Day 338: Show Up!

Matthew 7:7

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”

Contrary to the popular belief, acting is hard. There’s so much work that goes into it, more than just reading a script and saying lines, anybody can do that. But a real actor makes you believe the lines, makes you feel what they are talking about, connecting with the audience and the other characters. We put all the work in behind the scenes so the performance you see looks real and effortless. With that being said, one of the best things my teacher has said to me was, ‘half the job of an actor is to just show up, and then you keep showing up.’ Meaning, we have to be there of we want to work we have to show up to rehearsal, ad before that we have to show up to the audition if we want the job. There are two points I want to make today. One being that if we want anything from God we have to make the effort to show up. The second being if we want anything out of life, we have to make the effort to show up.

Matthew 7:7 is a scripture that I have been hearing all my life. I have heard people talk about it in sermons, conversations, and bible studies. What I grew to understand about the scripture is that if we want something we have to ask. If we want the door to open we have to knock on it. If we want to find something we have to look for it. The scriptures are more literal sometimes than we think. A lot of times we think we are entitled to receive extra things from God so we do not ask. God has given us so much already that if He never does anything else He has done enough. We get to a point when we want the presence of God in our lives but we stop seeking His face. Or we want a door to open in our lives and we’re not knocking because we expect God to do exactly what we want when we want it. God will open doors in our lives but sometimes He wants to see that we have enough faith to knock, that we are willing to take a step, and sometimes that step is knocking on a door. This scripture is a testament that we give what we get, and in order to get something we have to give. We have to take the first step. God is already there waiting for us to show us, it’s us who keep Him waiting. We must make the decision to take the first step toward Him and see where it takes us.  

With that being said, we as humans sometimes forget that life is full of opportunities but only if we choose to take them. Our generation has been called entitled on many occasions, they say we think the world owes us something. While I disagree with that notion, I do believe that we must understand that things aren’t going to come knocking on our doors. God has blessed each and every one of us with a purpose and sometimes we use being called by God as an excuse as to why we can’t get up and do something. We sometimes use God’s calling on our lives as an excuse to do nothing or an excuse not to put any effort into our lives but expect so much out of it. What I’m saying is that God will open a door but He’s not going to walk through it for us. God took the first step by carving out a path for us we have to choose to walk it. As  performer one thing I know for a fact is that if I do not go the audition I will not get the part. If we do not first take a step we will never get to where we are going. If we do not at least knock on the door it will not be opened. If we never ask the question we’ll always sit wondering what the answer was.

All this to say, just show up. Make an effort to do something and not hide away. Show up in your relationship with God, take a step of faith towards Him and watch what He does. Show up for life, whatever you want, whatever God has called you to do or be, show up. It’s scary but it’s so worth it, because God is already there. He’s just waiting on us to show up, sometimes that’s all we have to do. We can’t flake on God, if we do, not only are flaking on Him but we’re flaking on ourselves.

Make the effort, just show up! Dare to make an effort.

Response/Prayer Time

Take the time to think about and pray about what we discussed today. Ask yourself if you are showing up in life, in your relationship with God. Take the time to talk to God about whatever you discovered today and whatever is on your heart.

I love you so much and I hope you have an amazing day or evening! Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for Day 339!

Day 255: The Life You Are Called to Love

1 Corinthians 7:17-19

Each of you should continue to live in whatever situation the Lord has placed you, and remain as you were when God first called you. This is my rule for all the churches. For instance, a man who was circumcised before he became a believer should not try to reverse it. And the man who was uncircumcised when he became a believer should not be circumcised now. For it makes no difference whether or not a man has been circumcised. The important thing is to keep God’s commandments.

Today I want to talk about living the life God has called us to live in a different way than usual. As the body of Christ we are constantly being told that we are one body, one spirit, while that remains true I would like to point out the part of the scripture that says different parts make up one body. We are human, and we all have our earthly heroes, the people we look up to the most or who we aspire to be like. However, God is writing a story for each of us. Each of our stories are uniquely different because that’s how He wrote it. No one story is the same. What I’m getting at here is that we are called to live the life God has chosen for us, not for anyone else. We are called to live our story.

Live the life God has called you to live.  Not the life he has for anyone else or the life that anyone else is trying to make you live. Too often we compare ourselves with one another and try to live to lives we see others live. We see the lifestyle people live, or the career they have and wish we could be just like them. Or we try to mould our lives to look like there’s. There’s a lot of pressure on our generation to have it all together, to have this perfect lifestyle. But the truth is, God is still working on us, and we’re going to get there one day, the time just hasn’t come yet.  However, this idea of luxury and riches, brought strongly through social media is raising a generation of posers, who are not living the life they are called to live. But they are living the life, they are pressured into or expected to live. Whether it be family, friends, or fans. The only person’s expectations you are required to meet, the only person you are to please with your life is God. No one else.

One thing I have come to realize very recently; I am very inspired  by people’s stories or careers their journey that got them where they are, and want my outcome to be the same. However, I have come to the realization that their story is not my story. Even if God wrote theirs similar to mine it's very different. God has something different in store for me than He does for someone else. As an actress the question I get asked a lot is “who do you want to be like?”, while I can name a list of people who I admire, I had to realize that God has something different for me and my career than He did for them. Now I am still very inspired by these people but I will not aspire to be them. We cannot live someone else's life and if we try it's not called it called imitating. More like plagiarizing life. No story is exactly the same. Live the story God is writing for you. I promise it's amazing

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There is a common misconception that being a Christian strips is of who we are. For some reason people think that once you give your life to Christ you fall into this lifestyle like the rest. Where we all think alike, act alike, and don't have individuality. That's not the body of Christ, that's a cult. God made us who we are for a reason. He's not going to strip us of that. He will strip away the things that are not like Him to enhance who we are. He will strip away sin, pain, hurt, false identity. We are not giving up who we are; we are giving up who we thought we were. We are giving up our pride. We are giving up our sinful nature, in exchange for a lifestyle that is eternal. We are exchanging temporary for eternity.

All this to say, live your life. Don’t try to live anyone else’s life because God is writing your story and it is unique to who you are and who He made you to be. Don’t try to take over someone else’s story and pass it off as your own. It won’t work. Don’t feel like to are require to give in to the pressure or unreal expectations people put on you. It’s your life, follow Christ.

Reflection

1. Are you living your story or someone else’s
2. Have you tried to strip away who you are because you are a follower of Christ
3. Live your story.

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer. Talk to God about living the life He has called you to live, ask God to help you with your identity. I pray that you be found in Christ and that you realize and understand just who you are.

I love you, so much and I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for day 256!

Day 225: Unpacking Romans 12- Bless Those Who Curse You

Romans 12:14

Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them.

Proverbs 15:1

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

One thing I’ve grown up being old is, “Kill them with kindness.” Meaning don’t treat people the same way they treat you. Don’t be mean just because they are being mean to you, the best thing you can do is kill them with kindness. Now I’m sure many of us have gotten to a point when we say, there’s only so much kindness to give, and eventually you’ll want to get back at them, whoever “them” is. You get tired of people being rude or disrespectful and want to tell them what’s on your mind.  Sometimes it’s hard not to say anything or do anything back to the people who intentionally try to hurt you or stir you up, especially when they know the exact buttons to push. But boy is it so rewarding. It’s so rewarding and a bit funny to see the reaction you will get when you refuse to get angry with someone.

One of the lessons I’ve learned is to just laugh it off. I am very sarcastic and I know it can be annoying to people who try to get to me. But I’ve learned that two angry people can get nowhere. It just turns into a screaming match, of who can scream the loudest and who can get the last word. I can get angry and stirred up, but when alls said and done, what will I have accomplished? Nothing. The best thing to do is diffuse the fire before it gets out of hand. I believe that this is the lesson here. God is telling us to turn the other cheek. He’s telling us not to get riled up and angry, but instead pray that He will bless the people who are out to get you. Pray the best for them. They are God’s children as well, that is very important to remember. We can take an example from Jesus, as with everything in life. Jesus was persecuted in the worst way, He was beat and spit on. He was talked about, but He responded with love. Even as the people were nailing Him to the cross He said “father forgive them for they know not what they do.” He knew that there was a bigger picture. He could have been angry at them, but instead He chose to forgive them, instead He chose to love them. When we think about it, it’s truly a beautiful image. To set yourself aside for the very person that is harming you and bringing you a world of pain.

My mom would always tell us growing up, “hurt people, Hurt people.” Meaning people who are hurt, do not want to hurt alone. You never really know why someone is treating you the way they are. Sometimes people act out because they themselves are hurting and they want someone to either feel the pain they feel or feel something worse. It’s a messed up disposition but it’s real. So many times I think that when we are called to turn the other cheek, or bless those who curse us, it is just as much for them as it is for us. While our faith might be being tested someone is being healed. It’s much deeper than just getting the last laugh or proving that you are mature.

All this to say, love everyone, even the ones that are hard to love. Bless the people that constantly curse you. In the end you will be proud of yourself for not engaging and you give the other person a chance to inspect themselves.

Reflection

1. Have you ever been in the position where you had to walk away from someone who was angry with you?
2. How are was it?
3. Can you see the bigger picture in blessing the people who curse you and giving a soft answer?
4. What is it?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer today. Ask God to help you learn to pray for those who curse you and help you hold your tongue. Pray for self-control. Whatever is on your heart today, talk to God about it.

I love you, and I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Be sure to share this with someone and come back tomorrow for day 226!

Day 185: Small Beginnings

Zechariah 4:10

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”

One of the greatest lessons I have learned in my life is to appreciate the small steps and the humble beginnings. I’m a dreamer, I grew up with my parents always telling me to dream and think big, but also being reminded that I will have to start small, I will have to struggle a bit before I get to where I want to go. There’s some hard work and I have to get my hands dirty. But that never meant that I had to stop dreaming big, it meant that I had to go through a process.

I think what God is telling us here is exactly that, but also He’s telling us to start, even if it’s a small start just do it and watch what He does. One of the things that always gets lost in the shadows of success stories is the beginning, how people weren’t always successful. When people tell the stories themselves then you get the truth. I’m interested in people’s stories, I’m interested in where they came from and where God has brought them. We all had to and have to start somewhere. Just like when they went to build the second temple in the book of Zechariah which would be smaller than the former temple. It doesn’t matter how small the beginning is just start and let God finish, start and trust God. Whatever God has called you to, start it.

What I’m getting at here is, we all have a calling and we all have a dream. For many of us that dream is our calling. However God has put a vision in each and every one of us, He has given us a passion for something. For me that’s acting, for you it might be different. But whatever it may be, do it. Start it, you’re going to have to start small before you can go big. But don’t let that stop you, Start somewhere, I think that’s what God is looking for us to do, just start. Even if you don’t know how it’s all going to pan out, trust that God will guide your footsteps because He will. Appreciate the baby steps because one day those strides will get wider and steeper, we just have to keep walking.

Reflection

1. What have you been called to do? What is your dream?
2. Have you started?
3. If the answer to your above question is no, what’s stopping you?

Prayer Time

Allow your answers to the above questions guide your prayer. Talk to God about where to start. Just have a conversation with Him.

I love you, and I hope you have an amazing day, be sure to share this with someone and and come back tomorrow for day 186!

Day 59: Put Up A Fight!

Most times when you are doing something good, there will be opposition, Some people just don’t want to see you do good, especially when they aren’t doing well themselves. When opposition comes we have to put up a fight and push against it. We have to fight for the things we want, we have to fight for what we believe in and what we love. This brings me to the story of a man by the name of Nehemiah, who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem despite all the opposition he received.

Nehemiah 4

When Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became angry and was greatly incensed. He ridiculed the Jews, and in the presence of his associates and the army of Samaria, he said, “What are those feeble Jews doing? Will they restore their wall? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they finish in a day? Can they bring the stones back to life from those heaps of rubble—burned as they are?” Tobiah the Ammonite, who was at his side, said, “What they are building—even a fox climbing up on it would break down their wall of stones!”Hear us, our God, for we are despised. Turn their insults back on their own heads. Give them over as plunder in a land of captivity. 5 Do not cover up their guilt or blot out their sins from your sight, for they have thrown insults in the face of] the builders. So we rebuilt the wall till all of it reached half its height, for the people worked with all their heart.But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites and the people of Ashdod heard that the repairs to Jerusalem’s walls had gone ahead and that the gaps were being closed, they were very angry.  They all plotted together to come and fight against Jerusalem and stir up trouble against it. But we prayed to our God and posted a guard day and night to meet this threat. Meanwhile, the people in Judah said, “The strength of the laborers is giving out, and there is so much rubble that we cannot rebuild the wall.” Also our enemies said, “Before they know it or see us, we will be right there among them and will kill them and put an end to the work.” Then the Jews who lived near them came and told us ten times over, “Wherever you turn, they will attack us.” Therefore I stationed some of the people behind the lowest points of the wall at the exposed places, posting them by families, with their swords, spears and bows.14 After I looked things over, I stood up and said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “Don’t be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your families, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes.” When our enemies heard that we were aware of their plot and that God had frustrated it, we all returned to the wall, each to our own work. From that day on, half of my men did the work, while the other half were equipped with spears, shields, bows and armor. The officers posted themselves behind all the people of Judah who were building the wall. Those who carried materials did their work with one hand and held a weapon in the other, and each of the builders wore his sword at his side as he worked. But the man who sounded the trumpet stayed with me. Then I said to the nobles, the officials and the rest of the people, “The work is extensive and spread out, and we are widely separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us!” So we continued the work with half the men holding spears, from the first light of dawn till the stars came out. At that time I also said to the people, “Have every man and his helper stay inside Jerusalem at night, so they can serve us as guards by night and as workers by day.”  Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

We have to fight and push, like these men who didn’t let threats scare them. They didn’t let opposition get them down, and when they did, it wasn’t for long. They continued to build that wall and was prepared for anyone who was trying to stop them. They were going to get that wall built and nothing was going to stop them.

Nehemiah 6:9

They were all trying to frighten us, thinking, “Their hands will get too weak for the work, and it will not be completed.”But I prayed, “Now strengthen my hands.”

No one can stop what God is doing, they can try but they won’t succeed, We must know this because sometimes things come to a pause in our life but a pause is a temporary interruption. To stop something means to bring it to an end. When it comes to the work God is doing in us, for, us, with, the only one who can stop it is God. people will try everything they can to bring you down, society will try, they will come every way they can but don’t fall for it, Put up a fight, if you love something fight for it, if God has called you to a specific position or place, fight for. If God has given you a vision or laid something on your heart, fight for it. The opposition will come but when God has sent you, no one can stop you, you keep fighting like nehemiah until the task is complete. If anything, allow that opposition to strengthen you. In the midst of ask God to give you the strength to fight harder. We often let ourselves be stopped because the opposition is too great, we pause ourselves indefinitely, but God’s work in us, on us, and through us is meant to be completed. There will be lies, gossip, threats but fight. No one can stop you unless you let them.

Nehemiah 6:11

But I said, “Should a man like me run away? Or should someone like me go into the temple to save his life? I will not go!”

Stay focused on the mission not the opposition. We can’t get scared and run away, we can’t let people try to deceive us into running away. When God has placed us somewhere, nothing should be able to move us. God will finish what He has started. We must protect the calling God has placed on our lives, and know that no matter the opposition we will complete whatever God has set us out to do. This means the dreams we have, the visions God has given us. When it’s set up by God, the only person able to tear it down is God.

We have to stand firm on His word and promise. Put up a fight, don’t let the opposition stop you.

Revelation 3:8

“‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

One last thing, fight for your dreams, believe in them. Don’t let anyone tell you they’re impossible or unreachable. If God gave you the gift you have, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be using it. Do what you know, some dreams are harder to reach, but if you love it, fight for it.

Proverbs 18:6

A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.

Reflection

1. What are you fighting for?
2. Have you come up against opposition?
3. How has that opposition fueled or strengthened you to keep pushing and fighting?
   
   

Prayer Time

Allow you answers to the questions above guide your prayer. Ask God to strengthen you in the midst of opposition. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide and protect you.

Know that God’s word never returns to Him void. If you know that God has called you to do something. Do it unapologetically and fearless, He has your back.

I love you! I hope you have an amazing day or evening, make sure you come back for Day 60
 tomorrow!

Day 57: The Front Lines

Mark 16:15

And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Most Christians are not going to be pastors, or worship leaders, we go to church, we volunteer at church, and we serve but our platform is not the church. I hear a lot of Christians implying that we are to live in the church. They tell us that we are to separate ourselves from the secular, and the worldly things. Being secular does not always mean that you are in sin, When we think about the world secular we automatically think of music, and the lifelong debate on whether christians should listen to secular music or not. We automatically think of the artist who thank God in their acceptance speeches, but there music is so far from the message of Christ. We feel the need to respond to celebrities who open up about their faith, as if they need our approval to give their lives to Christ. We think of anything that does not have to do with the church, or religion, which many times it isn’t. However, that does not mean that Christians cannot be in a secular atmosphere, as many of us are everyday. We must use the platform we have been given to spread the gospel, to glorify God and lead others to Him

Matthew 5: 13-15

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Christ tells us that we are the salt and the light of the world, but many Christians have taken that to mean that we are the salt and the light of the church. I think of young people specifically when I think of this subject, we are the generation that has seen the growth of the contemporary church. We have broken traditions, and made the choice that Jesus is more important than religion and rules. Church has become less about what we wear, denominations, or positions and more about experiencing God and having a genuine, intimate relationship with Him. We are the generation that doesn’t worry about the looks of someone but we are concerned with their heart. Beyond that we have learned to glorify God in our field, knowing that we have been called to different places and paths. We know that not all of us will be pastors, or work in a church, but we will occupy the space God has given us.

Jesus told the disciples to go out into all the world and proclaim the gospel, not just to the Christians or the nice people. He told them to go out into all the world. That means they probably had to go into some places that the pharisees and scribes refused to go. They had to get their hands dirty in order to deliver the message of Christ to the people. They had to go outside of their comfort zones, and outside of the circle of religion and christians, they had to go to the non-believers, the pagan nations. If we are here to spread the word of God throughout the world, we cannot do it by staying inside the walls of the church. Church is our place of fellowship, where we can worship with our fellow believers; but there are some people who will never walk into a church, we have to go to them. When Jesus came He did not stay in Nazareth waiting for the people to come to Him, He went out to the people.  Jesus ate at the houses and sat in the presence of many sinners, washing the feet of sinners, and sitting at the table and having dinner with sinners. We make the mistake of thinking that being a good Christian means that we cut ourselves off from the reach of anyone who sins more openly than we do. We think that we have to sit at the table with the Christians and fellowship amongst ourselves like an exclusive club. The problem with that is, no one is coming out saved, because everyone at the table has already given their life to Christ, If you place ten Christians in a room with one hundred nonbelievers, most, if not everyone in that room will have heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Many will have given their life over to Christ. That’s what it’s about, this is why it is imperative that we have Christians impacting the world outside of Church. We talk about people being famous, and the media, and things that run the world as we know it.

As an actress who is also a Christian I am often asked if I want to stick with doing only Christian movies, and sometimes people are shocked that my answer is no. Besides for the obvious reason that most Christian movies are corny and terrible, there is another reason. I want to be a successful film actress, I am not completely opposed to doing Christian films, but when I think of it, these films are often only for Christians, only for people who know and understand the bible. It is usually separate from the world we are supposed to be bringing the gospel to.  Which brings me to my point that if anyone should be on the front lines of any industry it should be Christians. From doctors, to lawyers, teachers, artists, scientists, the media, military, politics, journalism, math, management, pastoral, music, logistics, etc whatever it may be. We must use whatever platform we have been given to reach God’s people. Showing people that it is about the lifestyle we lead as we dedicate everyday of our lives to Christ.

-Dyamond  

The scripture says that we are the salt of the earth. In that time salt was used to preserve food (most likely a lot of fish) so that it would not go bad, seeing that they had no refrigerators. If that salt lost it’s saltiness, then all the food would go bad. It would start to smell, and everything would be a trainwreck. That is what we are to the world, we are the salt that preserves this world, we as Christians are here to keep the world fresh, and preserved. We are here to share the good news of Christ so that the world does not spoil with sin. We are here to shed a light in the dark places. We have the light of Christ in us, let’s not hide it. We should bring it to all the world, not just the Christians.

Reflection/ Prayer Time

Take the time to think and reflect on the position or place God has you, and what He has called you to. How can you use the gifts you have been given to occupy the space that you are in? Talk to God about what being the salt and the light of the world means. Ask God to help you reach outside of your comfort to send the message of the Gospel to His people. Open your heart and gifts to God and allow Him to use you as a vessel to bring His truth to the nations.

I love you, and I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Enjoy your Saturday. Share this with someone and make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 58!