"Spirit of Offense" (How do you react?)

Hey y'all! Today, I want to address a topic we discussed in Bible Study a few weeks ago but that I also found myself experiencing. The topic was the "spirit of offense". We have all fallen into the deadly trap of offense; not one is exempt. Either we have offended or someone has offended us. Whatever the offense was or who committed it, how did you react to it? The enemy wants you to wallow in the offense because he knows it can kill. We all know that is his mission for our lives. But Jesus warns us about this in Luke 17.

Then He said to the disciples, “It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come! It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones. Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” (Luke 17:1-4 NKJV)

 I recently found myself in this position because I was not invited to a birthday celebration of someone I thought was more like family than friends. When I saw pictures from the celebration I immediately got on the offense. Because neither I was told nor invited by anyone else there that I knew. I even picked up the phone to call the individual to say happy birthday but mainly to give them a piece of my mind. When there was no answer, the Holy Spirit said you were not supposed to have been there anyway. So, get over it! I then thought, well that was the truth. You see I believe everything happens for a reason. If my presence was desired, I would have gotten an invitation. It doesn't mean that I'm not loved or liked. I decided that I wasn't going to give in to the enemy and let the thought of offense take up any space in my mind or my spirit. I moved on from it.

I want to save you some grief and from the spirit of offense. If a situation arises, think on the word of God that says "Great peace have those who love Your law [Word], and nothing causes them to stumble." (Psalm 119:165NKJV) Don't allow yourself to stumble into the spirit of offense. Instead, find peace when you show others the same love God shows you. When you forgive those who offend you, you can walk in God's peace that surpasses all understanding.

Check Your Heart

Greetings everyone! Welcome to a new week!

When was the last time you had a heart check? When was the last time you measured what you do and say with what's really in your heart? The Bible says in I Samuel 16 that God looks at the heart of man. We need to understand that what's in our hearts pretty much comes out in our actions and words. There is no way you can have hate in your heart and love your neighbor. There is no way you can have love in your heart and hate others. So, let me ask you, when God looks at your heart what does He see? Does your heart have a carnal or spiritual posture?

Our hearts should be filled with the things that are pleasing to God as stated in Psalm 19:14. If we have a heart of jealous, envy, hatred, malice or anger, we will definitely reap the negative consequences. B.U.T. if we have a heart of love, joy, peace, gentleness, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and patience, then I believe that the mediation of our hearts will be pleasing and acceptable to the Lord. I believe we will reap the awesome blessings that comes with a heart that demonstrates the fruit of spirit. A heart that is receptive towards God & what He has to say about our lives is what we should strive for.

I urge you to check your heart, right now!

 Have an amazing day and week!

Valerie

He Stills Loves Me

What a MAGNIFICENT Monday it is going to be!! Can y'all feel it? This post was inspired by the song that Beyonce sings with Walter William, Sr. I' am so grateful that God still loves me. When I heard the song, it immediately took me to the Scripture in Romans 8. It reminded me of what God's word says about His love for me. I can steal or kill and God will still love me because of His Son. He will still love me because it is His nature. He will still love me because I am His child. He will still love me because God is Love. I can commit adultery, no, I'm not telling you to do that, and He will still have the same unconditional love for me.

Romans 8:35 ask the question, if anything can separate us from the Love of Christ? Absolutely nothing can or ever will! Now check out what verse 38 says, "Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love." Let me tell you that nothing you can do can remove the love God has for you; not even the powers of hell can come between you and God's love for you. This makes my soul rejoice and increases my faith in Jesus. I can go through my week knowing there's nothing I can do to make God stop loving me. There's nothing created, seen or unseen that can interfere with God's love for me. I'm so humbly grateful, that despite my attitude or behavior, He still loves me!

Now, go have yourself an amazing week, knowing that God will forever love you!

One Love,

Valerie

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Enjoy the inspiration from the poems of Expressions of the Soul, self-published by me, Valerie Champion. Your support is greater appreciated. I love you!