Are Your Words Killing Others?

I was thinking while eating lunch today about how people love to quote Proverbs 18:21 (Death and life are in the power of the tongue) and sing songs that say "I shall live and not die." I know in most cases, we're saying that to ourselves, but here's a question: are we speaking life to others or are our words killing others? As many times that we can say to ourselves that we're speaking life, I'm willing to say that our words are actually harming others. Why? We're innate selfish!

Before you stop reading, think about it for a minute. How do we kill others? When we down them because of where they are in life or perhaps they may not be a spiritual as you. We speak death to others when we give off a "holier than thou" tone. We speak death to others when God is not the focus of your speech and it's your pride and ego in the way. We tend to speak death those who don't have the same personality as you or who don't bow down to you. I'll use a perfect example as to how our words kill others. When you keep telling people (as you're speaking life to yourself) that you interact with the following phrases, "You're incompetent, you're just like your mother/father - a good for nothing; you'll never be better than me; God's favor is on me and you'll be blessed if you do what I tell you to do; you're old; you're deteriorating; you're just like the other men; you're too good for me; you're not good enough; you're not spiritual enough to be in my circle; you're not like my pastor" and the list goes on. When a person hears phrases like this from you, whether you know it or not, you are abetting in a person's physical death, mental death or worse, spiritual death. Another example is this: at my former church, the pastor would say cursed are those who didn't attend his church. 

Here's something that you may not have thought of, our silence can actually speak death to others. When we don't stand up for the truth and remain silent, we're actually speaking death to everyone around you. Sure, we can speak life unto ourselves and puff ourselves up, we might want to be careful because we can end up acting just like the Pharisee in Luke 18:10-14. Check this out: "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.' But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted."

Just a short message to say this: if we can encourage ourselves and speak life to ourselves, speak life to a hurting soul and drop your ego, pride and anything else that may give the tone of speaking death. We can't afford to have our words killing another person. 

Our Attitudes As Christians

I would like to extend to a huge thanks to two authors for inspiring this blogpost (Danielle Taylor & Cynthia Lamb). I believe that our attitudes as Christians need to change for the better; if we don't, we will have a lot of blood on our hands and perpetrate the fraud thinking we're doing Kingdom business. I have a lot of topics to cover on this topic, so I will get directly to the point. You see, our selfishness attitudes, our pride and egos as Christians is why we are failing at Kingdom business.

I hear this phrase quite a bit from Christians, "I'm cutting people off cause they're not adding growth or I can't be around them cause they have too many issues, or cause they don't support my favorite preacher, gospel artist, etc." Here's a rhetorical question: Did Jesus ever cut anybody off? Many people would look to Judas, but the truth is that Judas cut himself off. God never cut anybody off (He pronounced judgment only because they cut themselves off from Him). So how dare we think that we're bigger than Jesus by cutting people off? What makes this even worse is that we cut people off due to minor issues (such as the things mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph). Now I did cut one person off by blocking them (this was a stalker case and due to her mental state). Now that doesn't mean that I won't stop loving her or praying for her. See, when we tend to cut people off, we do it with so much malice that we act no different than the world. Here's a question worth considering: have you ever prayed for anyone you've cut off, or did you frown your nose when you cut them off? In all seriousness, it shows that we are on the throne and not God. Let me make something clear: I'm not saying that you don't use discernment when you deal with people, you MUST do that.

Our attitudes actually aid to the number of agnostics and atheists. If we were to show love and compassion towards them (because God loves them too), they would see how real Christ is. Yes, they ultimately make the final decision, but we don't want to hinder them with our pride and ego. Sadly, there are times they get it better than we do due to our behavior.

One of my dear friends made this comment: when you have Christians going overseas to preach the gospel versus preaching in their own state (due to fear, burned out), that's a sign that we're not heeding the New Testament (thinking on scriptures such as bearing one another's burdens, and pairing up in twos - to witness, and pray in agreement). But at the same token, another sister friend said that missionaries overseas are coming over to witness to us because we're too complacent with the gospel (I would even add the fact that we are so partial to the gospel, that we would rather hand around our respective cliques - you must go to my church to be a part of my circle - and the 99 found sheep). So, what have we shown to the world? How to be fragmented and divided. Now how's that for Kingdom business?

How did we ever get to the place that we will attack those who are truly God's anointed versus those who are perpetrating a fraud? We will tear down those who God put up, and we lift up people who we KNOW are living foul and will cover it up cause they itch our ears? What does that show? We're selfish (and heaven forbid that we call it out, then we have to hear "you're judging." And don't let me tell you that I'm in sin, for you would end that friendship with me quickly - but then you want me to show love and compassion when you slip and fall). Also, how did we get to the place where we base our friendships and associations based on who gives us goosebumps, itches our ears, and supports our personal agenda? What about God's agenda and what He wants us to do? And the last thing for this point: how did we get to the place where we tell people who are going through to "Talk to God" but then turn around and want them to stop what we're doing to pray for us? That is not only discrimination, but it's also hypocritical and we need to repent for our behavior.

There are things that people will want to debate you over such as "how come you don't defend my pastor, or my church?" and we Christians will get mad (and scholarly I might add) if we don't defend their pastor, their church, etc. I'm not saying this is arbitrarily a bad thing, but when it takes precedence over the Bible, then it's a major problem!

The last thing I want to touch on is "titles." When we put our title over the fact that we're a child of God first (and you drop your sanctification if you're recognized for your title), then we have a serious problem. Now, you can call yourself what you want, I still consider you a child of God first (but I will respect your title and your position). And granted, I may have a title, but I also know that my title is not who I am ultimately. I'm a friend/child of God (and a brother in Christ) first.

Yes, I know that we're going to be hated by men, but it's a travesty when hatred comes from those who say they're in the body of Christ. If we keep pride, egotism as our attitudes in the body of Christ, we'll be doing more harm than good when it comes to Kingdom business.

Now, this post is really out of love and concern, and really a plea that we've got to get back to being on one accord. If we really want the signs and wonders in Acts 2 (as well as seeing many get saved), we have to be on one accord (of course, not solely for the signs and wonders, that's what God wants from us anyway). It's been said, we will be known by our fruit, not by our prosperity!

Blessings.

The Mayne Man

The Dream & The Process

Wherever you are at this moment, think about the time when you dreamed a dream that was beyond what you currently saw at the moment (but you knew it was achievable). Now think about the time when you actually achieved that dream when all odds were against you (to include family & friends). What were your emotions like? Did you feel like you could accomplish any challenge that you would face in the future? Did you feel like you were on top of the world?

The purpose of having you think on when you dreamed big is because many people have stopped dreaming (due to the current state of the economy, complacency, or having deadbeat friends and family trying to keep you inside their little box). I want you to be open to His Spirit to let Him speak to your spirit. He knows what you’re ordained to do and for many of you, it’s beyond what you currently see. Don’t let this world stop you (and it will throw anything it can to stop you).

Now, I need to qualify what I have been saying because there are people who ARE dreaming big, but then they want to penalize God because it’s not happening on their timetable (typically within 24 hours). Let’s be realistic for a moment, if you have goals (something simple such as getting out of debt, or losing weight), don’t think that you’ll reach your goal in 24 hours. It’s going to be a process (and of course, I can’t say how long the process will be) and I won’t promise you that it will be easy. But if you can find joy when you’re going through the process; that will determine how hard you’ll rejoice when you reach the end of your goal!

In summary: keep dreaming, and rejoice in the process. Many trials we will go through, but we will be delivered by Him in due time!

Blessings.

The Mayne Man

Are You Seeking Acceptance From Man or God?

I was asked by a dear friend of mine to share this with you all. I initially shared it with my inner circle when  God spoke this to my heart (around 8:30am on 10/5/13). So, here it goes.

God just revealed something to me that hit home. All of my life, I longed to be accepted. I tried getting it from my family (I got it as long as it fit their mode of operation), I tried getting it through my gifts (some would backfire). Today, I find that as long as I am accepted by Jesus is all that I need acceptance from.

For my calling (and for others with a calling this serious), rejection is expected and many sufferings will be in order. Sadly, many people don't want to bear burdens because of pride. And the sleeping church will league with those with pride issues. We have problems and don't want to share burdens. We don't share because we will face ridicule from prideful people (causing us to feel more condemned). We don't share because we'll receive a deaf ear. Apparently, we're to only need God; however, we do have to listen to their problems. Another reason we don't share is because the same people who want us to open up will be the same ones to make a spectacle out of us and to boost their righteousness over us.

Final revelation: many people will say we have to ask the wrong doer to forgive us when we were abused, neglected, almost to make us feel that we caused it. Of course, this should sound absurd, but we still inflict this on people who need a touch from God. Yes, Jesus took on things He didn't do for our sake, but we're not Jesus. Granted, I got in trouble growing up for things I didn't even do (it was all blamed on me). One thing that comes to mind is the time when one of my relatives who lived with me stole money from the money collected from my cookie sales that people ordered. It has taught me now to be very ethical with how I conduct business with others. So finding acceptance from my family was more difficult. Again, I know now that acceptance only comes from God alone. The world will view us as failures and will want us to bow down to it's acceptance.

So what is the underlying message to this: each person must look to Jesus for acceptance and to determine who you share your most intimate issues with. Not everyone who says that are for you ARE (even in the church world). As Jesus pulled away, sometimes we must do the same thing. People will want to take offense before coming to you to resolve the offense (or they'll tell you they were offended and write you off because they are holier than you). As brothers/sisters, we can't afford to live ourselves to the point that we throw fellow brothers/sisters to the wolves (as open prey to the devil). If God has called someone to something important which requires rejection and suffering, prayer & intercession is necessary (not writing them off). And for us to side with people like that is saying, I agree with writing them off. We all have our quirks, but we should always see the best in people (and not league with the devil by seeing the worst in them). If we can say death and life are in the power of the tongue, we must be truthful at all costs, but discern where a person is in their lives. It's not a one size fits all.

Blessings:

The Mayne Man

Pieces of Me Facebook Chat with Tremayne Moore

Come join me on Oct 23rd at 8pm on Facebook.

I, Tremayne Moore (the "Mayne Man") will be discussing my novel Pieces of Me and will be taking any questions you want to ask me "live" on Facebook.

Between now and the day of the event, I will be giving away a copy of my novel in paperback format (and yes, it will be autographed). More details to follow within the next two weeks.

Meanwhile, to the right of this post, please view the Pieces of Me skit (recorded August 3, 2013 at my release party). These are the first 2 chapters acted out in theatre style. Hope you like it. 

This chat will take place online at Tywebbin Publicity Author Chat:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/239772029512009/243878759101336/

RSVP today at:
https://www.facebook.com/events/253466521444809/?ref_dashboard_filter=calendar

How Cinderella Inherited Her Promise

Hebrews 6:11-12 says this: And we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end, so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises.

Now many of you know the end of Cinderella that she ends up with Prince Charming. Getting there wasn’t easy for Cinderella. There are many things we can learn from this Disney classic. I can tell you that she was not sluggish by any means and that she did have her moments, but she was patient and she inherited her promise. I could just end it here, but I want to highlight a few things in detail.

Cinderella wasn’t liked by her step family (it was obvious as to how they treated her). Her step family thought they were all that and a bag of chips (their hearts were pure ugly – and in some books, they even appeared ugly on the exterior). Like any woman would, they want to be with the man of the hour (in this case, it was Prince Charming). What the step family didn’t realize was that Prince Charming was promised to Cinderella. And like the enemy, he knows what is promised to us (on earth but more importantly our spiritual promise), and is going to do what he can to ensure that we don’t inherit that promise. Cinderella’s punishment for being her was to clean up the house. Now Cinderella could’ve protested and said that she was not going to clean up as a result of their treatment towards her, but she was faithful to do whatever earthly task she had to do. The key word in my prior sentence is “faithful.”

The mice were a god-send to Cinderella, and Cinderella loved the mice. The step family threw away things that seemed insignificant, and the mice made a dress out of those things. See, that’s the beauty of God, He can make something beautiful of what we may think is insignificant. When the step family saw it, they thought they could seal Cinderella’s destiny in that she’s not going by ripping up that dress. And like Cinderella, we have our moments and wonder is God going to come through by saying “I’m faithful with my tasks and being patient as long as I can without losing my mind ‘up in here’.”

And we know that when God comes through, He just does it. And He did that for Cinderella by sending the fairy godmother to her. She confirmed that she is going to the ball (in other words, like the angel told Mary that “you have found favor”). Her dress was 5x better than what the mice made and the mice would be the ones who would transport her to the ball in a pumpkin. What stands out to me: God’s ways are always better than our ways. The dress that she would go to the ball in was way better than the dress that was made from items that belonged to heathen.

Now we have the shoe incident. Who did the glass shoe belong to? I’m sure the step family knew who it belonged to, that’s why they made it so clear when Cinderella was locked away upstairs in a room. See, what the devil doesn’t realize is that when God promises something, he can’t stop it especially when we’re patient and walking by faith. The man had to have the spirit of God in him to call Cinderella down from that locked room (kind of reflective of when Samuel wanted David to come from the field to see if that’s who God chose to be king of Israel). And yes, the shoe fit on Cinderella and they lived happily ever after.

So this is how Cinderella inherited her promise. Just remember when you are promised something from God (and we are spiritually), never get cocky with it and always remain humble & grateful.

Author Spotlight (Michelle Donice)

I was privileged to meet this author at the BWABC Literacy Festival (hosted by Shelia E. Lipsey) in 2012. From Ormand Beach (or really Daytona Beach), FL, this week's author spotlight belongs to Michelle Donice.

Michelle Donice is the penname for author Dr. Michelle Thompson. Her debut novel The Other Side of Through was awarded the Gold Standard in Literary Excellence by The Princeton Literary Review and Michelle’s highly anticipated second novel Sick of Sorry will be released this summer. Michelle was raised in Indianapolis, Indiana but currently lives in Daytona Beach, Florida. She works at the historic Bethune-Cookman University and enjoys yoga, running, traveling, and spending time with her family. Michelle is a much sought after speaker on issues related to women and children. Visit her website at www.michelledonice.com and follow her blog at  www.pen-demonium.blogspot.com

Visit me at www.michelledonice.com and follow me on Facebook and Twitter.