Black Sheep or ' Lost Sheep ' ?

Happy Thursday, with wishes of Warm Blessings in the name of The Most High !

Most of us have heard the age old expression of " The Black Sheep of the Family ". Truly, what a hurtful label. I can easily speak about being labeled The Black Sheep as I myself  was ( prior to committing to life with and through Christ ), labeled as such in my own family. So, Yes,....it's a tough label, a hurtful label, but oft times a hypocritical label,....or should we say " Judgmental ". Lets take a deeper look at this issue.

First off, lets talk about the fact that such a quote or label is typically and initially inferred by a family member. Likely a family member whom you have wronged in the past or one in whose eyes we've not measured up to THEIR expectations. But, whose expectations should we really be trying to meet?
I'm pretty sure it's God's expectations. Furthermore, I'm pretty sure that those expectations can be easily found in Holy Scripture. As a matter of fact, not only will Scripture outline ( in several places, and by several sources ) God's expectations, but through ' stepping ', or walking through life as Jesus did, God has shown us HOW to meet those expectations.

Let's take a quick look at Judgement, as if we were to use the Black Sheep label, we have obviously demonstrated that we are so self-righteous that we completely disregard  Scriptural Directive. For, Matt. 7:1 reads " Do not judge others or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. "
And, as far as the phrase ' Black Sheep ' goes, when I consider the complexity of using this label, my mind goes directly to the word SHEEP.
As Christians, we understand the analogy of 'we' the children of God have since the inception of Christianity,  been viewed as the sheep of our loving Father and Creator, who is well portrayed as our infallible "Guardian Shepherd".
This said,.... this Minister of Christ asks you to consider this:  Rather than labeling any of our Christian Brothers and Sisters as "Black Sheep" due to previous wandering ways,....perhaps 'worldly ways', should we perhaps perceive such a situation as " A Lost Sheep "?............. perhaps that same 'lost sheep' that Jesus tells us he will leave the fold to find?  Hmmmm!

My next issue with the modern day 'black sheep' label is simply this: More times than not, the black sheep label is issued by a family member. Moms, Dads, Siblings, In-Laws, Uncles, Aunts and more.
Now, we all know the reality of the fact that the family dynamic has drastically changed throughout the generations. As a matter of fact, I firmly believe that modern family dynamics or lack thereof  is one of the worlds greatest contributors to  rampant sinful ways. Gone seem the days of generational respect, generational blessings, washing away are the days of family reunions, losing it's substance is the age old phrase of 'Blood is thicker than water'. ( Thank you Father, for the LIVING WATER ! )  Family relationships and family love has changed, the WORD and LOVE of God has not changed and never will.
The book of Isiah remains a favorite of mine as you may see in future writings. Consequently, I add to the above mentioned familial shortcomings that contribute to family member judgement, this following verse from the prophet Isaiah : ISAIAH 58:7 ends with " and NEVER turn away from your own flesh and blood "
So i ask, what good have we done by labeling a family member as a Black Sheep? Will keeping your distance and holding tight to a grudge be pleasing to the eyes of God?
Is it not also said that any house divided against itself will surely crumble? Do we put such low value on family responsibility, Has family love become conditional?  It IS our responsibility to bring our 'lost sheep', back into the fold.



With Christ we can achieve anything!  We can overcome anything!  even our own ignorance to scriptural guidance. For His grace and mercy is infinite.

So, as we plod through our day today, let us reflect on this post. Have we treated any family members as a Black Sheep of the Family ? Look Inward!

Let us let go of the self-righteousness of familial judgement. Black Sheep, Red Sheep, Yellow Sheep,.......it doesn't matter! As we move forward on our ever changing journey, let us make every effort to more fully study and understand scripture ( as it is written and NOT re-interpreted ), truly, if we open our hearts and minds to scriptural directives we will leave the Black Sheep labeling behind as we move forward in a Christ like manner and " Find Our Lost Sheep :"...................really, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO ?

Please join me tomorrow as I keep with " Familial Responsibilities and Actualities ". I'm looking forward to examining a slightly different way of looking at the story of The Prodigal Son. 

May God Almighty ( El Sheddai ), bless your day with his infinite Grace and Mercy !

UNCOMPROMISING FAITH !

July 28  2014

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Greetings and "Happy Day" in the name of Christ Jesus !  Today's topic of review and prayer involves the
" TRUE " deep understanding toward the un-compromised word of God.

Question :  How could the early disciples turn the world upside down when millions of Christians can't even keep it right side up today?

The answer is really quite simple. They didn't conform their faith to the world. They had the truth, and they refused to water it down. They held a faith that would not under any circumstance compromise !
The words of Paul, " Do not be conformed to this world," have tremendous significance and meaning for us today.

Today's Prayer :

                         Dear Father God,

                     In our human frailty, we have ' diversified ' our challenges to live in a way that is truly pleasing to your eye. During a troublesome time with our Jewish Brothers and Sisters as they face numerous un-settling issues that appear to be closely aligned with Biblical Prophecy,   Christianity divisions continue to grow, .....to a point of  actually dividing Churches. ( surely NOW is the time to re-read the book of Revelation~!)
To put it simply, " The church is on dangerous ground when so many depart from the teachings of Christ ".
Surely when it departs from the teaching of  Jesus and attempts to Redefine HIS commands and compromise HIS truth, for the sake of believing that they are actually self-righteous enough to re-define the written word, is to me,..............unacceptable.
Lord,...please help me to align with like minded followers. That we may evangelize the truth, and help to patch the compromised path. Please help us to understand that " It is better to be divided by truth than to be united in error ".
Please help us Lord, to bring Jesus back to the churches that may have gone astray. It sometimes seems as though church has been commercialized and sometimes even franchised. In doing so, it becomes a compromise that is being played out in rewriting the Bible and preaching a gospel emphasizing the works of mankind. Please help these mis-guided Christians from watering down your word, Help them to find the joy provided us in doing so!
Help us to realize the urgency in " getting our houses in order ", as we find the daily human love-joy that is experienced in living a life through and with Jesus Christ. As we build our heavenly treasures, please bless us with growth of our relationship with our Messiah.Our Salvation!

We ask these blessings and opportunities to faithfully evangelize the truth of Life Through Christ.

Amen !

Today Is A Gift From The Lord, Let Us Rejoice In It !

Dear Loving Father,

I thank you for yet another day here on the earth you created for us. Furthermore, I praise you for all you have given me and will set before me.

In my relationship with your loving Son, in earnestly trying to walk in His directives, I am in the honest realization that ( I ) am the weak link in the chain of my relationship with Christ Jesus.
Today I pray that you reinforce the Holy Spirit that indwells within me so to harden the weakness of my personal chain of Holy Relationship so to enable me to better serve You, my Father and Creator.

Please continue through your endless Grace & Mercy to strengthen my relationship with Jesus, so that I may better minister the Truth of the necessity to be a  ' Born Again ' Christian. For as it is written in 1 JOHN 1:7,..." But if we walk in the light, as He is the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ, His Son, cleanses us from all sin."

How Blessed we are to fully understand that You are indeed The God of Second Chances!

We ask that you Bless this Ministry Initiative with Holy Discernment. That we may be a beacon of light to others, and that they may find the deep inner peace provided through a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior.
We pray these things in the Holiest of names, Christ Jesus...........................AMen !