He Who Loves the Poor

 "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the Kingdom of God..."(Luke 6:20)

                Have you ever had that moment when you're reading the Word, and you realize how strange the ways of God are compared to the ways of men? I've been having that moment several times a day this week.

                As I look around me and see how the world works, I see certain patterns. Obvious patterns. The rich get richer, the poor get poorer. The wounded are abandoned as hopeless. The brokenhearted become the hardened hearts. This makes sense to my mind only if I think about it in my perspective. If I work hard and play the "Social Darwinism" game, I'll always be richer. If I'm not wounded, I get the head start. My heart cannot be hurt if it's hardened.

                Then, I stop and take a moment. I ask the Lord what he sees. Why does he say "blessed are the poor" and "woe to the rich"? The poor have nothing to give, but when they have, they do not hoard. They are humbled. The wounded and brokenhearted are weak and broken people. They know their limits and depravity--their weakness. They are humbled. They know that, if a king were to serve them, they are undeserving. If a king were to serve them, they would accept it in full gratitude, and they would return with what they had.

What do the weak and broken have to give to God? Love.

                I realized while going through both the Old and New Testament, that God shows us His commands because, not only does it lead us in the right way, but it shows us part of His heart. God said in Zechariah, "Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other." There's a reason. He wants us to love, despite status, money, intellectuality...

                In a middle-class world, I don't often think of the poor. Well, when I say poor, what does that mean? It's a question I ask myself. When I think of the poor, do I automatically think of the homeless? Those with little money? Yes, these are all on God's heart. Have I forgotten those who are "poorer" than I, if I can even make such a call? Not just in money and possession...but those with no father, no mother, no sister, brother, or friend. Am I generous and loving to them with my time and words?

                Are our conversations with people based on how they can help us? Or how we can gain status or impose a higher "status" upon them? Do we boast that we are not as broken, that we are wiser, that we are more mature in Christ than they are and file it away under "ministry"?

But for the grace of God, there go I.

              Motivation. It amazes me that sometimes we don't even realize our own motives. Sometimes it takes the Holy Spirit. He points out that quoting of Scripture wasn't to help that person, but to promote intellect. He points out what we missed in that person's story while we were trying to get gossip. He points out all the snap-judgments we make about a person when they walk into the room.

                James warns the church of such judgment--yes, even judgment to say who is rich and who is not. Here, he says "My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.  Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in.  If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, 'Here’s a good seat for you,' but say to the poor man, 'You stand there' or 'Sit on the floor by my feet,' have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts..." (James 2:1-4; I recommend reading the whole chapter with an open heart to the Holy Spirit).

                My point is that Jesus loves the poor because of their hearts. Blessed are the poor, for they know that they cannot do anything in their own strength. They are blessed for they lean on Him in the wilderness. They are blessed because they are so open to Him, for He raised them up, even though they were lowly, and He is high and lofty. The response of a poor heart is love.

                I ask the Lord daily, as I struggle with this, to keep me humble before Him. That I would not forget that it was by His mercy alone that I can stand before Him, or that He chooses to use me to minister. For to whom much is given, much is expected. May my position, my money, my possessions, my talents, my anything never get to my head so that my heart becomes dull and stupid to what matters--Jesus, the one who loves the poor.

Just a Moment

Just a moment ago, the sun was shining directly through the leafless trees. It was shining through my window, gently lighting the book in front of my eyes. I stopped for a moment to observe the orangish tone reflecting off the droll black and white. I tilted my head and turned to look out the window.
   It's amazing how a sight that appears everyday becomes more breathtaking when one stops to actually observe it. There, the sun was leaving it's mark on the world--on the sky. The heavens were transformed into  a marvelous, silky gold blanket. The trees were suddenly changed from a dull, whitish brown to a deep, chesnut oak. In one moment, the bleakness of winter was overcome.

Yet, the sun set.

Already, I see as it fades behind the curtain of clouds. It paints the curtains purple and pink, allowing the sky to return to its normal shade of blue. The branches of the trees droop, as if saddened by the departure. The grass no longer reflects the beauty of the gold, but returns to brownish straw. I, too, frown. I realize, another day has come and gone. Then, I know the sun will rise tomorrow. I find myself thinking. What have I accomplished? What could I do that compares to such a sight?
   My mind turns to my Beloved, the One who placed the golden orb in the sky. What have I done for Him to give me such a gift?
   Every day he leaves me the beauty of that moment. Every day, He leaves me signs of His never ending love. Why do I only recognize it today?
  I smiled, thinking of how my heart nearly skipped a beat seeing the beauty of the light hitting the pages of my book. My mouth, previously speaking the words on the page, suddenly stop as a gasp escaped my lips.
   I feel small, but not insignificant. The world is so big. My God is so much bigger than even the creation He has me see. And, yet he hears me.
   And, even as the sun sets, even as its warmth leaves the earth for a short time, even as the light fades, I feel a greater Light still. He is truly the Light of the world.
   It's amazing: it took but one sunset to make me realize the majesty of my Creator. It took but one sunset to make me fall deeper in love with Him. And, though the sun sets, there is always morning. And like the rising of the sun, surely, He will come....

" ¹ LORD, our Lord, 

   how majestic is your name in all the earth!

   You have set your glory
   in the heavens.
² Through the praise of children and infants
   you have established a stronghold against your enemies,
   to silence the foe and the avenger.
³ When I consider your heavens,
   the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
   which you have set in place,
⁴ what is mankind that you are mindful of them,
   human beings that you care for them?^{[c]"  --Psalm 8: 1-4}

What are you looking at?

Heya! I thought I'd write down some musings of mine...( musings, mind you)

So, I've been thinking about becoming what you behold. It's true, right? What if this generation took their eyes off of models, actors, etc. and set their eyes on the beauty of Jesus? Would there not be a change of mindset? I was thinking that a lot of teens I've seen and talked to have this desire to be beautiful and good-looking on the outside. An obsession really. What is beauty though? How can we know beauty if we do not look upon beauty itself? Yes, Jesus is the beautiful One. If our eyes were set on Him, we would become more Christ-like. We have our gaze, our hearts, set on Him. Paul says, " And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." ( 2 Cor. 3:18) When we think on the glory of the Lord, we are transformed into His image. Isn't that what we should be doing? Why are we so concerned with what we look like? Can it be a distraction? Is it a incomplete, mediocre desire for a longing to be who we truly are?
I know I have a lot of questions in this post, but like I said, these are my ponderings-- not exactly complete thoughts yet. My main point, though, is: If we keep our eyes on Jesus, and are transfixed on His dazzling beauty, will we not be transformed into something beautiful? Into His beautiful Bride?
It's time we truly get our eyes off ourselves and the things of the world and set our gaze on the only One worthy to gaze at -- Jesus Christ. Read Revelation, a mere glimpse of all He is, and all ready, you will be blown away.
It's been a long time "thing" that people have been obsessed with. It's time for this generation to turn obsession with their own beauty to an obsession with Jesus. Lord, turn our eyes from worthless things...



"One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple." Psalm 24:7



"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight." -- 1 Peter 3: 3-4 ( I know this was directed to wives, but just read the concept. Get what I'm saying?)



"For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ." -- 2 Cor. 4:6



"Turn my eyes away from worthless things; preserve my life according to your word." -- Psalm 119: 37

All a Matter of Perspective

WHOA!!!!!! It's been awhile! Lookie, here: I leave for a few months and BAM! everything is changed on this thing.
   Anyway, this will be a relatively short post, as I still need to write up an essay. I wanted to get this down for a bit, but I didn't know how to word it. However, the Lord just gave me a revelation. So, I was asking Him:
Lord, why does school, hobbies, etc. seem less important lately? And He said, " Not less important, but in a new perspective." Yeahhh....he totally blew me away with that! I've been making it a goal: I'm living for another age. All of a sudden, everything I do has a new meaning and purpose. It's starting to become a little clear that everything we do on this earth must be driven for God and by God. If we aren't, what's the purpose in the big picture? Am I doing this for my ends, or His purpose? You see, He knows things we don't. So when we begin asking to see things through his eyes-- to find His will and purpose in our lives, it becomes a little clear on what we're supposed to do. Granted its not clear all the time! Sometimes, you're sitting there wondering: Why, Lord? And yet, you still have some kind of peace. You still have that feeling, "Yes, I know this is from You, Lord."
   So, as time progresses, and stress continues to pile on, ask Him for His perspective. What does He see in our actions? Is it bringing glory to Him? Is it what he wants in the first place? For, even good things, when not in His will, are not good at all.

"I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;apart from you I have no good thing.”-- Psalm 16:2


"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." -- Romans 12:2 


"...your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." --Matthew 6:10


"Be good to your servant while I live, that I may obey your word." --Psalm 119: 17

Secure in Insecurities?

   I was listening to a song the other day called " Dark but Lovely" and one of the lines hit me hard. It said,
" Though I'm dark, You say I am lovely. Though I'm poor You say, I am beautiful." And I think how many times I fret over petty things like clothing and such. And how many times I complain to Jesus about all the mistakes I've made and how much I mess up. Eventually, He said, " STOP! Do I not know you better than you yourself?" It was intense. I mean, here I am telling Him how I should be. He knows all about me...all of who I really am. He will form me into who I am supposed to be-- I just have to let him.
   So much insecurity nowadays, lies in that concept. We're constantly trying to live by the standards of the world. Whether it be clothing, or in what we watch, or what we say. As Christians, the only standard we should be living by is what God says in His word. It should be the law we follow daily and strive to follow. After all, things of this world will fade away. Who are we trying to please? The only One we should try to please is Jesus.
    If everyone came into agreement with what HE says about us, surely, all this insecurity would vanish. If only we were confident in who we are as His bride...as His people. Do we not have enough faith to even know who we are?
   Sometimes, I think, people are too secure in the their insecurities. They have forgotten who they are. We are the people of God. We listen to what the enemy would make us believe we are instead of what  our Creator is declaring we are. And , one cannot listen to both. You can only serve one master.
    Part of destiny is learning who You truly are. And how does one do that? Ask the One who created them. For He knows everything about you down to the last detail.

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’  For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."-- Matt. 2: 28-34

" Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows." -- Matt. 10: 28-30

"You turn things upside down,as if the potter were thought to be like the clay! 

Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, “You did not make me”? 
Can the pot say to the potter,“You know nothing”?" " -- Isaiah 29:16


"No longer will they call you Deserted,or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah,and your land Beulah;for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married." -- Isaiah 62:4 (Hephzibah means my delight is in her;Beulah means married.)


"I am a rose of Sharon, a lily of the valleys." --Song of Solomon 2:1

"Somewhere over the rainbow..."

  Why over? Okay, I'm gonna get a bit scientific here, so bear with me. White light is made up of seven colors(ROY G. BIV). Oh, 7, by the way, is the number of completion. Anyway, the colors in white light are not visible to the human eye except when white light is refracted through a prism or some such thing.
    When is a rainbow most often seen? After a storm!
   " So, Tanacita, what's your point? Don't I get enough of this in science class?" Well, faithful readers, my point: All these colors are in front of us all the time and we don't even see them until after a storm. Didn't God promise He would never flood the earth again? And didn't he use a rainbow as a sign of that covenant?
   See, God's promises always, always stay true. And a lot of the time, we can't see them. It's really hard to believe in something you can't see That's where faith comes in, which we pray that He will give us.  And sometimes, He has to take us through storms. We go through trials and testing. But at the end, when light breaks through, He once again reminds us of His promises. They were always there...but after tough times, we need to be reminded. Isn't He so gracious? So, those of you going through a storm, remember, the Lord ALWAYS keeps His promises.

"I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." --Gen. 9:13


"For no word from God will ever fail.” -- Luke 1:37


"For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does." -- Psalm 33:4


"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." -- Hebrews 11:1

Hide and Seek

I attended a conference this past weekend. One of the speakers spent a whole hour going through who Jesus is according to the Bible. And it occurred to me how little I actually know about the One I serve. He is so deep and everytime I look, I see something new.
     It's really amazing. I read the Word and say, " Wow, Jesus! I learned something new about you." And then, come back a week later to the same exact verse and the Holy Spirit reveals something new.
     It made me check myself. There is so much to learn about him. How much am I searching?  The Bible says if you seek Him, you will find Him. And I'm gonna need the Holy Spirit to understand anything in the Word. I need to put in that time to seek. I need to get to a point where I don't only need Him, I desperately want Him. And to add something more, I only love Him, because He loved me first.
    See, I can't read the Word without the Holy Spirit giving me understanding. I couldn't love, if Christ never loved me first. I could do nothing if it wasn't for God. I can do absolutely nothing on my own. It just shows how much Jesus, inside of me, is doing. I want to learn about the One I serve. Because, I want to know about the One who lives inside of me. He's so vast! He's bigger than the entire, entire universe ( which, by the way, is still expanding). After all, He did create it. Yet, He's inside of me...and wants to use me for His purpose. When you think about it, it's really mind-blowing. And humbling.
    It's almost like hide and seek....or a treasure hunt. God keeps certain things hidden for those who will take the time to actually seek Him. So, what are we waiting for? Those who seek will find.

"But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul."-- Deut. 4:29


"I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me." -- Proverbs 8:17


"¹³ When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

 ¹⁴ They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

   ¹⁵ “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

 ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

 ¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. " -- Matt. 16: 13-17

"We love because he first loved us." -- 1 John 4:19