Tuesday, June 8, 2010

I Apologize and Ask Forgiveness To My Readers

I ask forgiveness of my Lord for writing something that I know but wrote the wrong thing. I apologize to my readers, especially Jewish readers, for misquoting their bible as the Koran when it is the Holy Torah. I ask forgiveness from each of you.

There is no excuse for what I did. I erred in my writing of something that means a lot to me -- Why am I not Jewish where I can be more "like Christ" then be a Christian where I labor to be more "Christlike".

Lord, please forgive me for speaking from my heart instead of my soul. Forgive me for mixing up religions by letting evil steer the way of my words. Lord, guide my words with your words when I write. Stop the distractions from happening when I write what you show me. Please put forgiveness in the heart of those I have hurt. In Jesus name, Amen

So Why Am I Not Jewish?

I am a Christian who is practicing everyday to be more "Christlike": To do daily readings of the Bible; To do daily prayer; To treat your body as a temple by eating the right food and exercising daily; To be a servant of God; and many other things that could go on for days. To do all of this takes hard work. It takes discipline. To be a Christian is the greatest gift a person could have. To know that I have eternal life!!!

The people I know of the Jewish faith appear to have it easier then I do when it comes to being more "Christlike". It is part of their daily family life to read their "Bible", do their daily prayers, go to church, eat the right foods, discipline themselves as their "Bible" instructs. This has been their tradition for thousands of years. They do not have to be "Christlike" because they are "like Christ" because they are Jews. So why am I not of the Jewish faith instead a Christian?

What would my benefits be to myself if I was of the Jewish religion? Would I be more "like Christ"? Would all of what the Bible instructs us to do to be more "Christlike" come easier? Would my ethnic background cause me to not be more "like Christ"? Or by changing religions be just another way of taking the "easy" way of not wanting to change my life?

What are the hazards to become Jewish? The world events can explain one hazard. It never changes from the biblical times to present day, the Jewish people are persecuted for believing in God. But so are the Christians. Were are being told to prepare for the coming of our Lord at any time and that many believe that the anti-christ is already in our midst. Those that are persecuting the followers of God are the followers of the anti-christ. Whether he is walking this earth or not only God knows.

As an "emotional" reader, I feel what is happening every time I read a chapter in the Bible. I can feel the happiness David felt as he gathered all his treasures to give to Solomon so he may build the Temple for the Ark for the Lord. Then David crowned Solomon King of Israel.

To "feel" the words of the Bible as you read can change your perspective about yourself. I read both the Life Application Study Bible (NLT) and the King James Version. I also have The Message. I look at my Bible's this way: when I want to hear God speak and feel like a little girl sitting on the floor at His feet, I read the King James Version. When I am sitting in a meadow listening to Jesus talk and explain everything in the Bible, I read the Life Application Study Bible. When I am walking at the beach with God and Jesus and having casual talks and cry and lots of questions, I read The Message. But why do Christians have so many different Bible's to read when the Jewish religion only has one "Bible"?

Many Christian's have published many different bibles: Women of Faith, Joyce Meyers, Oral Roberts, and others. The Catholic religion has also published different versions of their bible. They have even claimed to have written the bible and chose to leave out certain books of the bible. If you have compared the Christian bible to the Catholic bible you will notice they do not contain the same books. But then that is another blog about another different religion.

The Jewish faith have only one bible, The Holy Qur'an, or better known as The Koran. I looked up the on-line version of The Koran and began to read it and made some remarkable discoveries. I need to read more!!! The Koran is an interesting book to read but what I discovered was more fascinating than what I could have imagined -- I am proud to be a Christian!!!

It was very hard not to become judgmental when I began to read The Koran that I had to stop reading. I am going to have to pray and go back and read it. Allah was the word that stopped me from going further. Society and the media has turned my world against anything "Allah". The respect is not there and that is wrong for a Christian. That is not Christlike and God forgive me for being judgmental against the Jewish people and their religion. That is not what I wanted to do with this posting.

I respect all religion because it belongs to each human being. God gave us that right when He wrote our lives before He put us in our mothers womb.

As a Christian, I am proud to be Christlike each and every moment of the day. I ask forgiveness, Dear Lord, for the times that I am not. I praise and thank you Lord for being my Father. Give me strength for each task to be done. Give me wisdom for the knowledge to do each task. Give me health to do the tasks to serve others. Give me the breath of the Holy Spirit to serve you. In Jesus name, Amen.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Consider This... Who Am I?????

This is a short story about four people named Everybody, Somebody, Anybody, and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done and Everybody was sure that Somebody would do it. Anybody could have done it, but Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because it was Everybody's job. Everybody thought that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realized that Everybody wouldn't do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Confusing? How many times have we had this happen to us at work or in our personal life? Each day we may be one of the four persons. Today you may have been the Anybody at work and the Everybody when you got home and the Nobody when you was with Friends at dinner. Is that the kind of life you want to live? Be someone different all the time? Always not knowing what the other person is doing? Always blaming the other person? Or is it better being a Nobody?

What is a Nobody? Scientist say we are made up of millions of molecules and atoms held together by energy and water in a matter of space. If that is the case, then why can we not walk through a wall and materialize on the other side. We are all created as Gods children in the likeness of God and we have eternal life. They why can't we walk through walls and materialize on the other side like Jesus? Jesus was Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody - it just depended on whom he was talking to on his journey through the holy lands.

If each of us today is reborn in the image of God our Father, we are born to be Christlike. We are to be one personality that has received eternal life from Jesus Christ by believing that he is the son of God and died on the cross for me so my sins may be forgiven by my Father the Lord God Almighty. And through the Holy Spirit that dwells inside of me, I will receive the blessings and grace of the true Lord for walking the christian path of truthfulness and righteousness for his namesake. I will continue to bring into the fold lost sheep so that my father may bless them with the breath of the spirit. I will continue to stand tall in a crowd of sinners and speak the Words so all may hear. I will share the Word and walk the Word so that I may be an Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody at the same time with the name of Darlene Kerr, child of God.

So, which one are you? Have you had the chance to become the child of God with all four entities in one? Or are you still struggling? Ask God to help you become His child. Ask a friend to help you. God is there for you always and forever.

God Bless You All!!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

#3 Embody Values, Communication Benefit: Credibility

Today we will continue with the five (5) communication skills John Maxwell, effective leadership expert wrote in Enjoying Everyday Life (September/October 2009). Mr. Maxwell states that leaders are to model strong values to those around them. He also states that a leader should "insist on values and fight for what you believe, they will find you credible." What does that sound like to each of you who are believers?

What is a "strong value" to a believer? What is a "value" to a believer? Would you fight for what you "value"; for what you believe in? Are they the same thing?

In a work environment, a mentor shows the apprentice the information about a project. The timeline of follow-ups and deadlines are given. Now it is up to the apprentice to complete the project. To gather his supplies, put his team together, set his own timeline to match the mentors timeline and do the work. He has a timeline and trust from his boss. There is mutual credibility because of past services they have done together and mutual respect for each other. The apprentice knows that if he needs any help or questions answered, all he has to do is ask the mentor at any time and he will help. Otherwise, he will not interfere. Isn't that what Jesus does? All we have to do is ask for help?

To "value" each individual is to believe that there is good inside of them. We may not see that but God does. Also, we have to remember that we are the children of God and born of His image, an image of which He loved each of us, sinners and saviours alike. Therefore, we are to see each person through the eyes of Jesus - children of God, and bring them back to the flock. We are to show our values of God - righteousness, grace, truth, forgiveness, love, and all that is given to us by Jesus. We share the Word with the non-believers for as children in the womb they were once believers.

What scriptures do you use to keep your values shining to others? I would love to hear your story and/or testimony about how the Lord has been with you and how you have helped others and/or how the Lord has helped you personally and professionally.

Have a Blessed Day and God Bless You All!!!
Tenha um dia abencoado - Deus te Abencoe (Portuguese)

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Cause a Storm in a Glass of Water

Close your eyes and you are back in the sixth grade. Your entire class is standing in a line around the classroom. You are in the middle of the line. The teacher whispers a sentence to the first student in line. The student turns to the student beside her and whispers the exact sentence to her. In turn, she whispers the exact sentence to the classmate beside her and it continues on down the line and it is now your turn. The sentence whispered to you is, "Oreo cookies are served for lunch." Your turn to pass it on, "Oreos' are served for lunch." You left off cookies because everyone knows Oreos' are cookies. When the sentence is whispered to the teacher, "cookies for lunch" she snickered. She read the sentence out loud from the piece of paper in her hand, "Oreo cookies will be served next Wednesday during the special lunch of spaghetti and meatballs." The children giggled and took their seats. Can you remember your sentence when you had to do this in class? Isn't this what happens when we spread rumors? When we make "mountains out of molehills"? Or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time?

If we put a spoon in a glass of water and stir it, the water begins to climb up the side and move away from the spoon. Depending how much water is in the glass, the water never leaves the glass. It just remains in the turmoil the spoon is causing. Now think of a situation where there is a "spoon" in a room of people (the water in the glass) that is talking about someone you work with. The more that person speaks, the more the water is stirred. You can't get away, you are just "twirled" into the words spoken. You are being pushed against the side of the glass but eventually you will be sucked into the whirlpool of the spoon. What do you do? You are a christian and know not to gossip about others. You can not leave your area. You are already praying for the Lord to cease the words of the person. You don't agree with the person because you know that will just endorse what they believe is right. Again, WHAT DO YOU DO?

By reason of just being in the same room, laughing when the person is laughing, or saying "yes" can make you a party of spreading gossip. To some christians, warning signs can occur like goose bumps on the arms (hair raising on your arms), empty gut feeling (done something wrong), and crying, for a few. The feelings of guilt. You want to ..... TO WHAT? Hide your head in the sand like an ostrich? Apologize to the person of gossip for being in the wrong place at the wrong time? Were you happy with the group? Were you happy or sad afterwards?

When swelling and pride come, then emptiness and shame come also, but with the humble (those who are lowly, who have been pruned or chiseled by trial, and renounce self) are skillful and godly Wisdom and soundness. The integrity of the upright is my guide. (Proverbs 11:2-3)

We can pray this prayer and put on our Shield of Armour and ask God for Wisdom and the words for the next Mountain we encounter.

I fear not, for God is with me; I am not dismayed; for He is my God. He will strengthen me, yes. He will help me, He will uphold me with His righteous right hand. (Isaiah (41:10) We can become insecure we believe this is going to happen and pray this pray for security.

Or we can just say that we can just tell the person that we value what they have to say but if it does not have anything directly to do with you, therefore; you do not wish to hear it or be involved in the conversation and to please take the conversation elsewhere. What do you think? Would that stop the "spoon from stirring"? Can it be spoken with Gods words and voice? Can you say it to where the person would understand that they would not want the conversation to be about them so they should not share about others except to the person directly?

I am one who has weakness for being in the wrong place at the wrong time and doing the above. I am a sinner with that but thank the Lord God that he has forgiven me for my sins. I now work daily on my sins just as each of us do. I read and study the word of God. I pray and talk to the Lord all the time. I have an intimate relationship developing with Jesus that people don't understand and always want me to justify myself for what I do. I think about the spoon in the glass of water now and want to be in that water making it so thick with God's love that the spoon can not move.

Would love to have scriptures so the water can become thick. Would love to "burn" the scriptures into my soul so I can fight off the darkness of hurting words. Goodnight and.....

God Bless You All!!!

#2 of Would YOU Follow YOU

This is the continuing discussion of John C Maxwell's article discussed in my previous blog of September 25, 2009, titled, "Display Emotion". Mr. Maxwell discusses how a leader should communicate with Authenticity also known as compassion. In business, compassion is a value and part of a mission statement, therefore; it becomes part of an employees yearly evaluation. The article states that a work leader should allow glimpses of his/her joys and sorrows because that will make communication to workers trustworthy. By doing so, we can come to our leader/supervisor/director with our problems and/or concerns. By sharing our problems then they will not interfere with co-workers and work will continue as usual. How does this work in our lives once we leave work? How does this work in our spiritual life? How does this work when you are around someone you consider unworthy of love?

Christians are to stand out in a crowd as Christlike. They are to talk Gods language. What we say to non-believers are words scribed in the bible. Gods word is authentic to us because we believe in the entity himself. We believe that by following the values and laws set down, we will become a better person and life around us will be better. That is carried to work because we believe in ourselves. Paul wrote that "love believes all things, hope all things." (1Corinthians 13:7) He believed love "believed" in people and that God can take the most unattractive and unworthy individual and turn them into a masterpiece of beauty and grace. (Our Daily Bread, Sept. 26, 2009). As followers of Jesus Christ, we TRUST the LORD that whomever we meet, God brought us together for a reason. Matthew 10:16 says we become "as wise as serpents" when we sense danger around us. But we should not put on the tough shell because we will have no heart of God, only darkness. Instead, we should put on our SHIELD OF ARMOUR (Ephesians 6:13-18) then continue to talk about the LOVE of God and bring the non-believer to Jesus. Can you keep on your Shield of Armour when you approach a person you feel is unworthy? Are we qualified to know who is unworthy? Are the worthy really worthy or worthy on the outside and unworthy on the inside? Do we wear our worthiness on our sleeve at all times? Do others believe we are trustworthy at all times?

Tomorrow we will discuss #3 "Embody Values, Communication Benefit: Credibility" from the article. I look forward to hearing from you and any scriptures you have to share. Thank you and.....

Please check out my recommended website for daily readings and devotions from RBC Ministries. http://www.rbc.org/

God Bless You All!!!

Friday, September 25, 2009

Favorite Scriptures for Comforting Those That Worry

As I sat beside her hospital bed, we both twirled our rings. We thought it was just a cold but the cough was different this time and she could not breathe right. I worked in radiology and knew the x-ray did not look right. Waiting was not something Mom was good at doing, especially lying in a hospital bed. This was her first time in a hospital since her cancer surgery 4o years ago. How much longer will it be before the doctor tells her the news -- beign or malignant. I said the same prayer over and over. Prayed for God to heal Mom before I even heard the news. But it never eased the fear. I could not even remember the Lords Prayer or Psalms 23. The darkness of fear kept me from speaking the words. The worry for Mom. Is she going to handle the news OK? How will my brother handle it? What is the next step? How will we tell my aunts and uncles? I didn't even think about how I would handle it because I knew that I would do whatever it would take to make my mom happy, comfortable and live long. But it would not stop me from worrying. Natural fear - human fear.

This is what goes on in a human mind whenever we are faced with a situation of stress. Fear is worrying about the unknown of something we can do nothing about. Fear is worrying about the future, even if it is something that is to happen within the next minute. God says to give our fear to him in prayer. THE LORD is my Light and my Salvation--whom shall I fear or dread? The Lord is the Refuge and Stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1).

There are many of you that have had situations like I had with my mother. There are others who have had personal situations where scriptures have comforted them. Please share the scriptures so others may receive comfort. Here are a few to start:

God will cover me with his wings; I will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend me. I need not fear any dangers at night or sudden attacks during the day. (Psalm 91:4-5)

I am not afraid of receiving bad news; my faith is strong, and I trust in the Lord. I am not worried or afraid. (Psalm 112: 7-8)

God Bless You All!