ministry, to write cards for people in the hospital, I have no clue what God has placed on your heart to do, but that is your vision, that is your dream...

I could go on talking about what all I've learned in the past few weeks, but I'm working on either a message to preach or a blog I'll write later titled "Holding yourself accountable to your assignment". I've learned a lot and I'm excited about it, but more than anything I'm excited about the dreams, passions, promises, and assignments God has placed before me.

I'M EXCITED ABOUT MY LIFE!!! The thing is God knows our talents, our passions, our desires, and He has a plan to prosper and not harm us. He wants us to succeed in life and be effective in sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has things He wants you to do, no matter your age, but you'll have to stretch your faith out there and believe that it is possible.

The funnest part about serving God is that He makes away for mere humans to see the impossible happen. Find your vision, find your dream, put your faith in the Lord.

Know Him, Be known by Him, make Him known. You were given breath, to give Him glory.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.

THEY KNEW THEIR PURPOSE AND WENT AFTER IT:

11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you," declares the LORD" (Jeremiah 29:11-14)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
(Isaiah 61:1-2)

4 "The word of the LORD came to me, saying,
5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,
before you were born I set you apart;
I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
(Jeremiah 1: 4-5)

The Full Notepad

2011-01-21T07:52:00.003-06:00

A long while back I put a little notepad inside my purse.

I first did this because God started speaking to me at the most inopportune times for me to meditate, think about, pray through the things He was saying for instance in the bathroom, during a class at Tech, a few words during worship.

I had just recently been set free from the lie of the enemy that I couldn't hear the voice of God. When I would hear things I would second guess and doubt, the enemy came in trying to steal what God had said to me.

So here I was knowing it was God, not believing the lies, and yet God chooses to speak at times when I had no way to really pay attention and dive into what He was telling me. Hence the notepad.

I kept that notepad with me everywhere I went in my purse, backpack, carrying sack, occasionally the pocket. It's ventured all over the state of texas, multiple states across the U.S. and even overseas to many countries.

This notepad is priceless to me. It has Words from the Holy Spirit that were spoken to me of truth, grace, love, compassion, discipline, vision, wisdom, etc.

Now this notepad is full.

It only tells me one thing. When we're willing to listen, God will speak. By the simple act of keeping that notepad with me at all times, I was telling the Holy Spirit, it doesn't matter when, it doesn't matter where, I'm ready to hear Your voice for my life.

Many times all I could do is jot down the words and go back to them later, but still I didn't neglect what He had to say just because I wasn't in the best possible scenario to hear Him.

I know the devil is a liar, for the Bible says that the sheep will hear the shepherd's voice. Which means I know His voice, I just need to listen for Him.

Do you want to hear the Lord's voice? What steps do you take to ensure that you hear His imput for your life?

I had an empty notepad... now it is full.

Oh how He loves me.
Be blessed,
J. Tate

A great lesson

2011-01-09T06:21:00.003-06:00

At Cornerstone we just had our Chosen Generation conference. It's a conference for young adults that are passionate and on fire for God, most desiring to be in some sort of ministry. Three amazing spiritual leaders shared while we fast, seeking to meet with the Lord and hear from His Word.

Pastor Mike (my pastor) spoke on Friday night, Josh Siratt (worship leader) spoke Saturday morning, and Tracy Harris (a pastor in Texarkana) spoke yesterday afternoon. Each of these speakers are so very different in style as Pastor Mike tries to get you, let's say "involved" in the service, his passion is the body of Christ learning to enter into the presence of God everyday. Josh Siratt is a worshiper and inspires you to be a person who worships God daily throughout the day. Tracy is a teacher, often times you go out of his message feeling like you need to go home and reread the whole Bible! He takes it deep and really challenges you to search out the scripture.

You can imagine with the combination of the three how amazing the conference was. I want to talk about one little bitty practical aspect that I felt wow, people my age they don't know this. Trust me this was not the only thing I felt this way about, but it's some great practical revelation.

Josh Siratt was speaking Saturday morning about acknowledging the Holy Spirit daily. He discussed the frustrations of trying to find the "plan" for your life and he said this
"many times we never hear the plan God has for us, because we've already made one for ourselves"

In other words we go into prayer asking God for what He wants us to do, but all we really want is to be able to say that we prayed about the thing we'd already decided we were going to do.

Josh put it this way. Go into prayer in neutral. Go into prayer without an agenda, or a plan, and allow God to speak. Let God inform you of the plan, instead of you informing God of yours.

I liked this practical piece of information because so many people my age are in college, graduating college, trying to pick jobs, thinking about marriage, deciding where to live, some of the biggest decisions of our lives are being made...
Are we letting God make them? or are we coming to Him with our plan?

Something to think about.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Do we listen?- A short story

2011-01-04T05:29:00.001-06:00

I have a short story from yesterday that still has me thinking this morning.
I was taking my shower last night and just praying. Not some great spiritual praying, but rather the just talking to my friend praying.

As I prayed I was getting more and more irritated as it was one of those times that I felt like the shower head was responding more than God was, so I just asked "God, are you even listening? Do you even hear me when I just want to talk about things that don't really matter?"

I have to stop here and point out the fact that I knew the answer to the question, I know that He listens to me, but just as we do in relationships with our peers, I said something RIDICULOUS simply because I didn't "feel" like my needs in that moment were being met. Perhaps in this whole paragraph you can sense the selfishness, pride, and bad attitude that came in that moment. Praise God, He is merciful and though sometimes I'm a BRAT of a daughter, He still chooses to abound in grace.

A few minutes went by and I just chose to finish up my shower and get ready for bed. As I was stepping out of the shower I felt that Holy Spirit nudging and His voice. (Every Christian KNOWS the voice of God, Jesus promises us this in John 10:27) He asked a question.

Do you listen when I want to talk to you and you are busy? Do you hear my voice throughout the day when I simply want to tell you, I love you?

I could use my words to try and go into how we should listen, how this impacted me, convicted me, moved me, but I feel His words are strong enough without me trying to interpret.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A New Year!

2011-01-03T05:23:00.002-06:00

The start of a new year has always been an interesting time to me. It's a time when people reflect, they think about what their life has been like over the year and decide what changes need to be made, healthy choices, emotional choices, new job, new life... Something about the end of another year causes us to do some self reflection and decide if we are who we want to be.

If you read this blog, you know that I am big on self reflection, I think it's an important tool in our walk with Christ, as Paul says in Corinthians to examine yourselves to see if you are in faith (1 Cor. 13:5).

I think as the body of Christ we need to be evaluating and examining our lives more often than just once a year. All year long we should be testing ourselves, evaluating ourselves, to see if our lives match up with the Word of God. What areas need to be fixed? and unlike 90% of New Years resolutions we should change, for good. A complete lifestyle change.

Everyday gets to be the new year to the believer. His mercies are made new every morning, our past can be forgiven everyday, every sin... forgiven. I don't have to wait for the new year to be redeemed and my sins to be forgotten, all I have to do is fall upon the rock Christ Jesus, confess my sins, repent, and forgiveness comes, redemption comes, change comes.

Everyday we should be living with a "new year" mentality. The mentality that wants to get the wrong to be right. As Christians this involves us pursuing holiness. Wanting to be like Christ, evaluating, listening to the Holy Spirit, and casting off the chaff and sin in our lives.

All I know is that I want to leave a legacy for my family and those around me. The legacy of a woman who pursued whole heartedly after my Maker. I can think of no greater joy in my life than that those who know me family, friends, acquaintances would say that I love Jesus passionately, and I love people passionately. You build your reputation not based on the "big" decisions you make, but with how you live your life everyday. Am I pursuing the Lord whole heartedly? Does my heart break for what breaks His? Do I fear the Lord and hate my sin? Do I love unconditionally without partiality and regardless of circumstance?

I have a long way to go, but I know who I'm living for and I know who I want to be like.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that a man's life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.

Worship

2010-12-22T01:22:00.002-06:00

I was sitting on my couch at about 12:30 a.m. (late for me) and I was about to get up and go to bed when all the sudden a desire to worship just hit me.

I wanted to pass it off as random urge and go to bed, but I couldn't shake the feeling as I got up to walk to my room.

I came back into my living room and put on worship music. I laid face down and just worshiped. When I finally arose it was past 1:30 a.m. and here I am now, and I can't help but write.

The song I last played was "I'm coming back to the heart of worship, where it's all about You, it's all about You Jesus"

Perhaps in the hustle and bustle of Christmas, I didn't realize how bad I needed to say those words, I needed to come to that place, that place of worship. We serve a God who deserves our worship, He desires a heart that will WORSHIP in Spirit and in truth. Not only is worship at church, but a lifestyle, a continuous offering to our Father.

Tonight God wanted my worship, He wanted me to take time to set aside sleep, agenda, Christmas presents, and just say God it's all about You. Father it's all for You, You're what I want, You're the Almighty God, You are the one who was and is and is to come. Jesus it's about You. My King, My Love, My desire, My Savior, Redeemer, Friend, my Everything. Jesus it's ALL about You. The heart of worship is simply that it's about You.

As we wrap up this Christmas season, don't just remember the reason for the season, worship the reason for the season.

Jesus it's all about you.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A God who wants me

2010-12-13T06:18:00.005-06:00

Wow it's almost been a whole month since I've written, perhaps you can tell when I'm truly busy when I don't even have time to write.
This past month has been one that has stretched me in so many ways, it's been a walk through fire, fire that has refined my faith.

In the past month I've experienced being personally attacked, failing miserably a few times at standing in faith, heartache from losing something dear to me, awesome encouragment, success, confusion, blind obedience, etc. I lived life this past month. Who of you reading hasn't had these same feelings and experiences in life.

I love that through highs lows, trials, tests, successes, failures, the Word is always true. Jesus said in John 16:33 that in this world we'll have trials and tribulations, but take heart He has overcome the world. My faith increased this past month as life unfolded and through it all He saw me through, He forgave me, He was there for me, He loved me, He still did work through me and in me. He is faithful to His word.

I can't help but remember that Christ is simple. He came, He died, He resurrected, He's coming again. He loves me. Real love, unconditional, never ending, faithful. He just wants me. He wants all of me no matter what comes in life.

He says
Love me, love me with your whole heart
serve me, serve me with your life now
bow down, let go of your idols
He wants it all today.

These are lyrics from a song that one of my friend's and his beautiful fiance' sang at our church last night. As they sang, tears welled up in my eyes, as I remember, Jesus is simple. There are complex deep things in the Word, deep theological truths, wisdom beyond my understanding, a God who is deep and years and years of fellowship and study and I will still not completely know Him, but the truth of Jesus, it really is simple. What He wants from us, it is simple. He just wants us.

I serve a God that wants me. I've failed, miserably failed, I've succeeded, greatly succeeded, I've been cold, I've been hot, I've been luke warm, I've doubted, I've believed, I've loved, I've lost, I've found, I've wandered, I've had peace, confusion, joy, sadness, mourning, i've danced, I've bowed down, I've slipped, I've ran away and I've run to. I think of the Psalmist "I was young and now I am old, but I've never seen the righteous forsaken".

The truth is He wants us. He walks through life with us the highs and the lows never leaving or forsaking because He wants us. The song goes on to say

There is a voice that cries out in the silence
searching for a heart that will love Him
longing for a child that will give Him their all
There is a God who walks over the earth
seraching for a heart that is desperate
longing for a child that will give Him their all
Give Him their all, He wants it all

Our whole lives we search for someone who accepts us, wants us.
Women and men searching for that unconditional love. Someone who loves them in spite of who they really are. Someone who will love us even when we mess up, someone who WANTS to spend the rest of their life with us.

I'm a 23 year old young woman who just like any other single woman my age often wonders when will I find the man who will love me, want me, forever? Then I hear this song and I remember, I was made for a God who loves me, who wants me, and He wants it all. He wants a heart that is desperate for Him.

The comfort of those around me who love me, their touch, their encouragement, their concern, their simple love, it means the world to me, but when I think about HIS love. His love that knows me, better than anyone, His love never wavering and He still wants me. That is what melts my heart. That is what makes me desperate for Him, the peace that flows from His touch, His love. One day there will be the love of a man who loves me the way Christ loves His bride, and I'll know that love, because I'm already loved in that way. I'm already cared for beyond my greatest imagination, I've already loved unconditionally, I already know real love.

There's a God who wants me, He loves me, and He wants all of me.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Song Link:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47elk3n3_3s

A return

2010-11-15T06:02:00.002-06:00

This past weekend some things just worked out where I was able to make a return to my alma mater Texas Tech!

I was excited to see people that I haven't seen in almost a year and to simply be back in Lubbock, a place I called home for 3 1/2 years.

I'm not sure what I expected from the weekend, but I left with such a thankfulness, such a peace, such a surety that I am exactly where God has called me to be in my life.

As much fun as seeing old friends was, eating in old places, coffee in my favorite coffee shop, etc. As Sunday came and time to be back in Houston approached, I was ready to be... HOME.

When I left lubbock after I graduated I felt like I was leaving my life. My friends, my job, my school, my places of comfort etc. I took a leap of faith and did as God led me going overseas for 3 months. I wasn't sure what my life was going to look like when I returned, I wasn't sure what I was going to do, and not knowing made leaving Lubbock so hard.

I realize now that this past year has been the best year of my life. I've been overseas twice, I've preached in churches, schools, youth groups, in streets, more times than I can count. I've made new friends, new contacts, and I'm blessed beyond my wildest imagination. I've grown in my relationship with the Lord in ways I never knew possible and seen God move in power in my life, others lives, in America and abroad.

This past year has been a joy ride. A time with so much life, so much experience, so much learning and teaching, being mentored by the most amazing woman of God and mentoring others, finding who I am and who I want to be, everyday includes ministry, but also being ministered to! I've done more in the past year than I expected to be able to do in a life time. I've seen God do more than I could have imagined!!!

I went to Lubbock and I guess I expected to somehow find some regret, to maybe just not want to leave, or at least realize that I've missed it badly. I didn't feel any of that. I love my friends there, I'm so thankful and blessed for the friends, teachers, professors, pastors, and families that invested their lives into me while there because they helped me to be who I am now; Content, in God's will, on the right path, loving life, growing, etc. I left and I was thankful to be home, to the place where I belong.

I had a great time hanging with friends, giving a lecture to a class, drinking coffee, talking about the Lord, discussion with my professor, staying up way too late, and just enjoying a weekend in a place that has sooo helped form me. I'm thankful for this weekend, but more than anything I'm thankful for the confirmation it brought to me.

I'm not a college student, I'm a young adult, with a big kid job, a daughter of the most High King, and He directed my steps just the way He wanted them even when I wasn't sure where He was taking me. He's loved me, taught me, molded me, grown me, allowed me to be a vessel, and His ways are so far beyond my ways.

I'd love to say that at the end of this processing and realizing how awesome God is that Lord I'll never doubt you ever again, but I think I'll try to be realistic of who I am and just say God even when I don't know, even when I don't understand, I'll follow where you lead and throughout the rest of my lives I'll have many more similar stories.

I followed God not knowing where I was going (much like Abraham Hebrews 11:8) and then I realized just how faithful He is, I realized how the place He wants to take us is better than we can imagine, I know that He has plans to prosper and not harm me, I am blessed, content, joyful, ecstatic, and love the life that God has prepared for me.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

In Spite of Me DAY 19 of 40

2010-10-22T04:42:00.002-05:00

The goodness and mercy of God is overwhelming at times especially when we realize how faithful and how true He really is.

Want some life changing revelation? God is who He says He is.

Go ahead think on that for a few minutes, because I'll be honest many who say they believe it, don't. This simple truth has been blowing my mind lately.

The truth is that God's character is constant and unchanging, simply put, why fix what ain't broke? If God is perfect then why would His character change? We're in need of change because we are imperfect, flawed, in need of sanctification.

Here is what I have found remarkable, God said that through us lives would be changed, miracles would happen, demons would be casted out, prayers would be answered, and the remarkable part... it happens.

This amazes me not because God is doing what He said He'd do, but because God still does what He said He'd do in spite of my flaws, in spite of my insecurities, in spite of who we are. God is true to His word, He uses His body to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He allows us to be apart of His miracles (He does them not us), He gave us authority to cast out demons and they aren't afraid of us, but they tremble at Jesus inside of us.

I'm in awe of the fact of how God continues to move and use me, us, Christians, people. In spite of me He works through me. In spite of you He works through you.

We serve a faithful God,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Prophesy and Obedience DAY 18 OF 40

2010-10-15T06:02:00.003-05:00

In my reading time the past two days I was reading through 1 Kings and yesterday in 1 Kings something specifically caught my eye in 1 Kings 13 (take the time to go check it out).

We'll get back to that in one second though. I am a believer in prophesy. I believe that God gives people words to speak to the church, to individuals, etc. I've been in churches where no one knew me at all and the pastor comes to me and gives me a word that calls out directly something that God was already speaking to me about. I've had people come and give me encouragement for a specific situation I was going through that they knew nothing about. Also, simiarly I've had God tell me to go speak to a person that I've never met about something that I had no clue about only to find that the person was walking through that exact situation.

On the opposite side I've had people come give me a "word" that made no sense, meant nothing to me, and didn't have anything to do with anything I knew about. So when I say that I believe in prophesy I must add that I also believe people miss it, I think they make mistakes just as anyone else while using their gifts, I think some people think they hear something from the Lord and in reality it was just themselves feeling something, but I am definitely not on the side who throws out the whole load simply because there is a few bad sticks. We've all missed it, we've all messed up, and we all still need Jesus as much as we did the day of our Salvation. So.. onto scripture.

Let me go ahead and set the stage for you (in case you're not going to go read it lol). Solomon has just died, Rehoboam became king and then just as swiftly screwed it up, now Jeroboam is king of Israel and is also making a mess of things, so God sends a man of God, a prophet. As the prophet goes to give the Word of the Lord, God had given him very simple, but direct rules.

"Do not eat bread nor drink water while there, nor return by going the way you came" (v9)

I'm just going to stick to using the scripture that is necessary for what I want to talk about, but I encourage you to read the whole passage. After the prophet has done what He was sent to do and given the word to Jeroboam he begins to leave in a different direction (being a obedient to what God had said) and on the way another man meets him and asks him to come back to his house for some bread (v15) the prophet responds appropriately saying "I can't return or go in with you, I can't eat bread or drink water, for I was told by the Lord... (you know what he was told)" (v16)

THEN THE SHOCKING HAPPENS... The man responds...
"He said to him, "I too am a prophet as you are, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the Lord, saying, 'Bring him back with you to your house, that he may eat bread and drink water'. He was lying to him. (v18)So he went back with him, and ate bread in his house and drank water." (v19)

This man came presenting something that seemed pleasant, he lied, the prophet knew what God had told him, but rather than sticking firm to the word from the Lord that he was given, he was tempted by a more pleasant option.

Matthew 7:15
"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves."

The prophet died. I write this blog because I believe that many are deceived by false prophets who offer a more pleasant solution than the truth of God's Word and because I believe the scripture when it says God desires obedience over sacrifice. He is a God who delights in obedience and lack of obedience can often be fatal (yes even today).

The enemy has lied to the children of God making them believe that they do not personally hear the voice of God.
John 10:27
My sheep know my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

I do believe in prophesy and I do believe it is a great gift that God has given us, but I also believe that if we listen God will speak to each of us individually. I believe we hear His voice, the veil was torn and we have direct access to see God for ourselves.

I want to see people who are confident that they hear the voice of God and are obedient to see it through, people who won't give up on the things that God has given them, who don't look for short cuts, but rather pursue holiness, righteousness, and obedience. Imagine that powerful church and bride of Jesus.

Just some thoughts,
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Taken by surprise DAY 17 OF 40

2010-10-14T11:34:00.002-05:00

I'm on day 5 of no tv, no movies, no secular music and i've almost completed my 2nd week of studying through the Word what it means to seek God diligently.

So of course it's now time for confession lol. This is what I has been revealed about myself, something I perhaps have long known, but only recently really taken seriously. I often find myself in a place where I am more passionate about doing "ministry" than I am about loving God.

I enjoy the ministry that God has allowed me to do, starting all the way back in highschool... with starting a club, leader in youth group, on in to college doing Wesley, Encounter God, leadership teams, camp counselor, ministry teams, trailer park ministry, starting 24/7 prayer, being on staff at LIHOP, being a youth minister, young life, mission work,teaching the Word, etc . . . as many of you reading this could also make a resume' out of just simply ministry. I love it.

Perhaps I love it to the point that I would be willing to do it even if God didn't show up.

Ouch.

As I've spent these last two weeks waking up at 4:30a.m. to meet w/ God, to seek Him, to find Him, I've found out more and more each day, that... I love Him.

My every day should be about Him and my love for Him, He is the REWARD... It's not what He'll do for me, or in this case what He'll do through me, it's all about Him. Because of who God is the ministry will follow, but at no point should I be pursuing ministry and loving ministry more than I'm loving God.

If I'm never able to touch another life, if I'm never able to prepare another sermon, if I never lay hands on another and see them healed, if my forever was just me and God, I would be satisfied.

Praise God that I have the rest of this life spending time w/ Him and doing those things, but I still want to so diligently seek God that I get to know as much about who He is as I possibly can while in this lifetime. Thank God He's allowed me to find things that I love to do and He allows me to be apart... and may it never be me doing what I love and allowing Him to be apart.

He is it. He is the sole purpose, my reason, my reward, my Daddy God, nothing and no one shall take His place. He is the one true God who commands to be first place in my life and that nothing shall take precedence over Him.

I pray that love sheds abroad in our hearts and abounds strongly, that God will have His rightful place as Lord of our lives.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Will you be challenged? DAY 16 OF 40

2010-10-12T05:43:00.005-05:00

It has now been almost 2 weeks since I decided to cut facebook out of my life as a desire to more diligently seek the Lord. I have logged on two times since that decision and I must admit, I don't miss it at all.

I have turned that "facebook" time into seeking time and the Lord is faithful, when you seek, you find. I've found Him MORE! Praise God!!!

I now have a new burden, a new challenge, and I want to share it with you, my friends.

I will be giving up all forms of tv, movies, secular music, and entertainment for the next 2 wks.

A friend of mine that I have known for years is now in her older twenties and more on fire for God than I have ever seen her. As she spoke to our youth she talked about how she had done a 1 year entertainment fast. She gave up tv, movies, secular music, all of it for an entire year.
When the year ended and she plugged the tv back in she said she was sickened by the things she used to watch. The drunkeness, adultery, fornication, cursing, at one point all of that was just normal, but here after a year of diligently seeking the Lord, fasting, sacrificing, obeying, the things that used to be "normal" were now what they had always been... sin.

She made a comment that hit me in the gut and has challenged me to the core, she said the enemy has so desesitised us to sin that we find it as entertainment.
We laugh at the lewd jokes, the promiscuity, the cursing and we even set a standard that has become lower than calling sin what it is.

Let me give an example: A friend of mine called me the other day and said hey there's this movie out let's go see it, and she said okay I already checked the pluggedin (plugged in online is a great tool it's james dobson based movie reviews letting you know exactly what you're going to go see and if it is appropriate) and she said well it's got some of this that's nto good, and some of this, but overall it seems like it's okay. I responded with great let's go see it!

As my friend spoke this conversation came to mind and I realized how desensitized I have become. I was willing to watch some sin, because at least it wasn't as bad as it could be.

GOD HATES SIN.

I want to know God more. I've been asking for almost 2 wks for God to show me ways that I can more diligently seek Him, asking Him to show me how to find Him and fellowship, to know Him as much as possible and then this message came forth.

She never asked us to do an entertainment fast, to be honest her message wasn't even on it, but the Holy Spirit spoke so loudly to me as I became broken of how I have enjoyed being entertained my sin.

We watch these things so desensitized that we don't even ask ourselves would the Holy Spirit watch this! We don't even ask until someone is completely nude, or the 5th F word, or maybe if they slip a GD in there we may cringe, but Lord knows we don't turn it off or walk out of the theatre.

We've become okay with watching sin as long as we don't act it out, but I ask if God hates sin, do we honestly think He can stand His bride being entertained by it?

I'm convicted to my core, I'm broken hearted, I have wept in repentance and change is taking place.

I refuse to find sin entertainment when I know very well that if any of the people I cared about acted the way the characters do in some of the things I watch, I'd weep for them. I'd minister to them, I'd confront their sin, I'd be praying for them, but yet I've come and I've watched it as entertainment not once thinking about what I was doing to Daddy God.

Ask yourself if there needs to be change, we need to call the devil what He is a liar who has sneakily convinced us that watching sin is appropriate and allowed.

Will someone else stand up with me? If we truly want to be engulfed in the presence of God we must seek to be like Him, HATING SIN and loving righteousness.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate
PS: I encourage you to really test what you watch and what "entertains" you, check it with scripture as I have been doing so it has really opened up my eyes. Thank God for His forgiveness and mercy!

"You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God." (James 4:4)
"the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so." (Romans 8:7)
"Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!" (Isa. 5:20)
"Your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear" (Isa. 59:2)
"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." (James 1:27)

Thankful DAY 15 of 40

2010-10-08T05:39:00.004-05:00

OCTOBER 8TH, 1987 I was born, this day 23 years ago.

From the very beginning the enemy tried to steal and kill as he battled to take my life with sudden infant death syndrome. During that time 80% of infant deaths were caused by SIDS, 75% of infants that had SIDS were MALE, and over 95% of babies that were diagnosed with SIDS died. Most often it was found out they had SIDS after death.

This has been a shocking statistic from me since the time my mom began to tell me about my survival when I was in the 7th grade. As my relationship with the Lord has grown all this has done was cause my faith to rise, my boldness to increase, my determination to soar, as I realize that the Word of God is true, the devil is out to steal, kill, and destroy, but my God is greater and He has plans and purposes for my life.

All this to be said on my birthday there is only one earnest and honest reaction I can have, thankfulness and gratefulness.

I'm thankful because I have life, at 23 years old I breathe on my own, I have 2 legs, 2 arms, and I'm healthy. I have both parents, loving family, friends, mentors. I'm not in lack, I have a job, a car, bills that I can pay, you could even say I have some excess, with a tv, leather furniture, a bed, air conditoning, running water, food in my refrigerator, and homes to go to if I ever have need of any of these essentials.

The truth is if the enemy had it his way, I'd be dead, as the first attempt on my life wasn't the last and many other attempts to steal, destroy, take faith, take love, take what God has for us but I do have THE God. THE God who came to earth, stood under temptation, trial, and testing, he gave His life away (it wasn't taken), and He rose. Oh He rose, and He lives, He makes intercession for me before the Father (Hebrews 7), He's Savior, Best Friend, Redeemer, Caretaker, Lover, my example, grace, love, mercy, forgiveness, and the words could go on forever, and though I've known it for years, I'm still grateful. The story of the cross and its powerful resurrection never stops being awe stirring, it never stops being the very thing I need everyday, it never stops being what saved me and continues to save me and sanctify me, and I can't stop being thankful.

Through many ministries, travels, missions, discovery channel, etc. I've seen enough to know that I'm beyond blessed, if God never gave me another thing, He's given more than I deserved, more than enough, more than I could ever repay. In 23 years I can stand with the Psalmist and say "I was young and I'm still young (he says old), but I've never seen the righteous forsaken".

I celebrate today not necessarily my life, but the giver of life. I didn't earn this, I did nothing to give myself breath today, to cause myself to walk, to talk, to type, I was given this freely, how could I go this whole day boasting in the day of my birth when I know very well who paid for it, and who gave it to me. Through the ups and downs, the hard the easy, the miraculous and the natural, I know who I serve and I know He is a good God who loves me. I pray for more years of living life to the full, to the max, impacting others, and never forgetting why I'm here and who I serve. It's not about me, It's all about Him.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

BIRTHDAY TIME DAY 14 OF 40

2010-10-07T05:18:00.003-05:00

It is that time of year that always causes me to reflect on life, friends, family, etc.
Perhaps thanks to a few key friends in my life a lot of things cause me to reflect these days! lol.

This week has not been bad, but it has been rough between sending students to the office, waking up with crazy weird eye infection, etc. I'll be honest I'm more than ready to invite the weekend in.

23 years old is the first birthday that has felt... almost.... old. Yes yes i know that 23 is by no means old when I fully expect to live at least another 80 years, but it feels different.

I'm not a student for the first time in my life instead I'm the teacher. I'm learning new roles, rules, and responsibilities as a 23 year old. I'm learning God's desires and plans for me were different than mine and more than that He is determined that I follow them! who woulda known?

Perhaps I'm not where I thought I'd be, but I'm definitely where I should be. I've learned things in these past 2 months that shook and rocked my foundations of who I am, things about God, but more so things about me, things I didn't know were inside. Yes that's right some flesh, some sin, some wrong motives, thoughts, some misconceptions aobut who I really am, but I've also found some good, some positives, some things to lean on.

I look forward to my future at the ripe age of 23 I am more than thankful, grateful, and pleased with the places God has taken me. The things He's allowed me to do. At 16 years old I wrote down a list of things I thought God was laying on my heart to do (what I thought was in my life time) and all of those things, but one I've already done or seen God do through me.

We serve a faithful God with plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans with a hope and future, and each year as I grow older as I see more of who God is, as more of His will is accomplished in me, as I grow, as I stumble, as He lifts me up, as He pulls me through fire, I know more and more that my God is faithful, loving, and just. There's no reason not to be excited about my future as long as He is there.

To another year of faithfulness, blessing, prayers answered beyond my wildest imagination, more ministry, more souls won for Christ, more missions overseas taking the gospel to the lost, more loving on children and adults alike, to being apart of this awesome Kingdom of believers, it's all worth it.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

True Love DAY 13 OF 40

2010-10-01T21:16:00.003-05:00

I think it's a well known fact that kids can be well, let's say less than perfect sometimes.

I had my fair share of dealings with kids who were less than perfect this week and one certain child in particular.

As I was having a rather irritating conference with this child I just got so frustrated and bothered. As I walked out of my office when it was over I was mad and just would have loved to never see the child again, and that of course is when the Holy Spirit spoke.

"I love her"

Three simple words and tears filled my eyes. I'd love to give you the glorious Jessika story where I immediately changed my negative emotions, but that's not what happened.

Instead I asked "God I don't understand how you can love her, I don't get it, why, how, how do you love her!"

Once again the reply of the Holy Spirit

"I love her the same way I loved you as I sent my Son to do die while you were yet a sinner"

Romans 5:8 how could I be so ignorant, faithless, un compassionate, heartless? Jesus Christ died for me, for who I am, not just the me inside the church, but the dirty me in the midst of my sin and ugliness. He died for me. That is God's love.

He loves those young ladies I work with everyday, He loves them unconditionally no matter their sin, He loves.

If I am to imitate Christ, I must learn to love as He loves. If I want to be true to the two greatest commandments according to Jesus I must love God, but also love my neighbor as myself.

How much do I truly love myself? Do I really love all those around me as I love myself. To I care for them, show them mercy and grace, as I show those things or want those things for myself?

Oh God forgive me, and open my eyes.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Get my blogs emailed to you!

2010-09-26T20:59:00.005-05:00

I have found a tool for those of you who are my regular blog readers, but often come check my blog and realize you are 3 or 4 behind (several people have told me this has happened to them before).

There is a way where I can add your email to a list and my blog will email to you instead of you having to come and check my blog on the website.

If you'd like to be added to that list you can leave a comment (I've enabled it where you can leave comments even if you don't have a google account) or you can shoot me an email (jessatate@gmail.com)

I have been honored by the amount of people who have told me they read my blog and that it has touched their lives in some way.I know that many of you aren't really avid internet people and want to make it as convenient as possible for you to continue to read my blog whether I am in the US or out doing missions again.

Thanks so much and Be Blessed,
J. Tate

PS: for those of you who are mostly only readers on facebook the blogs should continue to import to facebook, however i've had several people tell me that they are not doing so, at some point I'll log on and see why they are no longer doing so!

All Sufficient DAY 12 of 40

2010-09-26T08:43:00.002-05:00

Everyone is looking for something.

Being content is a place that many in our society have never been.
The reason is because our contentess seems to be completely conditional.
I'm content if...

fill in the blank with whatever seems to make you happy for that particular moment in time. I'd be content if I just had a job, a boyfriend, were married, my family cared about me, my dad hadn't left, my kids would serve God, my friends spent more time w/ me, I wasn't loaded down w/ homework, whenever i have a good salary, if i were respected more, whenever i graduate...
Everything seems to be conditional on this next "place" we need to get to.

Don't worry I'm preaching to myself too. It's been an extremely effective tool of the enemy to divert our attention from the present and have us hooked so far in the future that we are seemingly ineffective in the now.

We love to quote Philippians 4:13, but have you taken the time to look at the verses prior to it? Philippians 4:10-13
“For I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

He knows that He can do anything through Christ BECAUSE He has learned to be content in every situation.

I'll be honest I'd say at the very heart and root of our contentness problem is once again a lack of faith. We forget who the God we serve is and we forget to run into His arms and receive all we need.

Why do you need a boyfriend? are you lonely? Why do you need a better salary are you in lack or greedy? Why do we need that next "place" what is it that God is not able to provide for you RIGHT NOW?

We serve a God who is ALL SUFFICIENT, in everything He is able to provide if we would go to Him and receive.

The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the LORD lack no good thing. (Psalms 34:10) This is just one of countless verses that display that FACT that God provides over and over again, He meets all your needs (Philippians 4:19). It doesn't matter what the need is emotional, physical, supernatural, He shall supply all your needs.

Perhaps we are discontent because we have forgotten to run to the source of all needs. I encourage you to look up scripture on God's provision. You'll leave refreshed, encouraged, and diligently seeking after the heart of God for your needs.

He is all sufficient.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Bye Bye Facebook DAY 11 of 40

2010-09-23T13:09:00.003-05:00

Yes I finally took the plunge to release myself from the world of the social networking wonder, facebook.

It was indeed a hard decision, but a needed one. Well, for those of you who are my friends on facebook you know that I do indeed love posting my status updates, new links I find, inspiring quotes, and all the mobile uploads that I can manage.

The issue at hand is not one at the fault of facebook and honestly not at the fault of myself. It was simply a decision.

I'm in a new era an my life (duh I write about it all the time) and therefore have to make more of an effort to pursue my walk with Christ. I had to question myself last night by asking "Am I diligently seeking after God?" The Bible says that God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him, so what the heck does that mean?

Do I diligently seek Him because when i wake up I read my bible and spend time in prayer, is it diligently seeking simply because I go to church 3x a week, how about speaking in my youth group, doing missions in africa? Which of these qualify for me to be able to say I am diligently seeking you Lord.

When I asked myself the question I already knew the answer, God I'm not diligently seeking, and therefore need to make changes to my lifestyle.

Diligently seeking doesn't have tasks list, you can't check off your works, go to enough church services, etc. to qualify, diligently seeking is a question of the heart. Do you want God? Do you crave Him? Do you desire Him? Does your lifestyle show a consistent pattern of seeking after Him?

Perhaps you could look at my life and have thought that I diligently sought after God and yes of course I have before, I go through times when I do, but I can honestly say that for the past month I have not diligently sought Him. I've done research for messages I was going to preach, I've read my Bible consistenly, I've prayed everyday, but I haven't hungered and diligetnly sought the heart of God.

Yet, I've still wanted His blessing, His protection, His intimacy, His rewards, His promises, without having to put effort or make sacrifice to see Him, the exceedingly great reward in the first place!!

Whew the lazy, sinful, unfaithful, person that I am, but thank God from whom there is great forgiveness, mercy, justice, love, and my sins are cast as far as the East is to the West and when we realize our sin we must do a 180 degree turn and flee from it.

That is the decision that I made. That it was time to diligently seek my creator, therefore I did delete my facebook and make several other needed changes in my life so that I may give space, room, and time to diligently seek my Creator. To be with Him, to prize Him, to make Him my main priority, not just "being a Christian" not just going to church, not just mission work, not just doing Godly things, but legitimate time spent in being still and knowing He is God, legitimate time spent in diving into His word and seeking His will, dwelling in His presence and receiving peace, love, grace, direction, correction, etc. and time just to enjoy my Daddy God.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Encounters DAY 10 of 40

2010-09-22T05:24:00.003-05:00

I would say that a supernatural encounter is anytime the supernatural overlaps in with the natural. The type I'll talk about is simply God encountering us.

To list a few that I've seen in my life... instant healing (swollen knees returning to size, an arm growing back, deaf ears hearing, cancer disappearing, and more), demons casted out, angel sightings, etc.

I'm sure that when you first read that paragraph there are many reactions going on
1) I'm a liar
2) i'm about to go on a charismatic tangent
3) maybe you're saying praise God

Though I've seen many of what we call the "big" miracles, I want to talk about something different. We too often overlook the miracles that occur around us everyday. Every person reading this has had a miracle today... you breathe, you woke up. The truth is you don't even rise from your sleep unless the Lord allows you too, so congratulations today the Lord wanted you alive and awake! LOL.

How about something as simple as peace from God. When there is chaos and hopelessness around you and all you have is peace. God gave you that peace, He came in an supernaturally encountered your world.

Of course the field of answered prayers is a whole other arena when God comes in and supernaturally or even sometimes naturally by using natural things, changes a situation or person.

I could really talk about this forever, but we need to remember that our God is a God of encounter. He created you for relationship with Him, so it would be foolish to think that He'd never want to touch your life, that He'd never want to intervene, or communicate with you.

I think we get too caught up in our day to day life and we lose the fascination of the Creator of the universe being available to you. Available to communicate with, available to cry with, available to make requests to, available to lean on, available to give you that miracle you need, available to love you and give you the strength and peace you need.

We serve a God who desires to encounter us are you listening, are you watching, do you even want it?
Be blessed,
J. Tate

THE TRUTH DAY 9 of 40

2010-09-15T21:01:00.003-05:00

Meeting Jesus Christ and acknowledging Him as Savior, making Him Lord, doesn't just mean you're "saved" from hell, it means your life just got flipped upside down.

I hate to think that we've allowed people to believe you can be a Christian without knowing Christ.
I hate to think we've allowed them to believe they are "saved" without any change.
I hate to think that we have a whole group of people that believe Jesus is okay with sin in our lives.
I regret to inform you that many people believe God's grace will just cover up habitual sinning.

There is a reason that the Bible says that the road and gate to life are narrow. There is lack of truth, hypocrisy, anti-christs, an enemy, sin, and many more factors that have people deceived.

The bible says that no one will get to the Father except through Jesus Christ and no one has given the reigns to their life over to Jesus without a change in actions, thoughts, decisions, etc. When Jesus enters into your life and you receive the Holy Spirit you will begin the process of sanctification that will cause you to become more like Jesus. Without this, you're not a Christian.

We have to stand firm on the truth of the Word of God and stop watering down the gospel. People need the real truth, not the half truth that will get them to church, but never to heaven.

Be blessed,
J. Tate

I missed it DAY 8 of 40

2010-09-13T11:43:00.002-05:00

How many times do we "miss it"?

We're an imprefect people who serve a perfect God whose desire for us is to share in His holiness (hebrews 12).
We see the perfect example of how we should live that out from the apostle Paul as he exclaims in Philippians 3:

12Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

We're not perfect, we won't be perfect anytime soon, but we should be pressing towards Holiness, towards godliness.

See there is a mountain that gets in the way of this sanctification process, that mountain is called pride. We are people group of Americans who have been taught that everything is about being right, being perfect, getting our way etc. ideals and beliefs that are in direct opposition to the Word of God.

This past week the Lord spoke to me, the Holy Spirit instructed me, and I ignored Him. Yes I ignored Him.
I didn't find this situation to be one of great importance, I wasn't really sure if it was the Lord tugging me or not, so instead of addressing it and praying about it, I ignored it.

It took 2 days for me to realize what had REALLY happened and on top of already ignoring the Holy Spirit, do you know what my first reaction was? To come up with an excuse and a denial of my faults in the situation.

Perhaps while reading this you may be wondering why in the heck i'd admit all of this on a public blog, well there's a simple answer for that in the Word:
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.

This isn't my first rodeo with missing the mark, it's not my first time to have pride and find excuses, it's not my first time to not do something the Lord has told me, and ya know, honestly it won't be the last, but I've learned something.

When you mess up, fess up. Repent... ask for forgiveness from the Lord (and He is faithful and just to forgive 1 John 1:9) ask for forgiveness from those who your sin impacted, and then live in forgiveness. Live into the freedom that repentance, forgiveness, and redemption brings.

Forgiveness is a glorious blessing that is readily available to us for every sin, every mistake, but are we willing to lay down our pride, humble ourselves, before God and man to admit we messed up?

Be quick to repent,
Be blessed,
J. Tate

I trust you DAY 7 of 40

2010-09-08T21:37:00.002-05:00

I am so thankful that God continues to be faithful even when I am faithless. (2 Tim 2:13)

I consider my trust worthiness. Am I woman of God who carries myself with integrity, morals, truth, love, respect, etc. When I tell someone I'll do something do I do it? When I'm asked to pray for someone do I follow through or lie and say I'll pray without ever giving it a second thought? Do the people who matter the most in my life know it? Am I the same person in my home that I am at my church, am I the same person in front of my friends as I am in front of my pastors? Am I the same person at work that I am on the mission field?

I want to be faithful. I want to be trust worthy. I want to have integrity and earn respect. I want to be an example of love.

I want to be real.

Many times I've failed, I've fallen, I've not met the standard, many times I come up short. I am not always the person I want to be, could be, or should be.

Maybe that's why I'm so thankful for God's character of faithfulness. He's never failed, fallen, or come up short. He's never broken my trust, disappointed me or let me down. His love and faithfulness to His word are not conditional. He's the same God in my closet as He is in corporate worship. He speaks to me the same amount on the job as He does in a church service. He protects and provides as much in my day to day as He does when I'm in Africa. He's the same God, unchanging, consistently perfect since before the beginning of time and for all eternity.

So, when I say God I trust you, I pray my actions follow the words. I know that you are trust worthy, I know who You are, I know that You have proven yourself time and again and will continue to even through my doubts, but I pray that my words will lead to actions.
I pray that where you lead I follow, I pray that when things feel rough I'll know who stands by my side, I pray that when the future seems unclear and hazy I remember who orders my steps and has plans to prosper me and not harm me, I pray that when I begin to sink I remember how you lifted peter out of the water, when I'm persecuted I remember how you rescued Paul, when I'm confused I remember who knows everything, God I pray I simply remember that I trust You and through it all teach me to be like You.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

We have been set free! DAY 6 OF 40

2010-09-06T13:15:00.002-05:00

We have been set free
We are no longer Your enemies
saved by your wrath by the death of your Son
Sin's power has been broken

In Psalms 51 David cries out for God to restore him to the joy of salvation.

Are we thankful for the power of the blood? Do we consistently remember the cross?

The most powerful place we can go as a Christian is to go to the joy of our salvation. A place of complete thankfulness for God sending Jesus Christ, who endured unspeakable pain, so that we may live and not just live as in not die, but live without guilt, shame or bondage, live on this earth in communion with our Father. That's true freedom. And then even more once this life is over we flow right into eternal bliss.

There is a reason we're instructed not to fret or not to worry. Jesus dealt with everything we could possibly worry about on the cross. He conquered it, He beat it, so even if we fail or should I say when we fail, I can still laugh, I can still point to the cross and say "Devil you still don't win" my life isn't dependent on me, it was already paid for!

I don't make light of sin or our failures, because I firmly believe in sanctification, Holiness, obedience, but instead I boast so greatly in the power of the cross of Jesus Christ. I boast in the victory of my Savior which means victory for me!

No matter the trials, tribulation, failure, successes, blessings of this life, I boast that I have a mediator named Jesus who paid my debt. No worry can I possibly have when I know the outcome. The outcome of Jesus and I forever together.

Be blessed,
J. Tate

College Football DAY 5 of 40

2010-09-04T08:24:00.002-05:00

It is Saturday morning. This is college football.
I walked out to my car this morning with a light cool breeze rustling my hair and took a deep breath in to smell... college football.

I drove up to college station last night to spend the 3 day weekend relaxing with my best friend, doing laundry, shopping, studying, watching movies, going out to eat, and of course watching college football.

I'm not the typical girl that doesn't understand what's going on or the one that doen't care what team wins, i jump into the game cheering and hollering and loving every minute of it.

Don't worry this whole blog won't be about college football. :)

Yesterday on my drive up here I called one of my favorite people in the entire world, my friend kayce. Kayce throughout many times in my life speaks words of truth that open my eyes to things I've never noticed or thought about.

We started talking about my new job and all that I have struggled with and all the things God is teaching me through this new stage of my life. After a few minutes of talking she just starts laughing and says... "ya know most people in life say something to the effect of God send me anywhere just never send me to the depths of Africa among poverty and disease. Then there is you who says, God send me anywhere in the world, to africa, to where things are bad and the risk is high, but please don't send me to a little rural town in the public school system"

I of course had to laugh as well and later as I was reflecting, I was convicted. Kayce was right. I'll go to the jungles, to the bush, i'll sleep on the ground, I'll hug babies with aids, I'll minister to murderers of thousands, cast out demons out of tormented people, but Lord please not Liberty, Tx in the public school system.
I need to note here that I do thoroughly enjoy my job, I am more than thankful for it, and my goodness I couldn't be more happy w/ having all of the spiritual mentors, frieds, and family I'm surrounded by in Liberty.

I've told God I'll go anywhere, but then when anywhere didn't mean (my version of) "full time ministry"; I lost my total surrender, I lost my complete willingness.

I've had to reconstruct what "full time ministry" really is. I've had to really search my heart and say "will I really go ANYWHERE". I've had to repent.

In a public school in Liberty, TX God is really opening my eyes to what He really wants from me, to what really matters to Him, to what absolute surrender actually is, and the truth that being in "full time ministry" isn't wht job you have, but rather how you live your life. A full time minister is a missionary, a pastor, a school teacher, a doctor, an accountant. Anyone who will fully surrender their life to minister Jesus Christ.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

I give myself away DAY 4 of 40

2010-09-02T20:45:00.003-05:00

I give myself away so You can use me.

We have been singing a song the past couple of weeks in church (lyrics at the bottom) and it has really been working on my heart.

I think I've believed I had given myself away because of different things I have done that I considered sacrifices (Africa, trailer park ministry, youth minister, teacher).

These were big leaps of faith that yes, I was faithful to trust God and do even though I didn't feel prepared, equipped, or even a desire to do them at first. Each of those decisions dramatically changed my life course, but perhaps by giving myself away in these things I'd consider "big", I'd lost focus of the details.

As we've sung this song over the past few weeks the Holy Spirit opened my eyes and convicted me of how I've kept parts of myself from the Lord. The daily parts. The small parts.

Every moment of everyday needs to be put in the Lord's hands so that we are one with Him and His desire and will for our day. You never know what person needs the light that is inside of you. The people we pass on the street, the students in my classroom, the teachers in the lounge, the people at the grocery store. If all of me was given away, how many more opportunities would I have to minister to those around me?

I have to humbly admit to you that my life has not been completely crucified with Christ. Jessika's flesh has come and made itself present in the daily routine of life and in that opportunities to be an impact have been missed. I praise God that He is a redeemer and forgiver.

When we tell God that we are all His we should expect to be out of our comfort zone, to be inconvenienced, and of course to see God move. When I die and Christ lives through me lives should be changed, miracles should take place, the presence of God should go with me wherever I go.

What happens? routine, life, society, socialization. We get into a routine of life and find what makes us comfortable to do what we think will make us happy. I challenge you to give yourself away. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you areas that you have continued to grasp and not freely hand over to the Lord to use as He pleases. Allow yourself to be clay in the Potter's hands. Then watch as God uses you to advance His kingdom by changing lives.

"Lord I'm longing to see, Your desire revealed in me"

We need to get to the place where we say "God not my desire, not what I want for my life, but simply what You desire for me and from me"

Be Blessed,
J.Tate

Chorus:
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me
I give myself away
I give myself away
So You can use me

Verse 1:
Here I am
Here I stand
Lord, my life is in your hands
Lord, I’m longing to see
Your desires revealed in me
I give myself away

Verse 2:
Take my heart
Take my life
As a living sacrifice
All my dreams all my plans
Lord I place them in your hands

Bridge:
My life is not my own
To you I belong
I give myself, I give myself to you

Choose Joy DAY 3

2010-09-01T22:32:00.002-05:00

"Choose Joy" is a slogan my church has had for years. I can honestly say that my pastors "choose joy".

I thought that I chose joy everyday until I was faced with real challenge! For some reason Rwanda, Botswana, missions, being a youth minister, college, outreaches, etc. choosing joy in these settings was never difficult for me. I am a relatively laid back happy person, most things roll off my shoulders and I stay fairly calm; so i thought.

As I've become a teacher and coach everyday there is something that has caused me to be frustrated or irritated.

Today I sent my first student to the office and while she was doing what it took for me to send her to the office I heard the Holy Spirit whisper "choose joy".

I'm glad I took the Holy Spirit's advice, because one thing after another the enemy attacked to try and get me upset, frustrated, or discouraged and I kept saying to myself "im choosing joy, I'm choosing joy".

8th grade volleyball practice rolled around I was just being my normal self and an athlete said "Coach Tate are you going to be this happy all year long?" I replied, "well yes of course I am, I'm just a joyful person"... The athlete replied good, because you always make my day better!

The Holy Spirit knows what each person needs... not only do I need joy, but there are tons of children who need to see the joy that I have.

Choose Joy and be blessed,
J. Tate

A simple reminder DAY 2 of 40

2010-08-30T20:42:00.003-05:00

I was given a simple reminder today and I just want to share it with you.

I am a school teacher now and I found out the first week of school that there can be just 1 or 2 students that are able to literally ruin your whole attitude about a particular class or even the whole day.

Last week I battled this problem. I decided I wasn't going to let this week be the same way.

My mentor and old hs coach told me last week the best way to help my students is to pray for them by name. I shared the name of one particular student with a few of my prayer partners and asked them to join me in praying for her specifically.

My mentor and pastor's wife had given me the piece of advice to ask the Lord and find a scripture in the Word that is a verse that can be a rock for me. A solid ground to stand on that I can quote and refer back to. So as soon as I got to the school this morning I asked the Holy Spirit to give me a few verses that I needed to stand on to help me while at school.

I typed up 8 verses and posted them on my wall right next to my desk. I prayed for that student at the beginning of the day and before her class.

Today was the best day i've had as a teacher/coach. Throughout the day I was reminded that this is my mission field and I prayed for students, I quoted bible verses to myself, and I was able to stand in joy all day. The particular student that has given me problems was great today and caused me no problems.

The simple reminder is this... Never underestimate the power of prayer and of the Word of God. Surround yourself with the Word, quote the Word, speak the Word, think the Word, become so familiar with the Word that you are constantly being reminded of the Word. Finally prayer is powerful. Be in prayer continually, in fact pray the Word, nothing is off limits, ask for what you have need of. God hears.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

You're beautiful DAY 1 of 40

2010-08-29T20:38:00.003-05:00

Humans are set up in a way where we desire affirmation and acceptance.

Boy, girl, man, woman... we desire to hear how we are wanted, needed, beautiful, handsome, loved.

Women seem to try to find ways to fish for compliments, men (while usually denying the fact they need them) will try to find ways to earn them.

Everyone is looking for those words... i like you, i love you, i want you...

I've been told these things a few times as most of us ladies have. Baby I love you, you're beautiful, etc. and of course these are the words that cause our heart to flutter, those butterflies we get in our stomach, and those emotions we desire so much.

I know at this point you probably think this whole blog is me writing about relationships, but it's not.
I was in the shower tonight praying (as I usually do in the shower) and I heard these words...

"You're beautiful"

To be honest I first thought they were verbal... I thought perhaps my brother's girlfriend was over or Paul was talking loudly to his wife next door!!! lol... or perhaps i'd lost my mind.

I stopped praying, I got quiet, and I sat down on the seat in my shower (I love that i have a seat in my shower!) and I listened again to see what it was. Then I felt that familiar tug in my Spirit and I knew that the Lord was speaking to me and He spoke again.

"Daughter you're beautiful. I love you. I enjoy you. I want all of you."

I began to cry. This moment reminded me of something that we all need to remember. If at any point in life you're craving affirmation or acceptance there is always one sure place you can go; directly to the Father. He is ready and waiting to tell you how much you're loved, how you were bought with the precious blood of Jesus, how you are wanted.

Like most women I look forward to the day of being married and having one man that I want to spend the rest of my life, one man that I desire love and acceptance from, but I hope I never forget who is always waiting for me to listen just so He can tell me He loves me. The God who formed me, bought me, loved me before the foundation of the earth. The God that no matter how many times He tells me He loves me it always brings me to tears.

All I need is you Lord. I love you too.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Sweet Redemption

2010-08-10T10:43:00.002-05:00

As I've started my new job there have been so many mixed emotions from being in all too familiar places. I can't really seem to walk down the halls of my old h.s, coach volleyball in my old gym, see faces everyday of people i was close with in high school, without reflection and memories.

I never thought I'd be back in Liberty, Tx and I'll admit it wasn't my "choice" place to move to!! But, over these past few weeks I see how God is using these familiarities to heal me in areas I didn't know needed healing.

College was a tremendous blessing to me because I was able to leave an area in my life behind where mistakes had been made, regrets that i had, and move on to be more of the person God had always planned for me to be, closer to the person that I wanted to be.

Coming back to Liberty... everyday i'm reminded not just of who i wish i would of been, but who i wasn't. Philippians 3 makes that thought process hard to live w/ "forgetting what is behind and pressing on..." Check out these lyrics to a song we sang in church the other night.

I'm not going back
I'm moving ahead
I'm here to declare to You
my past is over
In You old things are made new
Surrendered my life to Christ and
I'm moving moving forward

What a moment
You have brought me to
Such a freedom
I have found in You
What a Healer

You make all things new
Yeah Yeah Yeah

You have risen
With all power in Your Hands
You have given me
A second Chance
Hallelujah Hallelujah

Could it not be more on task with what I was feeling? At 15 years old I decided to change, i surrendered my life to Christ and became a new creation, but even after this decision I wasn't the witness I should have been or wanted to be.

This job has been a second chance. Being back in Liberty I'm seeing God redeem areas of my life I hadn't let go of regret in. He is redeeming the hallways of my school, redeeming the gym that I played sports in, redeeming the athletic program, giving me a second chance to be a witness to old friends, This is redemption. I'm living in sweet redemption.

Just in the past few wks, I've been able to pray with several of my volleyball players, meet with several missionaries to explore options for taking youth on a mission trip, make contacts for personal mission trips, teach in youth group, discuss life and hug crying youth, and love coaching volleyball and inspiring students. This is sweet redemption. This is the God I serve.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Ruined

2010-07-30T08:59:00.002-05:00

This morning I was doing my normal routine and as I began to tell God how good He is and how much I NEED HIM. I remembered moments in my life that ruined me (in a good way). These moments were those moments where God so radically showed up, touched me, changed me, molded me. Those moments ruined me for any counterfeits.

As a Christian you've had an encounter with the living God. I'm sure if you took a minute you could name off a few defining moments when you ENCOUNTERED God. Those moments will change the whole course of your life. To ramble a few off the top of my head...
1) 15 years old in my bedroom and I heard God speak to me, so loud to me that I set up looking for who was speaking to me... I've never been the same.
2) 16 years old sitting on the alter at North Main baptist church alone in the sanctuary and God told me I would preach... I've never been the same
3) 18 years old in my dorm room when God told me that I would go to Africa... I've never been the same.

These are just 3 huge callings that I heard from God, this doesn't include the countless times when He's talked to me about my life, my future, His love for me, when I've seen God heal someone supernaturally, or demons casted out. All of these encounters were REAL encounters and they've ruined me for any counterfeit god that the world tries to create.

Now pay attention to this next part, because this is what the Lord showed me this morning.
These encounters they put people in what I would call a spiritual high. It takes you up to the mountain in other words. More passionate, more excited, radical.

I asked God how come we see so many Christians who have had these encounters and they're slipping away? I think God wanted me to ask Him the question because the Holy Spirit began to speak immediately.

The problem is that sometimes we get confused. You can have these encounters and then you begin to seek the next encounter. The next big whoa moment instead of seeking God. My pastor once said that an encounter can change you, but it's the Word that will maintain you.

If you've ever been on a mission trip perhaps you've been here before. You go overseas and God just seemed to constantly be tangible and doing amazing things. When you come home, normal life seems mundane and not exciting. You can't lead a "normal" life anymore. You've been ruined for counterfeits.

See the challenge is to be ruined for the counterfeits and realize that you don't have to have a counterfeit no matter where you are. A life of pursuing God is never boring, mundane, or not exciting because the same God who was on your mission trip is in your living room, bedroom, your work place.

Sometimes His magnificent grace comes and He encounters us unexpectedly, but the majority of the time, it will be us, reaching out seeking Him for that encounter during our every day lives.

We can be ruined for what the world has to offer and never have to leave the real thing. The world will offer so many counterfeits for true and perfect love, for peace, for joy, for success... but the truth is there is no counterfeit for a life in a relationship with the Living God.

I pray that we would all be ruined for the counterfeits and pursue the real God like never for. Allow Him to come and impact you and have an encounter with you everyday. Everywhere we go is the mission field, everywhere we go God goes with us, acknowledge His presence.

Be Blessed
J. Tate

The details

2010-07-29T07:21:00.002-05:00

Hey Friends and Family,
Yesterday I realized that in December it will be year since I graduated, in other words I graduated 8 months ago and other than mission trip updates I haven't really talked about what is going on in my life at all.

I'm sure most of you know by now that I have accepted a job teaching/coaching at Liberty Middle School. When I first heard about the job option I pretty much just dismissed it for several reasons that I "thought" were justified. However the Lord did not seem to justify them as much as I did and I truly believe that this is the path that God has led me on for at least this next year.

There are so many things I could say about this new mission field that I'm entering, but i'll keep it short and simple. I've already realized this will probably be the hardest thing I've ever done. Harder than college, harder than missions, just harder, but what I see through the roadblocks, what i see over the mountain, it's worth the hard. If there is one thing I've learned in life it's that I don't need to be afraid of hard, because on the other side of hard is always something great.

I'm back in Liberty Tx. After 4 years of Liberty merely being a vacation place, it's now home again and in thought after being places like Johannesburg South Africa, Amsterdam, Rwanda... etc. You'd think Liberty would be boring and outdated, but there is simply no better place to be than in the center of God's will. I'm surrounded by mentors who love me, teach me, and trust me to do ministry. I'm happier than I've ever been, I'm more hungry for the things of God than ever, and I'm more passionate than ever. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the more you get to know Jesus, the more His joy and passion and zeal will over take you.

I think I've realized that nothing is impossible at all. There are no limits when it comes to the Kingdom of God. Dream big, extend vision, and trust that God's vision for our life will never be matched, so DREAM HIGHER, VISION DEEPER, and just go. I spent the last year doing what I want to do with the rest of my life. Go overseas, come back, go overseas, come back, go overseas... and I believe I'll get to spend the rest of my life doing this because at the young age of 22 I have found where my passion lies.
I love spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

I believe the Lord will give me a husband with the same heart to minister to those in America without ever forgetting the big world out there that still needs the gospel.

So I am excited about life, I'm excited about the future, and I'm just so blessed and so thankful for where I am. Everyday is truly a mission field and when it gets hard I"m surrounded by people who pick me up.

For those that I have lost contact with, gosh I'm sorry. Most of you know how much I need to work on my contact skills. I try to make those few phone calls a week and sometimes it doesn't happen, but I am definitely trying to redefine that as a priority in my life, so that as I move into the future I don't forget those who have helped me to get here.

I love you all!!
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Taking every thought captive

2010-07-13T09:34:00.002-05:00

This morning I had what felt like a block in my prayer time and it got to a point where I was getting frustrated. Finally, I gave in and I just asked God what is this feeling, what is this frustration, what is this WALL!

After a few minutes of practicing the discipline of listening for the voice of the Lord, I was given the answer.

First I was given the scripture 2 Cor. 10:7 then I was given a few thoughts of my own.
2 Cor. 10:7 "We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ"

It's a verse I preached on often in Rwanda and one that I pray over myself fairly often. I believe in being an active participant in the battle of my mind. There are so many scriptures that speak on our mind and our thoughts. I know in my own mind there is a battle for who the thoughts will glorify. Will my thoughts glorify God or the enemy. Will I think things that line up with "knowledge of God" or knowledge of me, life, society, etc.

I want to be able to say (Philippians 4:8) I think on things noble, pure, things right, honorable, lovely, etc.

This is what I find happens. The enemy speaks a lie into your thoughts and we have the responsibility to "take that thought captive and put it into obedience with Jesus Christ". This is actually exactly what Jesus did when He was tempted. The enemy spoke a lie and Jesus casted that lie down with the Truth of the Word of God.

Thoughts that do not line up with the Word will come, but we must put them into obedience of the Word of God.

The Lord revealed a thought that I had been believing for over a week and I had to take that thought captive and put it into obedience.

Who rules your thought life? The enemy or the Word of God. We have the responsibility to monitor our thoughts and line them up with truth. Believing lies of the enemy will always have negative impact on our walk with God. Sometimes it seems small, but many times these lies will snow ball and cause a lot more strife than we bargained for.

I guess I think of it like I think of a cold. Someone can catch a cold (relatively small and harmless), but if not taken care of it can turn into bronchitis (more pain than the cold, but also treatable). If the bronchitis is not taken care of it can turn into pneumonia (much more painful, but still treatable with a little more effort). Pneumonia can eventually lead to death if not taken care of.

It is the same thing with our thought life. A lie (seems somewhat harmless) if not put into obedience with Christ will breed more lies and as you believe more lies our thoughts will become farther and farther from truth, which may result in our actions straying farther and farther away from truth, which may result in one great heap of backsliding down fall.

Let's take up the battle of our mind and take every thought captive that doesn't line up to the knowledge of God and put it into obedience of Christ.
Don't let the enemy rule your mind.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Speak Lord

2010-07-12T08:14:00.002-05:00

Get in the habit of saying, "Speak Lord", and life will become a romance. Every time circumstances press in on you, say, "Speak Lord", and make time to listen. -Oswald Chambers

Yesterday I was at lunch with a couple of people from church and our Pastors Mike and Laurie. I don't really remember what brought it on, but Pastor said something to the effect of... if only Adam and Eve would have talked to God. As soon as the serpent came and began to lie Eve should have said "Adam, we need to talk to God". He mentioned Saul and how under ever temptation Saul never spoke to God.

Imagine if Adam and Eve would have taken the time to speak to their Father. Everyday they spent time with God and one day something CRAZY happens. A serpent comes in saying things they'd never heard before, saying things contrary to what God had spoken to them. They should have stopped and said "Hey God, we need to talk about this".

This morning I was spending some time with the Lord and I thought about the Oswald Chambers quote and what Pastor had said.

How many of us give in to temptation, make a bad decision, go through unnecessary strife, simply because we won't call out to the Lord. Ask Him, He speaks.

If you're anyone who has been close to me for the past 3 years you know that I absolutely LOVE John 10:27 that says that we will hear God's voice. It doesn't say we might hear it, there is a chance maybe one day, it says we KNOW His voice.

When strife comes, when temptation comes, when trial comes, when the mountain is in the way. SPEAK and listen.

God wants His people to rely on Him, to cry out to Him, to ask His opinion, to hear His voice and follow His direction. Never neglect to cry out to God.

Perhaps Adam and Eve had a thought. We'll listen to the serpent now and when the coolness of day comes (when the Bible says God met with them) then we'll discuss this with God. Perhaps people have this same idea. I'll live my life throughout the day and tomorrow morning when i have my quiet time I can discuss this with God. I dare to say you're too late.

Jesus paid for 24/7 available access to the throne room of Father God. Jesus deserves what He paid for. He paid for that access so that no matter where you are, no matter what circumstances you are under, you can cry out to Daddy God and have DIRECT ACCESS TO HIM.

1 Thess 5:17 pray without ceasing.

Don't neglect to ask God to speak. Use this access. Call out to Him, rely on Him. Listen to Him.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The Knowledge

2010-06-18T14:42:00.002-05:00

I once had someone close to me say something to the effect of "You've just become obsessed with this God stuff". Taking them somewhat off guard I just replied "Thank You".

I think those of you that actually take the time to read my ramblings probably agree with me that being obsessed with God is a goal, it's a desire of my heart, to a Christian it's in no way a cut down or offense. I want to be so consumed with Him that He's what I think of when I first wake up and when I lay down to sleep and thousands of times throughout the day. I want Him to be who I live for.

The Bible says to love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. In other words love God with every portion of yourself, natural, physical, spiritual, be completely consumed with Him.

Most of you probably already know my testimony. I was selfish, I lived my life for me, and one night laying in my bed drunk the Lord spoke to me. When God speaks in the way He spoke to me that night there is no doubt who is speaking to you. He spoke with such authority, power, understanding, and truth that nothing of this earth could have forged that voice, that moment. It was God. He spoke directly to me and He spoke scripture, He recited Deut. 30:19 where He urges His people to choose life. He says "I lay before you life and death".

That night I had an encounter with the living God and after that encounter I had a better understanding of who God was. Everyday that I spend time with the Lord I learn more about who He is. Every time He speaks to me I get to know Him better. Whenever I open up the word and I read Truth, I learn more about who He is. When you spend time with God you gain knowledge of who God is.

Previous to the night that God supernaturally intervened in my life I thought I knew who God was. I had met with Him before. I had prayed, I had read the Word, I had worshiped, but I allowed the world to snatch the truth from me, just like in the parable of the sower (Matthew 13:18-23). I once had been zealous for God, but it faded. Check this scripture out:

Romans 10:2,3
For I bear them witness they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge. v3 For not knowing about God's righteousness, and seeking to establish their own, they did not subject themselves to righteousness of God.

It's possible to have a zeal for God without a knowledge of God. This type of zeal will eventually fade.

We need to be consistently and constantly filled and growing in knowledge of who God is. Daily time spent with Him is vital and imperative to the growth of a Christian.
There is always more to learn about who God is, He is so infinitely vast that everyday for the rest of eternity we can continue to grow in knowledge of Him and His character.

I am broken for those who are zealous, but lack in knowledge of God. Jesus said many will come to me and say Lord Lord, and I will say depart from me I never knew you (Matthew 7:23)

These people thought they had a relationship with God, they thought they had made it, but in reality they were far from the heart of our Lord. They hadn't really grown in knowledge of who He is, they didn't really have a relationship with Him, and He obviously had no relationship with them.

I can say that I know who (picking a random celebrity here) Tyler Perry is (I love his movies!). I can read a bio on him, do some research, maybe even write him a letter, but do I really know him? and more importantly does he know me?

In order to really know someone, you must be in relationship with them. You must spend time with them. Knowing God is important. Searching Him, speaking to Him, asking Him questions, being in a relationship with Him. Search out His heart, find out who He is, and let Him inside of you too. Pour out your heart, speak to Him, your hurts, desires, joys, cares, concerns. Be in relationship with Him.

I daily grow in love for God. The more I learn of Him, the more I love Him. I have yet to find a characteristic of God that doesn't just capture my heart more. I've yet to find something that will cause me to complain about God. He is true, real, just, loving, merciful, forgiving, understanding, a disciplinarian, a God who cares for His children. He is the one true God.

My prayer is that the body of Christ will become zealous to know God.

In Psalms 27:4 David cries out "One thing that I desire to dwell in the courts of the Lord forever more". David was in relationship with God and He never wanted to leave His presence. Our God is an appealing God, He is desirable.

I pray that you will love God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind. I pray that you would be obsessed with Him and that He would reveal more of Himself to you. Be determined to know your Father. Search for Him, seek Him out, ASK HIM QUESTIONS ABOUT WHO HE IS (He answers).

Don't come to the end of your life to realize I had a zeal for a God I never knew. Don't be one of those that Jesus looks at and says "I never knew you". Don't be a lukewarm Christian that once had an experience with the living God, but then settled into the comfortable without ever giving Him everything you have.

I pray my life will be spent searching out who He is. I want to know Him intimately and deeply.

Be Blessed my friends,
J. Tate

*One question for those who wonder like me! Check out Mark 14:51-52! Who do you think this guy is?

Fearless

2010-06-17T11:25:00.003-05:00

This is a message that has been growing in my heart and I was so blessed to be able to preach it in Rwanda and then again at Cornerstone youth last Sunday night.

I've noticed that fear has become an "issue" in the body of Christ and there really is absolutely no excuse for it. Today I'm just going to walk you through the notes of my message and my recent passion to see Christians, fearless. I'm going to do my best to give you the "readers digest" version and make this just a short read, so obviously I'm going to have to condense the message and just give you the big points.

First and foremost an often quoted verse "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind" (2 Tim. 1:7)
If God has not given us a spirit of fear then we must conclude that ALL fear (not including fear of God, which I"ll get to later) must not be from God, but rather from the enemy. I know that I have no desire to have any spirit surrounding me that is not the Spirit of God. So that verse is very straight forward a spirit of fear is not from God and so we should not be living in fear. If you'd like another reference for that point then go check out Romans 8:14-15.

I believe that we have began to make light of fear. Often times fear is something we joke about, we tease about, or we just don't really see the enemy's role in fear. More often than not we just see it as something natural that we have to deal with. Everyone fears. That is a direct lie from the enemy because if you are a child of God you have been set free from fear. I'll go ahead and tell on myself because I'm definitely not above this struggle. I like to tease Maegan because Maegan USED TO (praise God) fear lizards. It was always a joke to me, i laughed and made fun of her and never saw the harm in it, until one day God gave me the revelation that He hasn't given us a spirit of fear! So, I laugh about Maegan having a spirit of fear from the enemy? Not so funny anymore.

Please go read Mark 4:37-41.
This is the well known story of the disciples in the boat and Jesus calming the storm. There are 2 major points to be made out of this passage, but I won't go into my usual detail and instead just go straight to the points.

First in verse 40. Jesus asks "why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith".
The very first point is that fear is in direct correlation with faith. Fear is simply put a lack of faith. When you fear you're showing you lack of faith that God is who He says He is, He's done what He says He's done, and you can do what HE says you can do. There are tons of examples I can give for this, but like I've said I want to keep it as short as possible so if you'd like to ask some questions on this point I'd love to talk about it with you.

Second in verse 41. "and they became very much afraid". Ok notice in verse 40 they were already afraid of the storm. Jesus calmed the storm and then it says "they became very much afraid". Explain to me how after the situation they were afraid of was resolved they then became very much afraid.
The answer is they went from a fear of a circumstance into fear of God. Notice their comment in vs. 41 "Who then is this that even the wind and sea obey Him?" They were no longer afraid of the circumstances, but of the Creator.
Another reference for this is in Isaiah 8:12,13

This is an important correlation to make. Fear is lack of faith in God, but it is possible to take fear of anything else and turn it into fear of God.
I think it is really important to state what fear of God is, so study that learn it and realize it. Moses tells us in Exodus 20:20 that fear of God will cause us to not sin and Romans 14:23 tells us that anything not done in faith is sin. So there is a great correlation between faith and fear of God and fear of other things. So take some personal time to study that.

I'll wrap this last part up quickly.
Before the day of Pentecost Jesus was always known as the only begotten son, after the day of Pentecost He is never called that again, but rather the firstborn son.
Why?
When you were sealed with the Holy Spirit you were adopted into the Kingdom of God. Jesus says in John 17:23 that with the same love that God loved Jesus, He loves believers.

So we can take comfort that we have a Daddy God that loves us, provides for us, and protects us just like He did Jesus.
Notice Jesus never feared. He knew who His Father was.
In life or in death He fulfilled the will of His father. Jesus said no one took His life from Him, He gave it up willingly. So Jesus had victory in life and in death.

I want to end with Romans 8:31
What can we say then? If God is for us than who can be against us?

God hasn't given us a spirit of fear and we are adopted as sons and daughters into His kingdom, therefore there is nothing we can fear. No circumstance, animal, person, nothing shall we fear.

As Psalms 23:4 says "I fear NO eveil; thou art with me".

For some more reiteration of how we should not be living in fear read Psalms 91.

I wish I could take everything I have to say on fear and it only take about 5 minutes to read, but unfortunately it's just not how it is. This is probably already longer than most people will read so, for those of you who made it all the way to the bottom, I hope this has blessed you just as this message has me. I hope you will put it into practice and stand firm. If you want to know more that i have to say on the subject, shoot me and email or text.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Time

2010-06-16T22:32:00.003-05:00

Well it has been a while since I've been able to write consistently in my own blog.

After graduating I moved back to Liberty and spent one month at home. Then I spent three months in Botswana. One month back home led to one month in Rwanda.

Now I'm home. I have a pile of things in my closet that I have yet to unpack from my move from Lubbock, I have a few things still in a bag from Botswana, and found a bag yesterday that I still hadn't unpacked from Rwanda. Needless to say I'm still in transition.

I am taking a job as a coach with the school district I grew up in and have been very busy with camps, workouts, and trying to get things situated for this upcoming school year.

I'll be moving out of my parents house sometime in the next few months and moving to another place along with my brother.

I am shocked at the way my life has turned out. Honestly if you would have talked to me a year ago (maybe even less)I would have never guessed that I would be where I am now.

I never would have thought that I would go to Africa 3x in a year. I never thought I would graduate college in 3 1/2 years. I never thought that I would have the opportunity to minister to a crowd of over 700 people in a foreign country. I NEVER thought I'd move back to Liberty or take a job as a coach.

See Africa was all God, I never desired to travel. Preaching was all God, because I never thought I'd have the courage to stand in front of large crowds much less with a translator in another country. Coming home was all God because I never wanted to come back. Taking a job was all God because I wanted to go to seminary.

You know here is a shocker. When you offer God your life, He takes your life. I told God I was all His, so He took full advantage of it :) I've never made a better decision.

Though right now I'm in a place I never thought I'd be in, I have never been happier, I've never been more passionate, and honestly I couldn't imagine my life any better.

When I think about the things God has trusted me with, the places He's taken me, the things He's done through me or in front of me, the relationships I've been blessed with, the favor and incredible blessing I've seen in my life.... I could go on... but when I think on these things, it brings me to a place of humbleness and tears.

My God is so good. Apart from anything He's ever done for me, my God is powerful and worthy. If no one will praise Him the rocks will cry out, because the God I serve is worthy of praise and it's not about what He does for me, it's about who He is. Gosh isn't htat awesome to be in relationship with the ONE TRUE GOD.

I'm excited to begin writing again, I have definitely missed it. Tonight was just a ramble to get back into it, but I'll soon begin to once again write about the things God teaches me and shows me in life and in His word.

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A few things i've learned

2010-02-10T11:44:00.000-06:00

I was invited by Women Against Rape (also known as WAR) to come to a meeting a few days ago at their center. The meeting was all about alcohol addiction and Maun. At the meeting were several representatives from other organizations in the community. WAR is putting on a seminar in February to teach people about addiction, how to counsel addiction, where to get help, etc. I’ve been asked to participate and to hold a few lectures during the seminar. We’ll see if it fits with this busy schedule!
Leading the meeting was a specialist from the states who is not a believer. A member of the police force asked her who exactly are you trying to target and impact. Just Maun? The woman stood up straight and boldly responded to him. She said “well, sir I want to start here. I want to drop a pebble on top of Maun in the pond of Botswana and watch the ripple of impact cover this entire country. So, my hope is that we’ll start here with this seminar and eventually see change take over this nation.”

Her words impacted me. What a big vision. What great confidence. Imagine if we as a body of believers would have such vision. Imagine if we would start in one place and have the faith to believe it would touch a whole nation? She understood that she had to find a starting point, do the best job possible, and then have expectation for impact. This woman is determined and I believe it will be accomplished.
I love addictions counseling, so sitting through this day of meetings was a joy for me. I learned more about the culture in Botswana, I spoke with leaders from many organizations, and was able to share my opinions and thoughts as well. However, addictions also drives me insane from a Christian stand point. Let me explain. Most addictions professionals will tell you there is no cure for addictions, even alcoholics anonymous believes that once an alcoholic always an alcoholic. I however know the cure for an addiction. He’s the same cure for perversion, adultery, sickness, lying, depression, etc. His name is Jesus and I’m a liar if I were to say His blood wasn’t strong enough to end addiction. So I’ve set through classes, read through books, sat through meetings, been in long conversations, all about the never ending disease of addiction. We also discuss how addiction is many times a coping mechanism for worse problems. And in America you want me to sit down with a client who has an addiction because they suffer from depression and depend on a substance to cure their misery, and you want me to tell them what they need is to stop using and abusing so they can get back to their miserable life? NO! What I will tell them is I know a God who can turn your depression into joy, and when you taste HIS joy, you’ll never need that substance again. I rant about this because it leads into a story I want to tell!
I worked with a program the other day called reach4Life. I was able to go into a school and talk about making a difference to high schoolers, I talked about Jesus, and that He is what they need. While talking with the woman who helps run the program she told me a story. A man (a non-believer) was passing out condoms at a school and a teacher came up to talk to him. She said to him why are you passing out condoms, I’m a Christian and you should be teaching these kids abstinence, not giving them condoms. The man replied “As long as the church stays silent, the world will come up with their own answer”. What wisdom from a man who wasn’t even a church goer, not even a believer, yet he understood. With addictions, with STD’s, with gang violence, etc all these major problems that our nation, my nation, America, is having as long as the church remains silent the world will continue to make its own band aids. Oh America. We were once founded on Christian principles.

Don’t get me wrong, PEOPLE ARE DOING GREAT THINGS. They are helping people, but none of those fix the root of the problem. A band aid offers protection, it makes it feel a little better, but a band aid does not heal the cut. And so goes with these organizations and programs. They will help, but they do not fix the root problem and that’s they need Jesus. Most people will write me off saying I’m over spiritualizing it, but when you begin to look at people the way I do, there is no other answer. See I look at people and no matter the condition of their body I have to ask, how is their soul? Where will they be when they die. Because you can be rich and go to hell, healthy and go to hell, or you can be poor and go to heaven, have AIDS and go to heaven. Jesus cures addiction and gives joy that replaces the desire for alcohol, Jesus conquered loneliness and helplessness and provides confidence to girls who feel they need to have sex with a guy to feel loved, Jesus causes change that brings about love, kindness, giving, compassion. But most importantly He washes away our sins and makes us right with God.

That is why I am who I am and I do what I do. Because Jesus changes things. He saves eternities, He changes lives, He heals bodies, He gives authority, He supplies our needs, He has conquered this world. I love John 16:33 that says we’ll have tribulation in this world, but take heart, Jesus has overcome the world. In America, Africa, or any corner of the world the answer for the lives of the broken, hurting, starving, sick, disappointed, rejected, and lost is Jesus. So I’m thinking big. I’m getting vision. A vision that is world wide. To make the name of Jesus Christ known and see as He impacts and changes lives. Will you join in?

I’ve learned what it means to truly depend on God. I never thought that would be a lesson I would learn here, because in reality things aren’t bad here for a foreign country. We have occasional water and internet, great electricity, and good facilities. But in this past week, I’ve been sick, tired, weak, and no time to rest. I’m learning to pray because everything depends on it. I’m learning to lean on God in a new way.

Thanks for the prayers. Be Blessed,
J.Tate

A parting word

2010-01-07T08:43:00.000-06:00

Well friends, as you know I am leaving next week to go to Botswana Africa for four months. I've had many ask the question in the last week "are you ready?", "are you excited", etc. I become at a loss for words in that moment (hard to believe i know). I've been asking of myself (practicing self analyzing thanks kayce) what exactly do I feel.

I fell in love with Africa my freshmen year of college, before I'd ever seen an African sky or stepped on African soil.

I was in a dorm room in Chitwood on the campus of Texas Tech. My friend Randi was excitedly telling me her plans to go to Kenya for 3 months that upcoming summer. As I sat on her bed I blurted out "I'm so glad God has not called me to do stuff like that, I have no desire to go overseas". I don't remember how the rest of the conversation went, but I'm sure I arrogantly talked about my love for America and Texas! Around 3 a.m. that night I woke up with a simple but stern sentence from the Lord. "You will go to Africa".

From that moment on I was sold. I began to be burdened for Africa, I yearned for it, I prayed for it, I cried over it, I was constantly trying to find ways to go. I finally went last may to Rwanda. I had previously believed I'd be one trip and done, but while I was in Rwanda I knew that I would go back. I've since learned we are all called to a lifetime of missions, it's simply found in the great commission. Missions consists of your day to day life, short term trips, long term trips, financially supporting trips, interceding for the nations... everyday we should be involved in missions. I will go as often as the Lord opens a door for me to go.

Even though I was all set and ready to start my masters there was a little discontentment with my decision. Within 48 hours of deciding I wanted to go to Africa I had the finances for 3 months from an amazing donor and the place I was going.

So here I am one week until I fly out leaving America for 4 months. I have complete confidence that I am doing the will of God for my life.

As I read more about the internship from past interns I am a little nervous because I know that I will be pushed to my limits physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. At the same time this makes me extremely excited because I know in my weakness He will be made strong. In reality I find peace in that no matter what my emotions are going into anything I do, if God says to do it, I'm going to do it. I have struggled a little in the past few weeks with the things I will be missing while I am gone: weddings, birthdays, possibly graduations. I realize these events are small compared to the opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

So here I am 7 days away. I ask that you all continue to pray for me as I prepare this week and the 4 months that I will be in Botswana.

I will be privileged of having internet while in Bots and I will do my best to keep in touch with friends and family back in the states. Here are the many ways to keep in contact with me:

Skype: j-tate
Blog: jessinbotswana.blogspot.com
Email: jessinbotswana@hotmail.com
and of course facebook.

This will be my last blog on this account until I return from Bots!

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

A Necessity

2009-12-20T07:49:00.002-06:00

You all know my great passion for reading. My favorite is obviously those of a Christian nature or historical. I recently picked up a copy of the Hiding Place by Corrie Ten Boom when I saw a copy on sale at a book store. I had read the book years before and remembered liking it, so decided to re read it. As I've been re reading it I realize it takes my two favorite subjects to read about and throws them in one book. A book with encouragement for believers, strongly routed in faith in Jesus, while telling a story with historical significance.

If you have yet to read this book, pick it up. Let me give you a little background. Corrie and the rest of the Ten Boom family lived in Holland during the Holocaust. As the Jews began to be persecuted they sought out help from their peers. The Ten Boom family by helping Jews as they came seeking help one day woke up and realized their house was a base for the underground escape of the persecuted in Holland and Corrie, the leader. This book is written by Corrie telling the stories as the Holocaust begins, as she and her family end up in prison, and the goodness of God through it all.

The Ten Booms had incredible faith. I would compare it to the likes of the Patriarchs as you read the stories of their undying devotion to the Lord even through the worst persecution. For example, Mr. Ten Boom, Corrie's father, was old and unstable by the time he was taken into prison, the officer in charge of sending people to prison looked down at him and said, you are old, you don't want to die in prison, i'll send you back home to your own bed, if you just assure me you will not harbor any more fugitives or cause any problems. Mr. Ten boom replies "as long as anyone has a need comes and knocks on my door, I will help them." He was sent to prison and later died there. Mr. Ten Boom would not even tell a lie to save his life, yet we tell lies for sheer convenience.

I could tell hundreds of stories similar displaying the character of each member of the Ten Boom family and I have been greatly encouraged by them all, but the simple fact is I want you to see the faith, trust, and dependence that this family has on their God.

Now I will get to what I actually want to talk about. I was reading along in the book when one particular thing Corrie said, just hit me in the gut.
Corrie's sister in law had delivered her a package with several things in it and hidden inside were four individual little booklets of the gospels. Corrie split among her cell mates the different things her sister sent and then offered the gospels. None of the prisoners would take it. They told her anyone in the prison caught with Christian literature especially the Bible was given kalte kost! Kalte Kost was a punishment that consisted of eating nothing but a piece of bread while in prison. In response Corrie wrote this

"Even Kalte Kost would be a small price to pay, I thought, as I stretched out my aching body on the foul straw, for the precious books I held between my hands"

Corrie Ten Boom, yearned for the Word of God, she risked health and later life, to have the Word of God to read.

Corrie knew the necessity of the Word. She lived in a sort of hell on earth in a dark prison cell where she wasn't allowed to talk, move, eat, sleep, without consent of a guard. A place where there were no windows and she saw no sky, everything around her did not seem to be formed by an imaginative beautiful Creator, but rather a dark evil.

I live everyday enjoying the blessings of a good God and yet do I prize His words so highly? Did I give a value that is worth life on the book that God has written for me? How much is it worth to me? I just paid $80 for a bible and I'm not going to lie I sort of cringed at the thought of spending $80 on a Bible. Is the Word of God not worth more than money?

How much worth do I put on the book that God gave to me as assistance, truth, help, encouragement, conviction, He gave it to me so that I can have His life on this earth. What is it worth?

A few chapters later as the war is getting worse and worse, as the Holocaust is becoming more brutal and spreading not just to Jews, but to other ethnicity alike. Corrie and her sister are moved to another prison. They have to strip naked and walk in front of Nazi guards showing that they have no possessions and then they are to slide into a prison gown at the end. Corrie and her sister Betsie see no possible way to take the now small little Bible they had acquired after giving away the gospels with those that had found the Love of Jesus in prison with them. They were in a horrible situation again. Give up the Word or keep it and risk their lives. As they found out they had to give up their clothes and their Word Corrie says this

"Betsie needed her sweater! But most of all, we needed our Bible! How could we survive without it? But how can we get it past so many watchful eyes... Dear God, I prayed, You have given us this precious book, You have kept it hidden through checkpoints and inspections, You have used it in so many lives..."

Corrie was cut off by the thrusting of guards. I'll shorten the story and tell you that God provided a miracle. They found a way to get the Bible on the other side of the naked checkpoint and then shove it inside her thin prison gown before being caught. The Bible bulged out of her prison gown and there was still great risk that any officer could tell that was not her body form and corrie says

"And all the while I had this incredible feeling, the feeling that this was not my business, but God's, and all I had to do was walk straight ahead"

Later on many became converted because of the reading of the Word that Corrie and Betsie did every night in prison. Corrie risked her life to have what was a necessity in her life. The Word of God.

I can't put into words the value of the Word. The Word has promises for us, it has truth, it gives you the facts of the gospel, why you and I have the chance to go to heaven. It tells of Jesus, the way the truth and life, the only way to heaven. The Word will boost your faith and carry you on when the world is crashing down.
As Corrie read the word to those around her in the prison they grew a faith that knew whatever the Word said was truth. They found peace and hope.

"The blacker the night around us grew, the brighter and truer and more beautiful burned the Word of God. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?... Nay in all these things we were more than conquerors through Him that loved us. I would look about us as Betsie read watching the light leap from face to face. More than conquerors, it was not a wish. It was a fact. We knew it, we experienced it minute by minute- poor, hated, hungry. We were more than conquerors. Not we shall be, we are"

The Word of God is truth. It's the guidebook, it's faith, it's hope, it's love, it's the gospel, it's God, it's encouragement. The Word of God was invaluable to Corrie. It was either death by it or death without it.

How much worth do you put in the word? It is a monetary figure, is it convenience, it is life or death?
I'll say one thing I know, it'll be evident by the amount of time you spend in it. I doubt many would die for a book they pick up once a week. But for a book that gives you hope, for a book that encourages you on, a book that helps to change you into the image of Christ, a book that connects you with the beautiful creator, for that, well i'd bet most would be willing to give up almost anything for that, wouldn't they?

Some thoughts today,
As always be blessed,
J. Tate

I'm not a beggar, I'm a Daughter

2009-12-03T10:19:00.003-06:00

Isn't it exciting when God begins to teach you things and an hour, one day, or some relatively quick amount of time later you get this great opportunity to practice what you've learned. God uses life to teach us, to test our faith, to prevent greater disaster later in life, to make us more like Jesus, etc.
I learn so much from my friends as we experience life together and share in the journey of following Christ.

I was talking to my best friend that lives over in the Dallas area over a week ago now. She is attending grad school at UNT and was looking for a place to live in Denton. Most of you know Kayce and if you read my blog at all you've found out God uses her a lot in my life. She'll say one line in a story that will stick out to me, i'll write it down in my journal, and somehow I will need just that specific phrase in my journey. This happened sometime this past week.

Kayce was looking for a place to live in Denton as she prepares to move closer to her school. The whole story is a really awesome story of God's love and favor for His daughter, but I'm going to stick to the details that display what I want to talk about. As Kayce goes in to a garage apartment her realtor was sure she would love, she was, to say the least a little disappointed. It was nothing like what she wanted and didn't really fit kayce's adorable old fashioned little style. :) When she left she begin to talk to the Lord about it. She remembered something the Lord had been teaching her. I'm not a beggar. I'm a Daughter. She told God that she knew God's infinite resources and that she knew that He could give her something better. I LOVE WHAT SHE TOLD HIM! (her words summed up) "God it's not my favorite, I know that you have the ability to do better, I dont have to beg of You for more, but no matter what Your will, not mine, and if this is what you want for me, ok."

In most cases I'm not too much of a talker and I'm more of a listener, so as Kayce is telling me the story and I hear the words "i'm not a beggar I'm a daughter" I let her continue on with the story as I just wrote the words down, and made a mental note to pray through that a little later.

As I thought and prayed about it later, I realized how little I live into this concept. I "know" it. I've heard it similarly put 100 million times in church, but this is how we know there is a complete difference in head knowledge and heart wisdom. I'll simply throw a request up at the Lord and then continue to try and find my own way to meet my need, if I take the time to ask of the Father at all.

James 4:2 "You have not because you ask not"

I think about my own natural father. Though we've been through many rough things when I need something of him I simply go to him in confidence and ask. Many times when asking for money, I'll go up to him with my hand already out, laughing, as I say "daddy, money?" I know my dad. I know that my dad has money and I know that what he has, is also mine. I'm his daughter. Any need that my dad can meet for me, he will do. He'll never leave me stranded, he'd never say psshhh you've never helped me, he won't turn his back on me. My Daddy loves me. I'm his daughter.

Imagine as we take this to the scale of me and my Daddy, my Heavenly Father. Anything I could have need of my Daddy God can meet that need. His resources are limitless, His mercy never ending, His grace unfailing, His willingness and desire to show His love through me is in His innate character.
(I hope those of you that know me, know me well enough to know, that I am not talking about God giving you everything you "want". I'm not talking about this in areas of lust and greed or pride. I'm simply talking about the heart of our Father to fulfill all your needs)

Matthew 7:11 So if you who are evil know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who keep on asking him!

Here we see this again. The first thing we must note is He wants us to ask. It's all throughout matthew 7. I could quote the entire chapter here, if you don't know it, go read it. Ask and you shall receive... over and over again. God wants us to inquire of Him and Him alone. This is where I pinpointed my lack of faith.

I'm not a beggar, I'm a daughter. As I walk up to my earthly Father I don't say Dad I need $30 to get my oil changed, ok now I'm going to go scrounge around the house to see if I can find $30 or where is my debit card, so that I can go pay for it myself. I go to my Dad, I ask him, and I wait. I wait until Dad pulls his wallet out. As I ask of my Heavenly Father I do not wait upon Him with the same faith, the same confidence, the same trust. Ok God here is my prayer request, well you may or may not help me out so i better go see what I can do just in case You don't come through. It sounds laughable doesn't it? That I trust Randy Tate to provide for me more than I trust God? Perhaps, but I have to confess, that many times, it's true.

Soon after I was convicted and learned this lesson. I simply began to make more conscious decisions to pray specifically for my needs. I was already reading a book by Andrew Murray titled "Waiting on God", so I incorporated that in and began to wait to hear the voice of my Father before taking actions. Then the test came.

I had a situation come up that really challenged me. It confused me. It messed with the plans I thought the Lord had given me and there seemed to be no natural way of resolving the situation. After one round of tears, i sat up, and remembered. I'm not a beggar, I'm a daughter.

I don't come to the table crawling not making eye contact whispering self consciously my requests of my Father. I come BOLDLY to the throne room of GRACE, stating my needs, and asking of my DADDY GOD, who DESIRES to meet my needs. I got in my car went for a little drive and said Lord, here it is, this is what I'm feeling, this is what I need, I'm not going to panic, I'm not going to have a break down, I'm going to wait here until you fix this situation or You give me confirmation that this is your will. Not my will but Yours. I called a few close friends let them in on the situation to have them praying with me and within 3 hours half of the matter was resolved and by the end of the weekend all of it was.

My God knows my needs and He desires to meet them. He can and He will. If we ask, if we have faith, and if sometimes we'll take our hands off. I like this line from the Jason Upton song Teach me How to Pray:

Not my will or my plans or the way I want it I’m so tired of my hands in the way So reveal to these eyes the true heart of my Father, today
Lord teach me how to pray

Kayce and I talked again and she told me some things the Lord was teaching her about not being a beggar. After the garage apartment she didn't like (amazing story details not mentioned) she got a little cottage that she LOVED. She told me how the enemy tried to attack her throughout the process. Different thoughts of you're never going to get any better than this so just settle for it, or you don't deserve this, but she said something very wise at the end
"I realized the enemy didn't care what I believed, as long as I never realized that I'm a daughter"

How true that statement is. We bounce from one side to the other, I don't deserve this, I guess I should settle for this, God won't help me with this because i've done this and this, ... We could wall paper the walls of the white house in 8pt font with the lies the enemy tries to sell us. The one thing he wants to make sure you don't realize is YOU ARE A DAUGHTER. or for you men it applies as well, YOU ARE A SON! Jesus Christ tempted and tried, spotless, blameless, sinless, died a horrific death, displayed on a cross for all to shame and humiliate him, with pain beyond my imagination, blood poured out, so that WE, could be fellow heirs. Sons and Daughters of the most High. The true Son, crucified, for YOU, so that you can be called daughter or son. Live into what Jesus paid for. He paid for your ability to pray, to go to heaven, to live as a child of the Most High.

I'm not a Beggar, I'm a Daughter.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

The POWER in YOU!

2009-11-05T16:45:00.003-06:00

I've been in a reading mode lately. On top of my Bible reading I've read 1-2 books a week over the past couple of months. I've read many classics, some novels, and from authors of many different views of theology. I've read 2 Andrew Murray, 2 Smith Wigglesworth, Maria W. Etter, Charles Spurgeon, A.W. Tozer, Brother Lawerence, Joyce Meyer, and of course my novels. For each book I've read, i've learned more and more about who I am in Christ. Who God says I can be, and what I can do with Him.

I wrote my last blog titled "Are you possessing" about the Lord giving me some revelation on Christians going in and POSSESSING the land. Conquering! These last few months have been an interesting new territory for me with my walk with the Lord.
Today the Lord asked me to call someone and repent for a mistake i made four years ago!!! Talk about an humbling experience, but as I spent time in my prayer closet the Lord spoke to me something that I just HAVE TO SHARE! The Lord said You have to repent, because i'm trying to make you like my Son, I'm trying to teach you. I have spent these last few months teaching YOU how to have POWER on this earth.

I have no problem admitting that this is where a little pride came in. God are you kidding me? I know how to have POWER in the kingdom of God. Just in the last year I've seen people healed, saved, miracles happen, i've had them happen to me, You've used me to do them, I went to another country to share the gospel. I've seen prayers immediately answered and prayers answered in Your perfect timing. God, I have no doubt that I have power!!!

The Lord spoke in His gentle, firm, way, "You have only seen the tip of my power, a tip of the power that I am willing to use through YOU!". The reason I'm writing this blog is because i'm a firm believer in, if He'll do it in me, He'll do it in you, If He'll do it through me, He'll do it THROUGH YOU!

Smith Wigglesworth said in one of his books (my paraphrase) "I believe we'll all be surprised one day when we get to heaven and realize that the Paul, Peter, David, they were all just people, like you and me". I was greatly encouraged and inspired when i read this. I was humbled. You mean the same Peter that people tried to get his shadow to touch them so they could be healed? The same Paul that it says in Acts 19 that when his handkerchiefs and apron touched the sick they were healed? The same David that cried out in psalms 27:4 One thing I desire to dwell in the courts of the Lord and behold His beauty ever more. The same David that Acts says is a man after God's own heart. You're saying they were just people!!?! Well, they were.

Today at work a man came up to me to ask a question, around his neck he wore a crucifix and I felt the spirit speak to me, do you know how much power you have because Jesus isn't on that cross anymore? wheww.. i wanted to leave work and go get on my knees!!

I've looked back over these past 4 years of college and I think I along with my friends in Lubbock, friends in Liberty, Youth at cstone, EG church, would say we have seen God's power. Salvations, healings, repentance, confession,demons casted out, realness. As I'm sure anyone reading this could say. They have seen God's power. And I thought to what the Lord said to me. I over these last few months have been teaching YOU how to have power. So what are a couple of the things I have learned. There is no way I could go through all the lessons i've been taught, miracles I've seen, or revelations I've been given this semester, so i'm going to sum it up.

First I've learned: It's not about me. It's all about Him. He chooses ME! He chooses to use me, to display His power in me, for HIS GLORY!

Next: If I see that it's not about me, I've seen God use me, then I have to know that God can and wants to give ME, POWER, for His glory and His use.

Then: I need to be real. If i mess up, fess up to God and to others. Pray and be honest with God. Ask for things you need, ask to be used. Don't hesitate to be real, vulnerable, humble, REAL.
I need to be available. Listen to the Spirit. He's speaking. He wants to use you, are you listening? Don't think of God's work as an inconvenience, no matter how small.
I need to do battle. The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. He wants to destroy what God is doing in you, what God wants to do through you, and YOU in general. Pray, rebuke, intercede, read your word, IT'S YOUR SWORD!! For every great breakthrough and seed from the Lord, comes a desperate attempt of the enemy to steal it (yes yes i know i say this all the time, it's not a new one)!
I need to not believe the lies. This is part of doing battle. Guard your mind (Romans 12:2) The enemy will try to feed you lies, but God speaks truth. He says who you are in Him, what you can do with Him, He's not condemning. God will discipline His children, not condemn them.

There are many more obviously, but the greatest is that. I can be who God says I can be, I can do what He says I can do. If He says I'm a conqueror, I believe Him. If He says I can do all things through Christ, I believe Him. I see all through the Bible God using ordinary people like you and me to advance His kingdom.

It's time for us to step up and realize that God's power is in us, to advance His Kingdom. He wants to use us!! All it takes is loving God and loving others. Recognizing who you are in Christ! I have so much more I wanted to write, but sadly no more time to write it!!!

Be Blessed,
J. Tate

We need to realize that the promises that overflow our Bibles will overflow into our own lives only as we appropriate them through prayer. ~Jim Cymbala

Are you possessing?

2009-10-27T09:03:00.002-05:00

I was at work the other day reading in Genesis. I read Genesis 15:7 as the Spirit quickened in me to stop and meditate on this scripture.

v7 And He said to him, "I am the LORD who brought you out of Ur of the Chaldeans, to give you this land to possess it.

With my new handy Bible I looked up the Hebrew which in the context of this verse the word possess means to consume and conquer!
I sort of dropped it there until it came back up in my prayer time today. I began to look up more scriptures that dealt with possessing. Not surprising there were tons in Deuteronomy as the Lord instructs the Israelite people to possess the land promised them.

Deuteronomy 1:8 See I have placed the land before you; go in and POSSESS the land which the Lord swore to give to your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to them and their descendants after them.

This is when the Spirit really began to speak to me about possessing. Notice this part: "go in and possess". See going in to the land wasn't fulfilling the instructions. They were to go in AND possess. We have gotten into a tendency as the Israelites did of thinking that going in IS possessing!!

How many times did God show the Isralites that He prepared a way for them, yet in their stubbornness they questioned God and in fear never took the land that He had for them.

I got interested and began reading over and over the exodus story and also Deuteronomy, where we see the same plot. God has this great land for them to not only live in, but to POSSESS. To rule to reign, without fear, without lack, having every need met by Father God, but they were scared, rebellious, a fearful people lacking trust and faith in the God who had already brought them out of slavery and prepared for them freedom.

The more I read the more frustrated I became. Stupid people, how many times does He have to lay it out for you! He wants you to live in this Promised Land. Stop wandering around slandering, rebelling, living in fear and doubt, and GO POSSESS THE LAND!! In Deuteronomy just the subtitles in my Bible are frustrating: Conquests recounted (God slaughters for them) Israelites urged to obey God (WHAT?) Promises of God, God's gracious dealings, Israel provokes God, Rewards of Obedience!! Yeesh. You don't even have to read the verses to get that God did work on their behalf, they mess up, He shows them grace, They mess up, He urges them to obey, They mess up, He forgives them then rewards them, etc. etc. etc. Then...

I was reminded. This is my story too. I believe in the promises of God given to each and every believer and I believe in the individual promises for each believer's purpose.

I have a calling and a purpose. That purpose is my land that i'm not just supposed to dabble in or live in, but supposed to possess! To conquer! I find in myself the very same "settle" stubborn mentality that brain washed the Israelite people. And what I see rapid in the body of Christ today is the enemy's deceptive tactics trying to convince us that we aren't meant to possess we should just be happy with dwelling in the land.

I have a friend here at Tech that everytime you say something she doesn't want to do or disagree with she just replies with "bump that". It always makes me laugh as we say something like "let's go work out" and the simple reply we all know is coming "bump that". I know you're wondering what this has to do w/ anything i've been talking about, but as I really begin to think upon this deception and lie from the enemy, the words that rise in my heart are "BUMP THAT!". We don't need to listen to no stinking liar telling us what is complete opposite of scripture.

God said go IN the land and POSSESS it. Stop settling with making it to the door of your dreams, to the door of victory, i'm not going to stand at the door. I'm going to go in and when i get there, I'm going to possess. The Word says we're more than conquerors through Jesus! So why aren't we conquering?

Begin to inquire of the Lord, WHERE IS MY LAND? HELP ME POSSESS IT!
Abraham had no problem being frank with the Lord.

v8 And he said, "O Lord God, how may I know that I shall possess it?"

We each have areas of our lives, visions, purpose, that we should be POSSESSING, CONQUERING, but for too long have believed the lies that we should just be glad we've made it this far, i should just sit here because obviously this is as far as God wants me to go. I don't know about you, but to me it just doesn't sound like victory, possession, and conquering.

You all know how much I like examples. The place I need to most apply this to is our youth group (Encounter God). We were called to go into a land of West Lubbock and I believe God handed that over to my pastors, the leaders of EG ministries, He's handing that over to me as a youth minister and to our youth workers. A land that we're not just given to go sit and dwell, with the awesome new building He provided, the Bibles, the new sound system, etc. We're to go in AND POSSESS it. To claim that ground to no longer be the rejected, hard knocks, area anymore, but the area on fire for Jesus, where revival begins and spreads to the city. As the drug dealers, prostitutes, etc. that reign over there where come to their knees in repentance. I don't want to settle with being happy that our students aren't getting shot. If possession is what is open to us, we're going to possess. And as the word says, not because of our righteousness, not because of our doings, not because we can do it, but because of God's mercy, because of His grace, and because He's already prepared the way, we just have to follow.

Find what needs possessing in your life.
Be blessed,
J. Tate

Oh so Blessed!

2009-10-09T08:07:00.002-05:00

Lately I have been learning about gratefulness. So many people my age (I don't exclude myself) struggle with being appreciative. We have selfish attitudes that somehow convince us that we are owed what is given to us. This is a tactic from the enemy to rob God's children of many breakthroughs and blessings. There is so much power in praise, appreciation, and open gratitude towards God.

Over the past few weeks I've been in constant state of gratefulness as the Lord is teaching me more and more about appreciation. I'll be driving down the road and burst into tears as a realization of another area in which God has protected me, blessed me, saved me, changed me, freed me, etc. I'm not sure where along the road, but at some point we can become used to the Lord's blessings, favor, and grace and mercy He has shown, will show, and does show day to day.

Yesterday as most of you know was my birthday. Take this next paragraph, as I discuss what I think, however you would like, but I believe that God was giving me birthday presents over the last couple of days. First off, I don't think it's coincidence that 24/7 prayer began in October, my birthday month, and something that I have passionately prayed for and desired for this campus. Then on Wednesday night my youth discussed and asked questions for over 45 minutes about Jesus, salvation, the cross, etc. This was possibly the best birthday present ever that only God could give. When you put so much time and work and love into a group of kids that need to know the love of Jesus so desperately nothing compares to listening to them earnestly desire to know more about Him. Afterwards my friends threw me another surprise part, FOUR YEARS of college and FOUR SURPRISE PARTIES, i am so blessed with Godly friends who care for me and show me love on a daily basis!! I had gotten off all of my shifts at work except for my 6 a.m. shift on thursday. As I arrived at work promptly at 540 a.m. i was told that work double booked the shift and I COULD GO HOME!!! I woke up around 9a.m. with some doughnuts and a kolache awaiting me on the table beside me that my roommate had bought for me. Then on top of that my professor called a little later saying happy birthday have a good fall break, dont' come to class!!! I was able to schedule an earlier flight AT NO EXTRA CHARGE and arrived in houston last night, which means i get a full day w/ my mom today instead of half a day. These are just a few of the many ways I felt blessed over the last few days, but I saw God move on my behalf and make my birthday everything i could have wanted.

I'm home until tuesday and have a splendid weekend planned and I am so so so excited. I haven't been home in two months and it feels so great to drive down the road of little ole' liberty texas. I get to play in an exes game today, probably get a liberty sno-cone, my dad is taking off work and coming to see me, i'll get to spend time w/ my family and the rossow family, see my church family and friends. Such a great relaxing vacation for me.

Beyond just these topical daily things where I see the Lord just loving on me, there is so much around us to be grateful for EVERYDAY. Salvation, freedom, the cross, resurrection, prayer, intimacy with the Lord, protection, mercy, grace, life, breath, health, wealth, etc. the list could go on and on and on. Be thankful, never stop being vocally thankful.

Be blessed,
J. Tate

the future... sagu

2009-09-28T11:12:00.004-05:00

Today is one of the busiest days I've had in a LONG TIME! but I got out of my ten o' clock class rather early and have a few minutes to spare, so I'm sitting in the computer lab of human sciences waiting until I have to go proctor an exam for professor and began reflecting on the weekend. For those who dont know I took the weekend off of work and went to the dallas area. Taylor and macy came along and while there we met up with kayce, maegan, and randi. I had a blast and I had a lot of chance to really think about things. I walked on the SAGU campus with macy, taylor, and maegan and so much reality hit me. We were walking through the school because macy is also considering going there! As I walked down the hallway for harrison graduate studies towards the door of the head of the dept. of counseling psychology i passed the door for the southwestern mission association. As I passed that door, the peace of God filled me. It was a similar scene to four years ago as I took a step onto the campus of Texas tech. There was no longer any doubt of where I would be, not UT or baylor as i had thought, but on to Texas Tech where I have spent the last 3 1/2 years. To be honest I have struggled in the last month with this. I turn 22 years old in a week and a half. I'm graduating college with a bachelors in three months. Over the past year or so if you were to talk to me I would tell you i couldn't wait to graduate and move on, but in this last semester so much has come together. Becoming involved leading the youth for Encounter God ministries. Finally feeling at home in a church in lubbock with the plant of Encounter God church. Finding a job I love. Really being happy with where God has me and seeing fruit from the past three years of toil. Seeing answers like 24/7 prayer etc. It all has made me wonder if I should do school online and stay here. When I walked into that hallway on saturday, i knew where I would be in January. I found it fun to think about. As I will be moving in january and be tons closer to most of the people that mean the world to me. I'll no longer be 9 1/2 hours away from my parents, Cornerstone church family, lisa and gary rossow, sarah and her husband, coach stroud, and those who have made a huge difference in my life. I'll no longer be 7 hours from maegan, my best friend, and her little brother. I'll no longer be 5 hours away from my grandma jo (i'll be right around the corner!!!) or the williams' family! I'll be moving closer to all the people who have meant so much to me in my past, but also moving away from the community, mentors, friends, students, i've met and fell in love with here. Macy, Taylor, Katy, and many others are considering moving to dallas in may! I can't help but wonder what these next few years as a SAGU student will bring. An education obviously, hopefully new ministry opportunities, maybe some more missions work!, who knows maybe a husband?!? Whatever it brings... after this weekend I am at peace and have faith in where I'm going. I'll graduate with a counseling degree. Who knows if I'll go into counseling, go into the ministry, marry into the ministry, go off for missions... all of these seem possible right now and i'd be content with any of them. The future is bright and I am excited.
Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Praises and Prayer Requests from Encounter God.

2009-09-17T20:23:00.004-05:00

Today we had our first Encounter God staff meeting since the first Sunday a month ago. I cannot even begin to express the thankfulness of our staff for the way God is moving in this church and the ministry.
To update those who have not heard. Encounter God Ministries is a ministry that was going on way before I came around and got involved, but where my story began is last year after an internship with Lubbock International House of Prayer I was able to take a track that led to working with families in a trailer park, I found this to be Encounter God Ministries! I soon grew very close to many of the young adolescents in this area of Lubbock. The Lord began leading me to fade myself out of several other organizations and devote my time to Encounter God Ministries. While I was in Rwanda I couldn't sleep one night as I felt a heaviness. I knew the answer the next day. I was going to be trying to get an internship at another ministry and the Lord wanted me to clear my schedule for this ministry. Much to my astonishment I found out through email that not only was God putting this on my heart, but on the other side of the world in Lubbock Texas God had given our leaders a building for this ministry and put vision in two men's hearts to expand this ministry to a church!!
Upon returning to Lubbock and meeting with them I was asked to take on the youth for this new church and combine our old ministry with this youth program.
We're a month in to Encounter God Church and I'll just be real honest, I've felt God's presence in those Sunday morning service so strong and in ways I never have in my ENTIRE LIFE.
These people come from rough backgrounds, hard lives, many of them are in tough spots, but when they come to church they are real, they find real community, with time for worship, prayer, confession, teaching. And God is there. I can't put into words to explain the presence that is there.
We've seen God not only move on Sunday mornings, but amongst our youth group. I have some great adult leaders helping out. God gave us vision and we're running with it. Right now we're going through some curriculum I felt the Lord put on my heart to write and we're doing small groups. We've seen great improvement and breakthrough.
I cannot in one blog count the amount of prayers that have been answered in our congregation, in our youth, and our staff. Thing after thing after thing. Right now we have someone considering donating a van something our ministry is in big time need of to be able to pick up kids and take kids home that don't have reliable transportation.
We've seen lives changed as people accept the Lord. As people begin to be open with their needs and struggles. We've got a building, with air conditioning, some games for our youth, and so much more.
Some current prayer needs:
Join us in praying that God give us favor with getting a van.
Pray that we'll be able to get a sound system. We had just gotten one and then it was stolen.
Pray for the hearts of our congreation, staff, youth, and all involved.
Our children's ministry is in need of more leaders!! Not necessarily a bad problem to have as they are continuing to grow through a program we do called kids cafe'. The kids come and eat a free meal. Then stick around after kids cafe is over for children's ministry night on tuesday and get some Word put in them!
Encounter God is non-profit that ministers to many lower income families and children. Therefore we're normally grabbing with one hand and giving with the other before the money, food, clothing, materials, every get sat down. So please ask that God would continue to pour out on our ministry as we strive to meet the needs of the local community.
We are in partnership with mission Lubbock that is open two days a week providing almost any need you can think of for the surrounding neighborhoods and trailer parks. They we're running low on food this week, we voiced the need, and God showed up nearly $2500 was donated to go towards buying more food for their food pantry. Keep mission lubbock in your prayers as they will meet the needs of nearly 20,000 people this year!!!
As many of you have already seen on my fbook page we're selling two designs of t-shirts for our ministry for $12. If you're interested in them shoot me an email!
Thanks so much for your love and support.
Blessings,
J. Tate

The frustrations...

2009-09-16T10:08:00.002-05:00

Today like any other wed. morning I arose to my alarm blaring at 5 a.m. calling me to get ready for work. The normal routine grab my clothes from the bedside next to me, my toothbrush, hairbrush and go to the other girls bathroom so i dont wake katy up. Normally after all of this i sit down for a devotional but today i sat on the couch and fell asleep for another 10 minutes. It's 5:30 and time for me to leave I grab my vitamins, my breakfast shake, bottle of water, purse, workout back, backpact, etc. (you get the point) I jump in my car and hit the key in the ignition and .... it won't start. Great. Well, actually i'd love to say this isn't a normal occurrence for me, but it is. I've had this car 4 years and never had a single problem with it. The problem is with me. See I hate stopping to get gas, so I normally wait until my tank is pretty low before I actually stop and fill it up. Yesterday I was running up to mission lubbock delivering some cans when the light went off and i thought i'll get gas on the way back home, which i didn't end up doing. I didn't have to use my car again until this morning, so I didn't think about it. So it's 5:30 i have to be at work in 10 minutes and there is no way i'll be on time, so i call in. I tell my shift manager that my car won't start i wont be able to make it! So, i come back in, lay back down told myself i'll get up at 8 go get gas and be at class at 9. I wake up at 8:30!!! I decide to still try to make it to class i run into our shed, grab the gas can, run to my car, pour it in, grab all my stuff, jump in the car stick the key in the ignition and..... NOTHING!!! ok, ok. I am a TA for the 9 o'clock class and the professor loves me. She's an amazing christian woman who advises me all the time on how to handle situations with youth, friends, family, my life, etc. I call her cell phone and tell her what happend she laughs at me, makes fun of me, and then tells me not to even worry about coming to class!!! sheww... ok. I come back inside. Think to myself, wow jessika, all of this chaos have you spent any time with the Lord? umm, no. So what do i read in Oswald Chambers today. It's all about having that time with the Lord. I loved this little piece "Get an inner chamber in which to pray where no one knows you are praying, shut the door and talk to God in secret. Have no other motive than to know your Father in heaven. It is impossible to conduct your life as a disciple without definite times of secret prayer" ~oswald chambers.
So I spend a few minutes with the Lord. Wisen up a tad and decide even though my next class isn't for at least and hour, let's get this gas thing figured out now. I get my roommates car, go to the gas station, get out, begin to pull out the gas nozel! Great i brought the wrong purse, the one without my wallet in it, because i'd switched purses last night for a banquet. Ok no big deal, i'm calm, the Lord had given me peace. I'll go back to the house and try this again! I go, i get the right purse, check to make sure it has the debit card, head back to the gas station. Get out and instinctively begin, FILLING UP MY ROOMMATES CAR!!! well about 8 dollars in i realize this! Ok, well hope that's a blessing to her today for letting me borrow her car. I fill up the gas can. Drive back home and begin filling up my car. The whole 2-3 gallons that our gas can is.
Alright I still have 40 or so minutes before I have to leave for class, so I come inside. Talk to my roommate some, read a little, browse around on fbook some, and talk to a couple of people on the horrible fbook chat, while pondering to myself what i should blog about today. Then, i go outside, get everything piled up in the car AGAIN. Stick the key in the ignition............ NOTHING!!!! ok about this time, my patience is getting thin. I find myself to be a pretty patient person. I'm not rash, i dont stress very easily, i'm very much a go with the flow type gal! But now this three times and my car not starting. On top of the CRUD i had to deal with on monday. Yesterday was my sabbath and it was supposed to make EVERYTHING BETTER. haha. hokay so. My car is not working. This is not the way this day was supposed to go! I'm supposed to go to campus, go to work, go to class, meet with my advisor because she found a way i could still graduate in december, go to free lunch at the wesley and fellowship with friends, come home finish up everything for youth, spend some time in prayer for tonights youth lesson, drive to go pick up a friend who is coming to youth with me tonight, drive out to pick up two of our youth, do youth, drive back on campus for a work meeting!!! Have you noticed all the driving yet? So about when all this hit me, is about the time, i got frustrated.
Then i came and i sat on the couch. I said Lord, I don't get it. I just don't get it. I'm stepping up to do battle. Don't you remember what I said on Sunday, shouldn't you be helping me MORE NOW!!
Then the gentle voice of my Father, the peace that calms my soul. "My ways are higher than your ways, my thoughts are higher than your thoughts."
Of course God i know that scripture, everyone does, Isaiah 55:9. I sat and thought and realized. Today I was inconvenienced, but noone was hurt. My professor got a good laugh, I'll have to email my other prof to get the notes, I'll get a ride to campus to talk to my advisor. I'll call some of the other adult youth leaders to pick up the students. I'll borrow a roommates car for youth. The things I felt so IMPORTANT. The thing so needed, my reliance on my car, and my ability to do the things I need to do, suddenly now sounds like stupidity and pride. God is my provider, He knows what i need, and if my car ain't workin' it means i dont need it. I have friends, helpers, Christian brothers and sisters, who are here to help when I need it and I have a God who is way bigger than a car not starting. I'm not sure why my car isn't working today, I can't tell you when it'll be fixed and it'll work again, but I know my God's ways are higher than mine, His thoughts are higher than mine.
It's good to be a child of God. It's good to know that no matter what goes wrong in this life, He is good, He loves me, He provides for me, He'll take care of me.
Blessings,
J. Tate

Encouragement from Acts

2009-09-14T12:18:00.002-05:00

Well, wasn't it just yesterday that i wrote a blog saying I was not going to be blind to the schemes of the enemy? Wasn't it yesterday morning and throughout the day that I prayed against the enemy and decided it was time to step up and be in the game. I believe my words were heard.
Today brought many new challenges, hard news, disappointment, and some struggle. Among one of the many trials was my adviser letting me know that there has been a mistake and i was told i could sign up for an online class that indeed, i cannot. This I am afraid is on the minuscule side of some of the other problems that are to be faced in my future.
Last night I spent some time on my couch reading Smith Wigglesworth. I recently picked up his book titled spirit filled living. As I was reading he was telling the story of Stephen. Stephen was chosen to serve tables, but ended up doing SO MUCH MORE. Stephen saw many people come to the Lord and saw great miracles performed through him. Even to his death Stephen remained faithful as he was being stoned and the bible says he cried out on behalf of his killers asking that God would forgive them. Sounds much like Jesus doesn't it? Then the bible says stephen fell asleep. Stephen chosen for such a menial task was full of the spirit and faithful and God used him to do things that noone would have imagined. Stephen's face shone like an angel at one point (acts 6:15), in acts 6:9 it says those listening weren't able to resist the wisdom and spirit by which he spoke, many times it says he was "full of the Holy Spirit". A message that he spoke says that it "cut to the heart" of the people a phrase which is only said twice in the bible, he was also the first martyr. All of these things from a man who was chosen to serve tables?
I draw encouragement from this. That this life is not about me choosing the things I want to do, it's simply being faithful in the things I'm called to do and allowing God to take it from there. I'll dream big, expect big, and think big... And just follow as the Lord leads whether it's as simple as going to the soup kitchen and serving the homeless once a week, giving an encouraging word, writing an encouraging note, or something bigger.
I am also reading/ rereading... battlefield of the mind by joyce meyer. i have been mulling over this book for several months now. I read a chapter this morning where she is discussing "wilderness mentalities" basically thought process that keep us wandering. She said many are called but few are chosen, many have a wishbone, but no backbone. Here we are, i'm leading this youth group and i have great vision, a great wishbone of the things i believe God wants to accomplish in these kids and through these kids. Having the backbone to go through with it is harder. Putting in the time for the late night calls, the house visits, the prayer, study, counseling... Any great breakthrough is followed with many people putting in the time and effort God has called them to put in. But we're lazy. We want to see God show up and show out with no effort out of us. We don't want to spend the time in prayer, we don't want to fast, we don't want to take time out of our day to do anything really. Our church and our youth ministry has began to see MAJOR breakthrough and it's because we have a pastor, a worship leader, a youth minister, youth leaders that put the effort next to the vision. Daily time praying for our ministry and the people involved, thoughts and scriptures geared toward it, planning, ideas for improvement, seeking God's face, fasting etc.... The Bible speaks against laziness and yet we still seem to want something for nothing. Such a horrible mentality. Let's get up. Put trust and faith in the God who has given you vision! Step out there. It may not be easy, but it'll be worth it.

I want breakthrough. I want growth. For me, for my family, for my youth group, for cornerstone youth, for the churches, for my friends, for texas tech and SAGU. I want to see new levels of intimacy with God, new levels of wisdom and knowledge, new levels of faith, more miracles, more of all that God says we'll see. I want His best, His plan, His vision. So let's step up and be who we were called to be and not hinder the work God WANTS to do in us and through us.
Blessings,
J. Tate

It clicked and my eyes are open

2009-09-13T14:07:00.002-05:00

I was at Eg church this morning as I am every sunday morning. Every week I look greatly forward to this meeting at 11 a.m. Today was the starting of the second month of Encounter God church. We grow each week with now numbers nearing 100, but more than numbers we grow more real with each other each week. See this isn't your typical church you don't come in dressed nice, sing some songs, listen to a message, and leave. No no, that would not suffice for us. We come in casual, me often in jeans and a tee, open, vulnerable, and ready to let God impact us. We spend time fellow shipping and then sing a song or two. In the middle we open for prayer requests, not on a card turned in to be prayed about later, you stand up and you state your needs right there in front of the entire body. Then immediately you're prayed for. Also, during this time we give praises we stand up and you should unto God for the answered prayers. Today we spend around 30 minutes simply praising God and requesting of God on behalf of our fellow family members the praises and the needs of our body. During this time every week is when often i am brought to tears by the presence of God and the realness of His people. There is no room for a mask, or fake joy and happiness in this church. As we heard testimony of thing after thing God has done and prayer requests He's answered I was in awe. Then it took a little bit of a different turn. People began to stand up and tell of the attacks they've been having. One after one were attack after attack. And several said it started not long after coming to this church. Including a few of our staff. Then a man stood up who is and adult leader in our youth group. He told how it clicked to him and his wife the other day of the great things God is doing in and through our church and how their attacks began as they started being involved with our church. Might I add they are both amazing working with our youth. He said that they know who has one the battle and so they are just asking now for the Lord to reveal to them the plans of the enemy as they continue to battle and walk strongly for the Lord.
At that moment something clicked in me. I sat down and reviewed a second. I have been battling things i dont normally battle lately, i've dealt with some things that have been pretty tough, i've had a hard time finding that normal day to day joy also, i began to think on these things and pray. I realized I'd been in that battle too, i just haven't been fighting in it. Instead i've been sitting on the sidelines acting like it wasn't even happening. What a dreadfully ridiculous place to be!!
I got some confirmation from the Lord about several areas I have been attacked in and instead of getting up interceding, fighting, claiming, rebuking, and being the fighter, follower of Christ, woman of God I know to be, i have sat back and written things off as just life. I think their are many things that the enemy stills from us that we don't even acknowledge as an attack, we don't acknowledge the fact that their is an enemy that is out to steal, kill, and destroy... and yet his fate is determined, he loses. Christ wins, therefore we win. Anyone would fight in a battle they know they'd win. So time for me to gear up again with Ephesians 6 and step back into the battle.
I often get so caught up and living. Doing the day to day, making my life routine (i really really like routines and schedules) I get so caught up in that. In knowing how to respond to this or to that and to living life the way I live it, that i forget so much. I forget that I need to not be consumed with the enemy but at least be aware of him. Open my eyes and see with spiritual eyes the things that are going on around me and do battle where battle needs to be done, rebuke what needs to be rebuked.
God is doing something with Encounter God church. I feel the spirit there every sunday in ways i've never felt him before. There is a realness that i realize was missing in my life. There is change happening in the people. God is captivating hearts and changing lives. It's real community. With the majority of our time at church spent praying... what did God say His house would be??? A house of prayer our pastor said it this morning... we'll never regret one service that he doesn't get the chance to give his message if it's because we're spending all our time praising God with praises and seeking Him in prayer.
I love this church and i'm so thankful for that body. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to work with these youth. To watch God move in their lives as He moves in mine. Grows them as He grows me. He's definitely stretching me, but I know He's preparing me for more ministry in the future.
Blessings,
J. Tate

The Response

2009-09-12T09:17:00.002-05:00

There have been so many things as I have come to Tech that I began to have a heart for. There are few things that over the years I have become extremely passionate about.
As my time draws to a near in Lubbock and on the beautiful Texas Tech campus, it's hard not to reflect and examine the past 3 1/2 years. I look at things I wish i could have done, things I wish i would have done, things I should have done differently, things I'm glad I did. Over the past month I've been doing some self examination of myself. Making note of qualities in myself that I like, qualities that I want to change, and qualities that need to change. Asking myself the question am I who I want to be? Am I the friend I want to be? Am I the woman of God I want to be? Am I the daughter and sister I want to be? Am I the woman I want to be when I meet my husband? Is this where I want to be right now?
Upon reflection I found many things that I really wanted to see come unto completion before I left. Since then I've seen 2 or three of those take great leaps and bounds Among those things was 24/7 prayer on the campus of tech. 2 years ago I went to the kc house of prayer and was captivated. During a session on college campus prayer led by Lou Engle I had a burning in my spirit to see this at Texas tech. I ended up interning and jointing staff at the lubbock international house of prayer. Thanks to many other people Foundation had a Campus House of Prayer and following the Wesley Foundation did as well. We began to see little pieces of our vision. Along with many others I/we have been praying for 2 years to see this come to pass. There have been many times that there has been a great movement of prayer that then begins to fizzle out or a great move to get this done and then something falls through. And here we are and right before I leave as i've been reflecting on the things I'd like to see done before i leave and God answers the cry of my heart. 24 hours 7 days a week prayer on the campus of Texas Tech. The tears flow just thinking about it. How God places a passion in our heart and then is faithful to work it through to completion and I am just blessed to have the opportunity to see it, when many times we dont get to see the fruits of our labor. So to all of you (there are many) that have been praying, fasting, seeking, with me for the past few years for this cause. Rejoice. Praise. It's here.
Blessings as always,
J. Tate

9-11-09

2009-09-11T11:09:00.002-05:00

I remember exactly the moment I found out about the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. I remember the patriotism that swept our nation after that day. I remember crying and still crying every time I hear "Proud to be an American" by Lee Greenwood. I have always been very patriotic. My family is definitely avidly in political things. Especially my grandmother who is more than involved in the Dallas political arena, my admiration for my grandmother since I was young caused me to grow up wanting to be like her and therefore birthed my passion for this nation and it's causes.
After 9-11 happened I would often find myself considering what it would be like to be one of the people during the attacks, a family member, a bystander, a fireman, etc. (I guess this just comes from part of my empathetic personality, i'm often "putting myself in someone else's shoes") We had an assignment from our Social Studies teacher after 9-11 to write some form of paper on the attacks. It could either be historical with actual facts and statistics or it could be historical fiction. I chose the fiction and wrote a paper as if my brother had died in the attacks. I remember writing it and crying as I thought about the families involved. I was asked to read the paper in front of the entire school and excitedly did so.
You drove down the road full of American flags and patriotic signs. There was a unified spirit that was present in the midst. America hurt for it's people. It's like for a short period of time, we stopped thinking all about ourselves and our gain and we cared for our wounded. We beamed with pride for our nation. We joined together and prayed realizing once again that this nation needs God.
So where are we now? It has been 8 years. I'm still bursting with pride for my nation. As there are two banners that I will always pledge loyalty too. The first being the cross of Jesus Christ far above anything else in my life and the second being the American flag. But, I turn on Fox news, CNN, CBS, any news station regardless of political affiliation and I see debate and disagreement more than unity. Bashing more than understanding. Honestly I see a lack of true patriotism.
I don't care what you're political beliefs are, but maybe it's time to reflect. Remember how you felt when 9-11 happened. Remember what mattered most then. Be thankful for the men and women that went to war on your behalf after our country was attacked, whether you agree with it or not.
On a day like this.... I'm reflective. I'm thankful. I'm patriotic. I'm mourning. I'm rejoicing. But mostly I'm praying.
What do you think about on this day? What do you feel?
Blessings as always,
J. Tate

The ultimate update

2009-09-03T17:58:00.004-05:00

It's finally time for an update! I think it would take too much space to put into words the last two weeks of my life, so i'll do my best to condense and only share what's really been on my heart!
First and foremost my thoughts, time, stress, and joy have flowed from Encounter God Ministries. I've struggled with this group in many different ways. First off week one of EG youth went great from the outside, but on the inside I knew it wasn't what God wanted it to be. As I sought Him on answers I got a response, "You're trying to make them look like a typical youth group, I want you to work to make each of them look like me!" This left me with several changes to be made!!! For one God had made it about individuals not a group. So we've begun to focus on each youth individually and more specifically meeting their needs, and reaching them where they are. We're going to implement small groups and one on one time, into youth. Also the obvious asking the Lord to reveal new ideas to me and my leaders for this not "typical" youth gropu! I don't even know what that would look like. I know church. I could set up typical church youth anyday (I'm not undermining the hard work that youth ministers and youth workers everyday! it is def. a tough calling!!) Have dynamic worship, an enthusiastic speaker, take up offering, have some fellowship time, of course plan fun activities, mission work, youth damp during the summer, and possibly a fall retreat! But, what does a not typical youth gropu look like? I've always felt called to the church. I've spoken in different churches, youth groups, Christian sororities, camps, retreats, I've spoken to the church crowd, but what about these. The more I work with tehse kids, these families, the more I realize I'm where I need to be and the more I see my primary responsibility is to love these unloved! Battling drugs, poverty, broken and rough homes. I can't help but wonder how the ministers of our day would minister. Joel Osteen's 7 steps to your best life now? Try and explain that to one of my kids, how about the ones who deal drugs so they can eat, or their parents are in jail? I can't walk into that youth building and teach the type of messages I've taught in the other churches or otehr Christian environments! For one the youth at cornerstone would listen to me preach for 45 minutes, these will barely listen for ten. So a new dynamic it is. It's like being on the mission field everyday. In fact many times as I go to pick a child up I am reminded of street evangelising in Rwanda. Surrounded by drunks crowded outside living in poverty and using the alcohol to drown them from reality. That is the reality to my kids, so i'm learning. I'm learning about how to get out of "church habits" and meet actual needs to teach these youth about Jesus and to be there for them. I've already in two weeks dealt with harder situation that I ever have in three years of working with churched youth. It's been hard, challenging, new, but I wouldn't trade it. The small victories have so much more meaning now for me. I'm so much more appreciative for each conversation with a youth. Any that they mention the Lord, or signs of God movement in their life. For every opporunity when they open up. I'm learning to be so grateful.
On another hand, I love my job at the rec. I'm working a lot of hours, but i'm thoroughly enjoying it.
I'm learning to guard my heart and allow teh Lord to give the word before I allow my emotions to run me. It's a new level of trust for me.
I know God is moving. I see so much going on inside of me, in my youth, on my job, with my friends. I've been in a constant state of awe, mixed with utter exhaustion haha.
Rest has a new meaning as well!!!! naps are a great addition to my daily schedule.
I've finished chapter 2 of my fiction novel and I'm still several chapters into my non-fiction self help book. I'm believing for big things in these next few months before i move! It's a journey... and i'm loving it.
CURRENT PRAYER REQUESTS:
My brother had an MRI on his brain today.
New ideas with these youth.
To see God invade their hearts.
Rest for me!
Join me in asking God to continue to show me how to guard my heart!
I will start looking for jobs in the dallas area next week, ask God to reveal where He would have me to look and go as I'm moving into this time of transition!!
Thanks,
j. tate

The hunting dog

2009-08-08T07:08:00.002-05:00

Before I start the blog I'll tell you a story about my dog. My dog is a German Pointer or in layman's terms a "bird" dog. I've been researching her breed a lot lately and learned that she is bred for hunting. If you take her out hunting she spots the "prey" that she's been trained to find she points to it, lifts one front paw, and stares at it so that the hunter can then shoot whatever it is. Well, last night one of my roommates grandparents came over immediately saw missy and said oh goodness do you hunt with her? I said eh no, i haven't ever really been hunting, and i dont know if missy would be into that sort of thing. Oh they were like no no that is her natural instinct you have to take that dog hunting and after 30 min. of discussing how she MUST HUNT. i finally relented and said ok i'll marry a man who hunts and i'll make sure he takes her, we all laughed. This morning missy is sitting right next to me on the couch having a dream. Her little hind feet are kicking away her mouth gets curled up in a snarl and then she starts kicking again. I sat down and thought my goodness she is a natural hunter she even does it in her sleep. This now makes sense why we kept finding dead pigeons all in our back yard last semester, dang dog was killing em'.
So the people i know that are hunters are the rossow's, but all they do is deer hunting, maybe i'll find someone who knows a thing or two about bird hunting and get them to teach her or something... who knows...
I've had some great intimate time w/ the Lord in the last week, going up to LIHOP and just worshiping and praying. I've messed up and had to confess up but have found some great liberation in the forgiveness of those around me as i've had to humble myself and apologize. I've really been thinking about living in the Spirit lately and what that truly means, obviously that means living out the fruits of the spirit, but i heard it put this way the other day.
A man was talking on the radio as i got in the car and he was talking about living in the spirit. He said what the Holy Spirit wants to truly do in you is get to the point where there is none of you and then He can talk through you, walk through you, and live through you, so in reality it's no longer even you. It's simply Jesus in your flesh.
Oh i've heard the scriptures Galations 2:20 it's no longer I who lives but Christ who lives in me, 2 Cor. 5:15 He died for those that lived so that they could no longer live for themselves but for Him, Col. 3:3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ.
We all have heard them, but I hadn't really had a revelation of that. Obviously I struggle w/ that because I still see how I sin. I still see that so much of me does live. I relate more w/ the likes of Romans 7 when paul is saying i do the things i dont want to do, and the things i want to do i don't do. He lays out a great picture of our battle with our flesh. I understand that way more than i understand, i no longer live, but Christ in me!
I see the pride in even this thought though. Because if i were to say that it is not true, this Christ in me theory, then i would have to say not only do i do the bad i do, but i do the good. And who am i to take credit for what the Lord has done through my life?
The goal of my life is to see less and less of Jessika every day. Not diminishing the character that God has placed in me, my personality, but less and less of my fleshly person. The less I become the more the Spirit can move and work through me. The more this temple for the Spirit, this body, can be used to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.
I see it. I have been crucified with Christ it is no longer I who lives, but He who lives in me. In other words, i laid down me, I willingly gave it all up, all my wants, all my desires, even all my needs, i sat bare and naked before the Lord with nothing and said take this body and use it for Your glory. Speak through me, move through me, walk through me, all for You.
I was told by my youth pastor over and over again in highschool. Jessika the hardest thing you will ever learn is balance. My goodness how those words have proven to be true over and over again in my life. I struggle for balance because when i do something i do it wholeheartedly. If i put my heart into it there is no stopping until it is accomplished. This is many times a GREAT THING, but it i has proven to be difficult because God is not always a God of the immediate, many times He is the God of the process! When i have that vision or desire He gives me, I WANT IT NOW, and i go out looking for it, many times in my own flesh and will rather than His. Then i begin reasoning the things I heard from God because i'm not seeing immediate action from them. I am reading battlefield of the mind by joyce meyer and i just read a couple of days ago where she said "Satan uses reasoning to strip the will of God from us" basically if we begin to reason and try and figure out what God has told us, many times we stop believing it, because we can't figure it out in our own heads.... that hit me....
I digress, back to the point, if my desire is to give glory to God with my life, the only thing I can do is to willingly submit this life to Him. Lay it down, crucify it, and allow the Holy Spirit to take over the reigns, to run the controls...
Now for you other overachievers, go getters, bascially impatient people... it's a process.
This dying to myself is a journey. It's praying the way david prayed, asking God to reveal sin, hearing the Holy Spirit as He reveals it to you, and then rebuking it, repenting from it, and leaving it in the dust. And with each fleshly character, you give the Holy Spirit more and more room to work through you. . .
This life is fun. Let it be.
Be blessed,
J. Tate

Where will I be?

2009-08-02T21:49:00.003-05:00

As you know my room has been painted! It's definitely a transition but i now have an amazing new addition to my house, my roommate, katy. She even brought guitar hero world tour, so i have had fun trying to learn to play the drums and act like i have a beat haha.
I began trying to run again and that has been interesting, there was a good amount of pain the first day, but today there wasn't much pain. Now i'm back to working up the endurance i lost, we'll see how that goes. T- 4 months until the half marathon, plenty of time for training.
The Lord really did work on my heart this weekend. I felt freedom and release, peace and devotion, love. I also began to get a vision for where my passions lie for the long term. Women's ministry.
I've always been confused as to what direction the Lord is leading me. The mentors i have that pour into my life have encouraged my gifts of teaching and working with youth. Two things I obviously love. I found in Rwanda even deeper how much I loved these two things, but it's never where I've felt led to be 10 years from now. Today I pondered where do i see myself in the years to come.
Obviously for the next 4 months I see myself here in lubbock texas. Working to complete my degree in human development and family studies. Working as the Youth Director for encounter God ministries. Building the youth program for the Encounter God Church plant and looking to find a permanent youth minister for those youth that I have grown so fond of. I'll make the most of my time left here in Lubbock. The place that I have found friends for a life time. The place I've grown up and been faced with real world challenges. Learned to grow with God hours away from the people who had been my rock. 9 hours away from my family I learned how much I love and appreciated them. Then in December I'll graduate.
I'll move to Euless, Tx to live with my grandmother for one semester as I start my masters degree in counseling psychology and study to become a licensed professional counselor. I'll be attending Southwestern Assembly of God University. After one semester i'll move to waxahachie and who knows how long i'll be there.
I hope somewhere in the next five years I'll meet a husband who will be equally passionate about ministry and desire to be in full time ministry together. No matter what he chooses to do i hope i'll be able to support him, encourage him. respect him, and love him. I hope that together we will glorify God in all that we do. Of course i'd love for him to be traveling evangelist or a pastor so that i could be that pastor's wife and do women's ministry in his church or ministry, but that is a desire of my heart that is up to the Lord :)
The years after graduating SAGU will hopefully be spent with a husband, kids, ministry, laughter and love but as James so eloquently put it in james 4... all of this I will do if the Lord wills.
I'm excited for the next week, month, year, and years of my life. I know that God has a plan and I know He's making me passionate about specific things!

This week i'm finishing up preparation for the FIRST CHURCH SERVICE FOR ENCOUNTER GOD CHURCH! August 9th here we go. The vision of this church is to reach out to a poverty stricken and rejected area in West Lubbock. It is focused on modeling the very first church in Acts. I'm so excited, God is already moving big!

Next week I get to go home for a few days. I'm flying home on Tuesday the 11th staying until Saturday and riding back to Lubbock with Ben! It's going to be a blast.
Good things. I'm so blessed.
J. Tate

Hmm

2009-07-30T22:23:00.003-05:00

Emotions.
This morning I went to staff meeting for EG and heard stories of the lives this church is already touching and we haven't even OPENED THE DOORS YET... I got goose bumps, excitement, and tears of joy.
I came home and begin to fill out a form for EG to have a booth at the Foundation Ministry fair and then began to type up my pamplet full of information about what EG Youth will be all about. I was then quite anxious.
I went to school and listened to a lecture on prevention of alcoholism and heard some things I thoroughly disagree with. I was annoyed.
My group asked me to speak for us in the group discussion time. I had strong opinions on today's question that was about teaching moderation in drinking to teenagers. I was passionate.
I left class to come home to two friends painting my room. One of them is moving into my room with me and will have the room when i move out in December, so i told her she could paint over my hot pink and lime green :) As I watched the pink go I was contemplative.
In my closet I found bags of notes from highschool and i sat down to begin to read them. At times I was happy, sad, encouraged, ashamed.
I called a friend to tell her about a lot of the things I'd read because i had become reflective.
I decided to go up to Lubbock International House of Prayer for a worship set. As I entered into God's presence I was at peace, I was thankful.

I'm sure this is not even all of the moods or emotions I had today. Emotions are a tricky time because we base so much off of them. If we're not feeling a certain way we think God's not listening to us or we're growing distance. If we don't feel a certain way we feel like prayer was ineffective. We allow our emotions to tell us the quality of prayer, bible reading, worship, relationship, message, etc.

It's not how I feel about something, it's facts from God's word. Pastor mike says all the time "if the Word says it, that settles it". I like that. The Word it more truthful than even my own feelings and emotions. I am who it says I am. Something i've learned is not to say that i know God is like this... He does this... because of experiences, but only by the Word of God. Because even experience can lie. My emotions or thoughts from a situation can dilute what really happened. We have to interpret experiences by the Word of God not the Word of God by experience.

I'm trying to go back to the basics right now. Reexamine life and especially my relationship with the Lord and others.

As always Be blessed,
J. Tate

bye bye pretty room!

Foot... gross!

2009-07-29T18:59:00.002-05:00

Well here is one picture of my foot and i'll add another one at the bottom. The swelling is almost gone and now we're just bruises! I went in for an interview for a job i really wanted today and I got offered the position. Unfortunately now it looks like it's not going to work w/ my schedule, we're discussing ways we can work it out!
My friend Kayce came over last night and as usual she said some things that make me think. One of those was "your emotions tend to follow your decisions", she discussed this thought as she talked about forgiveness. I began to think about it in context with many other things. How often do we find that emotions won't change until we finally make a decision to change. I see this in my attitude in the last couple of weeks. I have chosen to not look at the positive, i've chosen to focus on the negative, i've chosen to only see where i've been attacked and now where i've been blessed, therefore my emotions have followed suit. I've been pretty bitter, angry, frustrated, etc...
I know that the Lord is good and I see His mercy being new everyday. I see His unconditional love, and I see His patience with me. I'm trying to not take that for granted in these moments.
I say all this but life is not bad right now. Things are good, there are just little things that are attacking my insecurities and making me worried rather than life just falling apart at the seams. I think to top it off is those around me are struggling also!!!
No matter what, God is good, and there's always better things ahead.
Be Blessed
J. Tate

Facebook, Patience,Forgiveness,Anger, etc.

2009-07-28T17:10:00.002-05:00

Last night I regretfully/enthusiastically deactivated my facebook. I enjoy facebook heh.I like to keep updated on the lives of my friends that I hardly get to see. Without facebook I'd never be able to keep up with everyone. I think of facebook as putting all of those people who matter to me and throwing them into one place where I can message them, talk to them, chat w/ them, laugh with them, and share in experience as I never would be able to without it. The problem is I've gotten where I get on facebook quite often and rather than just spending 10-20 minutes @ a time I spend quite a lot of time or only spend 5 min. but check it like 2500 x a day. So after realizing how ridiculous this was, I promptly decided to just get rid of it. You know you have an addiction when you're having withdrawals, haha. On another note I have found myself farely well impatient lately. I decided I really needed to separate myself last night so I went to a prayer meeting at a church I don't attend and I sat with my head down and just sat for quite a long time. I began to speak to God and I realized how much anger and frustration i have going through me right now for various issues. Alot is going on but I am not doing a good job of going to God with these issues, instead i'm getting angry with Him. I've told people all the time if you're ever angry with God, it's not Him, it's you. I had to swallow this pill last night as I sat there realizing that.
I'm not normally an angry person. I would say i have developed into an emotional one. I cry, i feel, i hurt, i have compassion, and yes i have anger among other various emotions. Normally anger I can shake within a matter of minutes. But this anger was/is coming from deep within. Months of just not dealing with issue after issue that irked me. I'm going through the process now of removing some distractions, i'm in college this is still possible, and trying to get back to the basics. Waking up in the morning and thanking the Lord for life, giving Him praise for who He is and what He's done, and then simply talking to Him as I would a best friend. Divulging all of those hurts, angers, bitterness, etc. Maybe in the hustle and bustle I'd forgotten that He is my Best Friend. He's nto just this God ten million miles away that occasionally steps in and intervenes in my life. He is my God, My friend, My Beloved and I'm His. It's easy to be religious without relationship. To get up read my bible, pray the correct prayers, be an intercessor, do the ministry, and not really offer the part of you He wants most, your heart. Right now I feel like there's alot of things He's cutting through to get to my heart, but it's happening and it needs to.
As Always Be Blessed,
J. Tate

Vacation of insanity!

2009-07-27T11:16:00.002-05:00

Well I was supposed to be going to san antonio w/ the girls this weekend to tube the river and instead i sprained my ankle. So i decided to go to dallas. Well when i could walk on it i decided i'd go at least to be w/ the girls and hang out. Then my roommate's van (that we were going to take to SA) died and we were unable to take the trip anyway. So then my other roommate and a friend decided they were going to go to ruston LA this weekend. I couldn't decide between ruston and dallas. I finally decided upon dallas so that I could see my grandma whom i love spending time with, go to waxahachie and look at apartments, and meet up w/ my mom and brother and get my dog! I took my family to go see Waxahachie and the SAGU campus. We looked at some apartments. I still haven't decided how I want to work that out. Either moving to Waxahachie in january living in an apartment or getting dad to get a house, moving to Euless and staying with grandma for a semester, or possibly living with some other friends in the metroplex. Anywho- I was going to leave monday mornign but changed my mind sunday afternoon because of a take home test i had due on monday and i went ahead and left. i had some friends that were driving back to lubbock and they were a couple of hours behind me. I got about 2 hours away from lubbock and i got pulled over by a cop. I had my cruise set to 4 over so i wasn't really sure what i was getting pulled over. Come to find out he pulled me over for driving in the left lane because the left lane was for passing only. I had to keep from laughing when he told me, but missy made that easy since she was in the back seat barking like crazy at this man that she would have ripped into shreds had i let her. Well, i'm also a girl so there's several things on my car i dont' really take care of. For instance, not only was i driving in the left lane, but i didn't have an up to date insurance card, and my car's inspection was out. But by playing the innocent girl he came back and he's like ok i'm giving you a warning... for driving in the left lane, speeding (74 in a 70), no proof of insurance, and out of date inspection. I was like, thank you so much. about 2 min. later my friends call and they had gotten in a wreck in weatherford, about 3 hours back towards dallas!! I turned back around to go get them. I literally drove friday from lbk to euless- sat. euless to waxahachie to dallas to euless- sunday euless to roscoe (past abilene) back to weatherford back to abilene- monday abilene to lbk..... Oh the joys of college. Luckily my professor is really chill and he told me to not even come to class and to come turn in my paper tomorrow. So the girls are having a veg out day.
I've really been frustrated the past few days and i'm trying to overcome that. I like order. Nothing has been in order and that causes some frustration for me. I have to admit my control issues, i like to control situations and not being able to control things is what has really driven me insane. I also like to know my next step and i feel at a stand still. I know that I am graduating in December. I know that i'm going to start Sagu in january. But i don't know if i want to do school full time or part time. work full time or part time. live in waxahachie, euless, or the metrolplex... for how long.. with who... etc. I realize i feel like i'm 17 again. I'm trying to decide where i want to go, what i want to do, who i want to be. . . etc. and once again i'm having to learn to humble myself, be patient, and let God be God. I should be lucky that i even have a clue as to what i'm doing in january. I don't know i'm struggling to be grateful and i'm settling more in the confused and frustrated, never a good sign. I do look forward to the things God is doing at Encounter here in LBK and I need to stay focused on what God has before me right now. Help me in praying for focus and wisdom. God's good and I know good things are coming.
J. Tate

Defines me

2009-07-23T10:52:00.002-05:00

I am taking a leap today and I am going to school w/o crutches. I don't feel this is a stupid decision, since the swelling has dramatically decreased and i'm seeing great improvement in the realm of pain... yay! I was told it'd be at least 1-2wks on crutches and i'm getting off of them in 2 days!!! i'm excited.
I want to talk about what defines me. I woke up this morning thoroughly unexcited about this day. This was way different from yesterday, because yesterday I couldn't wait to get up and get moving and head to the EG staff meeting! But this morning as i arose i thought, eh i can just stay in bed, i dont have class until 12 and i have nothing i need to get done, i got all my errands done yesterday, there is no point in even getting out of bed. I arose an hour or so later, came and played around on facebook/twitter/skype/email etc. Then pulled out my bible read, went outside and prayed, came back in and sat down. it was only 1030 or so. I debated on what to do. I decided there is always more to pray about, so i went back outside. As I set down i just felt this great urge to talk to God about whatever this blah feeling was, this feeling of nothing, no excitement, no motivation, no purpose.
This is what i learned about myself in the next few moments of venting w/ the Lord. I am a highly motivated, energetic, passionate, person when given a specific task. I love tasks. I enjoy having a list of things to do and going one by one down the list. I enjoy being involved in ministry and knowing my responsibilities and accomplishing them. I have however yet to build the discipline of waking up and saying ok God, today is your day, all i have is class from 12-2 what do you want me to do for you today? Rather than that, i have the outlook of great this day stinks, i'm going to go to class, probably hang out w/ some friends some, come home do some homework, no actual plan, and that i hate!!!
I love organized ministry (haha). I have spend the last 3 years at Tech always involved in some sort of ministry. Whether it be a counselor, leadership, team leader, for foundation or leadership, small group leader, etc for wesley, or Lubbock IHOP, Encounter God, Young Life, etc. whatever it may be. I've always had that. I knew that I would wake up at this time, i'd do this, i'd go to class, then i'd go on to my responsibilities to the students, kids, youth, etc. whoever I was set up to minister to that day. I've never been in LBK over the summer. The last 3 summers i've been back home working at the church, the school, or BCAC. Still i knew everday i would have a chance to minister to the youth i'd planned lunch to, the kids i was teaching that day, the wounded families that came into BCAC. My life i must say has been for the most part for the last 3 years STRUCTURED. Now I find myself here. It's the summer, i have one class a day, no responsibilities to the Wesley, EG is just meeting once a week to start getting things together and i spend some personal time working on it but nothing with students, I don't have a job (mainly because i haven't found one yet), and I have to say this is Winter in my world of ministry. There is a few pastors and mentors that I really look up to, Upon returning from Rwanda I was really blessed to be "filled up" by them. To speak w/ them one on one to hear and learn it was so good. Roger Siratt spoke to a small group of us during camp. This man has seen things in his life that the Lord has done that I can only dream of seeing, he's been ALL over the world, he is an amazing man of God. He said just like there are 4 seasons for the weather, there are four seasons for ministry. Summer is when there is so much ministry the heat is on, you're toiling through each day working and working... now i could go through each season but for the purpose of not making you read a book i'll skip to winter. Winter is a time where it seems things have calmed down a bit, as someone in full time ministry it means you may not have as many speaking engagements, as a youth minister maybe the kids are doing well and consistent w/ little challenges, for me it means there's not a lot of speaking i'm having to do, actually i haven't had to prepare a single lesson since the week before youth camp, i've only met w/ two students since being in LBK and gone street evangelizing once, basically the point i'm getting at is as far as doing what we call "ministry" there hasn't been a lot of it. I think about what Roger said for during winter. He said work on preparation for the other seasons. Write some sermons, spend a lot of time doing in depth studies of the word, spend tons of time in prayer and just soaking in God's presence, so that when the season changes you've been built up, filled up, and you're ready to go. See now it's confession time. I struggle at this. I enjoy in depth studies of the Word, i enjoy praying and sitting before the Lord, but I like it so much more when I know i'm going to go out and share it, pour it out, etc.
I have gotten to where what i'm doing defines me in my eyes. If i'm not doing, then what am i? who am i? If i'm not teaching youth, mentoring kids, working a job, taking classes, meeting and pouring out w/ others, witnessing, then really what am i hear for? I've prayed psalms 27:4 for 2 years. Basically saying one thing i desire to sit and behold the beauty of the Lord. I've taught tons of lessons on intimacy and being intimate with the Lord. And now i'm seeing my own weakness in this. I'm seeing my lack of intimacy. My struggle to sit before Him and enjoy Him. I think i have the prideful mentality of thinkin somewhere that I don't need Him unless i'm doing "ministry". I put quotes around "" ministry because i'm meaning specific organized ministries, not living my life as a ministry, witnessing to those around us, etc. . . Maybe i've got it in my head that i spend time with the Lord so that I give the lesson He wants, I lay hands on the ones He wants, and if i dont spend time w/ Him maybe they won't get healed, maybe the lesson won't impact them, maybe in a lunch discussion i'll say the wrong thing, i'll forget a scripture etc.. . . somehow it's become a little bit too much about me and my ministry and not about HIM AND well, His relationship w/ me.
As I sat w/ Pastor Mike and talked this summer he said something i'd heard many times before but for the first time it clicked. He said Jessika I don't wear out, i dont fall, i don't lose passion, because i fill myself up first. I delight in the Lord, i stay in His presence, every day i spend time with Him because my relationship w/ Him comes first. I can't do my assignment or help anyone without a relationship with Him. We kept on talking discussing His relationship w/ the Lord, then His family's, then ministry. It impacted me because i realized that so many times, i live off of what is stored up inside of me, instead of everyday loving this relationship i have w/ the Lord, loving God, and putting Him and not ministry as a priority.
So here I am in this winter time, feeling useless, unproductive, because today i have no appointment to be @, i have no ministry meeting, it's just a typical day. If i define myself by ministry i will always be dissatisfied. I want to define myself with the Word. Who God says I am, I want to be... I want to delight myself in Him and find peace and contentment w/ just Him. I want to find a way to cry out Ps. 27:4 and it to be true.
Oh this sanctification walk... it never ends, but it's worth it :)
j. tate

blaghh

2009-07-21T17:45:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure what the title means. Yesterday I was running w/ my roommates and managed to sprain my ankle. So now in the midst of training for the half marathon I'm walking around on crutches with a nice big swollen ankle! Boo. Instead of going to San Antonio to float the river with my friends I'm going to go meet my mom in Dallas. This will be good though because i'll get my dog missy back and we'll go visit SAGU, the grad school I'm planning on going to.
Tomorrow we have another staff meeting for EG we're really seeing things come together. In just a few weeks we'll be having church and have started the youth center program up and in full swing.
Right now I'm going through 1 Kings in the word. I just started it this morning and I was thinking about dear ole' solomon and all the wisdom he had. Do you know what Solomon proved to me this morning? It is one thing to have wisdom and it is another thing to use it. Solomon had more wisdom than any man and yet he still managed to mess things up.
I have more thoughts on this, but no time to type right now.
J. Tate

Regrets

2009-07-16T16:11:00.003-05:00

Sorry I'm a couple of days behind on blogging! Maegan came into town this weekend and I am so excited. I started a blog 2 days ago and never posted it, so here is the blog from Thursday with some new added thoughts:
It's funny to me that two days ago I wrote a blog with the lyrics "I don't have time to maintain these regrets" and yet today has seemed to be filled with thoughts of regret. I have just recently began rereading battlefield of the mind by joyce meyer. How fitting that two days after I began to reread this I am struggling with my thoughts. I struggle with thinking about things of my past the decisions I know were wrong and the ones that I can only wonder, those dreadful what if's. I hate what if's. Whether that comes down to relationships, ministry, work, there are so many things that we can have what if's about. For instance, maegan is now in town. I have been eating really healthy and training for a half marathon, but since maegan is in town I decided the afternoon she was coming in I'd go for a long run and not run for the weekend. Then last night we decided to go to Josie's at 1 in the morning and get breakfast burritos with all my friends. Since she's in town I decided i'd eat where she wanted to eat basically giving up my healthiness for a couple of days. So I ran a long run and ate a chorizo and egg breakfast burrito and one a.m. I woke up and there were a lot of what if's that came from the multiple pains coming from my body. Ab muscles sore from the run and stomach going insane because of the first hint of grease it's had in over a week. The thoughts such as what if I wouldn't have ran that long run my body wouldn't be screaming at me to get back in bed, and what if I wouldn't have eaten that breakfast burrito I wouldn't feel like someone took a knife to my insides. heh ok i'm being over dramatic, but you get the point. What if's can be BIG, or what if's can be small. My what if's have been big. I am not graduating in December, a semester early, going to SAGU for grad school, and basically starting life over in a new city and new school. Nothing of my plans oh 3 months ago. I have the what if's about certain relationships, the school i'm going to, graduating in december instead of august or may (both were options). There are so many things that go through my mind that strive to keep me in my past. I can't help but think about Philippians 3. Forgetting what is behind and pressing forward. How incredibly hard is that, when so much of our past impacts our future? The Holy Spirit knows what things need to be forgotten and left behind. And what if's are in those. What if's are essentially fear. Fear that "what if" i would have done this or that this or that way then maybe things would be better. And we know God is not a God of fear (1 Tim. 1:7).
At this point... I'm looking forward to a weekend hanging out w/ maegan. 3 days with my best friend, and my great friends from LBK. I can't wait.
There are many other things on my mind, but having your best friend here, just helps ya know?...

So there is some of the blog I wrote a couple of days ago mixed in w/ some updates. Maegan will be here to monday and we're having a blast, had the whole crew here til about 2 last night.. we stayed up went to josies then got up for breakfast w/ kayce and anna! It's been so great. I'm going to be sad to see her go. I'm in an interesting position right now. Trying to be gung ho about things in LBK, which i am, and trying to get things prepared for grad school. Not only are there physical things to prepare i.e taking GRE, where i'm going to live, etc. but also emotional things. Preparing for the move away from great friends, guys, being a grown up, etc.
well time to wrap this up and hopefully i'll have more time to really put the thoughts together soon.
j. tate

A need for community

2009-07-15T21:09:00.002-05:00

Today was a busy day for me. After class I went to a meeting for a friend and then after the meeting worked the foundation booth at red raider orientation. I'll stop here because that's what I wanted to talk about. As we met with students that came up to our booth interested in foundation I looked out and began thinking. See there are TONS of organizations on the Tech campus over 400 actually. There are religious, ethnic, political, etc. Next to us was the hispanic student organization, across from us was the black students organization, behind us the catholic student organization, and also several different greek organizations. I watched as Christians obviously came up to our booths, blacks to the black studnet organization, hispanics to the hispanic student organization, students interested in outdoor stuff to the outdoor pursuits booth etc. Each and every student looking for the place they would belong. The organization they could walk up to and know that they fit in. My sociological mindset was so intrigued. Each of us has a longing and a desire to be loved, to fit in, to belong. It reminds me of a book I read for my IHOP internship about a year ago, Passion for Jesus by Mike Bickle. Bickle discussed 12 desires that each human has that God placed inside of us to draw us back to Him. The book was amazing and I could talk for quite some time about all I learned from that book, but for the purpose of this blog I'll just stick to one point. The book said that one of those longings was the desire to belong, to be wanted, to be loved. See God put that desire in us because He wants us, He loves us, and with Him there is peace. The thing is probably 85% of the students I saw walking around to different booths today aren't getting that reassurance from the Lord and inside of them they're craving for more, it's highly likely that even the Christians are craving that, because we crave community as well.
On a personal note I in my great desire to throw cultural norms off had the greatest desire to walk up to an organization for another ethnicity and ask what it took to join or perhaps to a fraternity of some sort, anything to make someone uncomfortable. I find that sort of thing appealing, almost like standing backwards in an elevator or sitting in a chair next to someone rather than taking the open one across the room.
So what's so wrong, if anything, with this great need for belonging? I don't think there is, I think what we see is another classic case of the enemy taking something good and smacking it up with sin. Community is a great thing, it's biblical. Iron sharpens iron, a cord of three strands is not easily broken, two is better than one... and this isn't even mentioning all the times in the NT where it talks about coming together. Groups and organizations can accomplish great things. Just Foundation itself, it doesn't only change people for the 4 years they are @ Tech God uses it to change lives for eternity and a lot of it is done through the community that is found after camp.
Community is essential to the Christian and I think so many times we don't even realize it. Alone and left to ourselves many times the battle of our minds overcomes us. But when we apply the word of God that says confess your sins to one another, encourage one another, etc. so much power is found, so much encouragement to keep on keepin' on. There have been many times in my walk that I have grown weary in doing good even though I knew the scriptures and it was a friend who stepped up and encouraged me.
I wish we stressed more to our youth how important Christian community is. I wish we understood it more for ourselves.
J. Tate

The Rewrite

2009-07-14T21:39:00.002-05:00

So I wrote a whole blog which i had titled the sociological thoughts and upon some more day occurring decided not to post it. It was full of some fun theological thoughts mixed with some sociological perspective. Instead I'm going to return to my sappy self and write about God's love.
"I don't have time to maintain these regrets when i think about the way, you love us."
How true a statement. At those moments that we are so wrapped up in God's love and a revelation of who He is and what He's done for us, I can't think about my regrets, I just think about Him.
Psalms 27:4 you see that same picture of David saying One thing I desire, to dwell in the courts of the Lord forever more and behold the beauty of the Lord.
To just lavish in His presence.
I remember a word from the Lord I got a few years ago. I was struggling with processing through a past that had plagued me. One of living for myself. I punished myself and struggled with seeing myself as forgiven. Beyond that those around me struggled to see me as the person I had become rather than who I was. The Lord spoke so clearly to me one morning "Daughter, it is you and those around you that don't see you as redeemed, in My eyes you have been made new"
Redemption. The greek word for redemption means to be released or liberated because of an effective payment.
Because of Christ's effective payment.
There's just this quality of God. This unconditional love and everlasting grace. The blog on sociological thought was a lot about sin, about our need to turn from sin, about what leads us to sin etc. It was a true message that is still much needed in our society, but on the same token this world needs to hear about love and about grace, about true redemption. Christ was 100% truth and 100% grace, never compromising truth for grace, but also never compromising grace for truth. The truth is that Christ died for our sins because of the Father's great love for us, the truth is we have to make a decision to commit our lives to Christ and that's not just a prayer, it is a complete lifestyle change, the truth is sanctification will occur in the life of a Christian, but the truth is also you will mess up and as my pastor always says when you mess up confess up that's when people will know there's something different about you.
In the presence of my God who I truly am is revealed. The good, the bad, the lovely, and the ugly. There with Him peace overwhelms me and the love of the Father gives me a desire to live for Him. The pieces of the puzzle fit together when I'm with Him. See here is the thing about God, we are redeemed and we are new, we are clean when washed in the blood of Christ, but His love for us causes the Holy Spirit to push us towards sanctification. Because at the end of the day the best thing for us is to not sin. It's not because He is a God of restriction, it's because He's a God of love.
I know i just jumped around a lot. But tonight for some reason I just feel loved. I don't have a desire to discuss some new theological revelation, not normal for me, I don't really want to bring out the Word and discuss how we should be living our lives, I don't want to try and encourage you to be passionate, or write something that will build you up and encourage you or challenge you, rather, tonight, i'm somber. I'm more silent. If anything I want to say, My God, My Daddy God, the One I run to, the One I have a secret place with, when my world is falling apart I can fall on my knees and cry out to the God of the universe, because as the Word says cast your cares on Him because He cares for you, this God, this Huge Big Miraculous Sovereign Creator God He loves me, He knows me, He cares about me, He forgives me, He's faithful even when I'm faithless, He walks with me, He talks with me, He challenges me, He tests me, He lives in me, He works through me, gosh the One True God, I have a personal relationship with Him. He meets with me. He delights in me. He died for me. There is nothing more humbling than a revelation of this concept.
I am my Beloved's and He is mine.
J. Tate

A Revelation

2009-07-13T14:55:00.000-05:00

This morning we had our first Encountering God "staff" meeting. We met at sugar brown's (local coffee shop) to run through ideas for our church plant and the future of EG ministries. Kyle asked his wife, Keri, to share something the Lord had shown her in the word recently. I found it very interesting:
The passage she used was in Mark 4, I'm sure most of you know it, when Jesus calms the storm. It says that Jesus said let's go to the other side, then obviously went to go sleep. Then the winds began to push the boat, even getting water into the boat, and the disciples freaked. Obviously this is my paraphrase :0 The idea she presented was this: what if the wind was brought to push the boat to the other side? Jesus went to sleep knowing the purpose of the storm was to accomplish what He had sat out for them to do. i.e. get to the other side and minister. The next thought was, their fear caused them to awaken Jesus from His rest to calm the storm... So, how did they get to the other side? They most likely had to row.
Her thoughts: Sometimes there is a storm in our lives and we're not seeing resolve because God knows where He's trying to take us. Second many times we cop out of battle and short cut the storm and then we have to row.
I liked this analogy. I liked this revelation. It spoke to me.

Next was sociology class. I'm taking sociology of addiction for alcohol, drugs, and society. My professor today was throwing out some ideas on reference networks. He was saying our reference networks determine what expectations we'll live up to and whatever reference network is most important to us is what we'll follow. He said that he thinks we give too much credit to things like media for impacting the lives of adolescents. He discussed Columbine and some other things, but it was here that i kind of toned out and began thinking about what he'd been saying. This is what i thought of, I so many times tell the youth I teach whether in LBK or in Liberty live above reproach, don't watch the stupid immoral crud on tv you shouldn't be watching, don't listen to the crud you shouldn't be listening to etc. Which is obviously something our generation needs to hear, to be above reproach and not settle. But how i've had it in my head is this: if they won't watch that they won't want that, if they won't listen to that they won't feel that, and as i thought on his lesson today i considered a new aspect. I think it is often times true that we listen to things that support how we already feel, we watch the things we already want. For instance, if i'm in a fight w/ my boyfriend, on a break, or upset w/ some guy I often get in the mood for some Miranda Lambert, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood, their mad chick songs. You know like gun powder and lead, picture to burn, before he cheats, music that is talking trash about men and i can at that moment identify with. If they're watching MTV real world chances are something inside of them wants that life.. what seems to be no restrictions and consequences.
I think we need to continue to teach our youth what is ok and what is not. Challenge them not to listen or watch the trash, but also be praying that the Holy Spirit would cause them to hate their sin, but that is going to be what keeps them from turning on MTV or the newest rap video. Second, is us living what we preach. Us setting the example of not living worldly, watching worldly things, listening to worldly things... how about raising our standards and encouraging them to raise theirs?

These were just some thoughts from the day from two things that had me thinking. With the new church plant coming soon I'm praying through and studying the first 4 chapters of Acts to really get down what the early church was about and i'm excited about where the Lord takes that. I'm preparing for schools start aug. 24th because that week will be the first meeting back to EG in the new building. Great things are here and right around the corner. I'm so excited.
J. Tate