What Has Church Become?

Wow! So much has been revealed about ministries and ministry heads all over the country. It really makes you think about your position in the kingdom. 

We often put our focus on leadership than on Christ. We get excited about what the facility looks like, the special effects and the hype but lose focus on the whole concept of what ministry really is.

Unfortunately I've been seeing a lot of fingers being pointed to others and there has been no responsibility or accountability on self. It has become a democracy of judgement.

We say that we are called by God, yet our actions are based on self gratification by illuminating others down falls and weaknesses just to make ourselves look better.

I remember when it used to be a time when churches were more committed to helping the community than growing their numbers and building large facilities that house self righteous people.

We have become more about our services agenda than...hmmmm.... actually letting the Spirit be apart of our worship. We rush through it as if it were a 9 to 5 job. We're not really focused on if people leave the same way they came or not, because at the end of the day all we really care about is the numbers in the congregation and the money we collect.

Am I judging you....absolutely not! But the writing is on the wall and it is as plain as day. We have got to get back to the basics on what God wants. Put the focus back on Jesus and stop playing church. Just because you like to talk doesn't mean you're called to preach or pastor. Maybe your call is to be a motivational speaker. 

But who knows the heart of man better than God? Doing the same mundane service week after week is not doing it for anyone. We have taken Him completely out of the picture, so that we can run our multi-million dollar corporation (definitely and absolutely not saying mega churches are bad). We forbid God to flow and people to be set free because we're on a time limit. Oh no, we won't allow that to happen.

If you are truly called to pastor and have lost sight of what GOD's original plan for you and your ministry was in the beginning, it's not to late to put the focus back where it belongs....ON HIM and the people that need Him. Get your life and church in order.

Remember it's not about growing your congregation or building, but reaching those that are lost and in need of help. Get over yourself because it's not about you, it's about them...the people.

Know Who You Are Part 2

There is nothing like confidence, not cockiness, in self. When you are without a doubt about what you stand for and believe in there is nothing that can stop you.

Some of us figure this out at young ages, while others take years to find themselves. The latter are sometimes the ones that look for characteristics in others that they like and they adapt to their personalities, building some what of a clone in self. But all the while they still have not tapped into the one God created them to be.

When I was young some of that was me. Even though I knew what I believed in, and stuck to that, I didn't really know myself. I too tried to clone the perfect person in me that I thought others would like.

But as I grew up and matured, I came to a hard realization that no matter how perfect you try to be or are, all people are not going to like you regardless! So I figured then, that if your not going to like me, you won't like me for being the real me....not a clone.

It took me years to see who I was. How do I laugh, how do I feel, what type of people do I want to be around, what do I want to wear, what do I look good in, how do I handle stress, etc.. These were some of the things I had to take note of about myself. It was almost like learning to live all over again.

I remember right before my 30th birthday, I did some "house cleaning" in my life. I realized that because I didn't really know who I was, I had people in my life that really weren't for me. They were about what I could do for them, but was never there for me.

So my life played like a movie screen. And everyone that I saw that was not conducive for Christyl was eliminated. It was just that simple. I know that sounds rough, but that is the best thing I could have done for me.

That was the start of me seeing who I was by removing all the smoke screens and seeing clearly. Some of them didn't notice because.....they were all about themselves...hmm. My circle from then up until now has been very small. And I like it that way.

I am very loving to all people, but I know why each person is in my life (and that's with God's leading). I no longer drown out my seasonal relationships because I don't want to let go. Instead I thank God for the time I did have with them and make sure whatever I was supposed to pour into that person or learn, I did.

I thank God for his wisdom and discernment that has grown in me through out the years, to protect me from all the hazards of not knowing who I was. I am happy with who I am in Him and love being me!

Know Who You Are Part 1

So many things in life would be less complicated if we knew who we were. Whether it is us defining our likes and dislikes or just knowing what we can and can not do or take. If we knew who's we are then that would totally clarify a whole lot more about our entire being.

When I was growing up, my mom always spoke positive things over me, even in prayer. I never remembered her calling me something crazy (except that one time she got mad at me..lol). But what I learned while growing up is that what matters most about you is what you think about you.

Even though she spoke positive things, I still had to deal with some teasing from peers in grade school and other image problems that stemmed from that. It grew into a tree that was later hard for me to cut down, even with reading the "word" of God.

But things didn't change until I began to grow in God and His word, and that showed me who I was in Him. I realized I had the power all along to be someone great that could impact the world with my God given gifts.

I know this sounds so cliche, but the truth is that my mind had to be rewired and renewed. I had to see myself as God sees me.....blessed, beautiful, strong, powerful, bold and extremely gifted.....etc, etc. Then I began to speak those things to myself so that it would resonate in my spirit. It wasn't until then that it would illuminate and change my life.

Always hearing flattery and compliments can boost an ego. But nothing last like self image. Because when the day ends you are left with yourself and your thoughts. Make the most of life by believing the best for you!