The Whole Sum

I now know why I blog. Really, I do. Ok, so today I was having a casual conversation with a colleague and it turned a little serious. Actually, I was a little disappointed. For a number of reasons.

I don’t even know how to express this, so as usual……please bear with me. The funny thing is that I don’t even know how me and my colleague got on the conversation that lead to my “enlightening moment”. Ok, I think I remember now. My colleague was telling me about her cousin who attends a church that is held in a hotel ballroom. She first started by saying that when she visited it didn’t feel like church….because of its location. So I questioned it. I mean, I’ve had church in a number of buildings from hotel ballrooms to a converted department store to office space to a warehouse. Even on a cruise!!! As long as the anointing is there then church is church to me. We are the church, not the building. Anyway……

So after I explained…..my colleague then went on to say that her cousin’s church is really weird. That they are obsessed with being a Christian. She referred to them as “fanatics”. She said that she can’t even have a conversation with her cousin without her cousin quoting a scripture or bringing up God. I really wanted to understand because I do know that there are “religious” folk out there who seems to be trying to prove something to themselves while “witnessing” to others. So I listened. Trying not to pass judgment on anybody, especially a sister-in-Christ that I have never even met. So I listened.

After about ten minutes into this deep conversation, my colleague saw that I wasn’t responding in total agreement, so she started giving me examples. Basically saying that her cousin has become judgmental, and self-righteous, and doesn’t know how to go out and have a good time, and everything she does and says is about God….yada, yada. And then she said something that stopped me in my tracks. When she said it I knew that it was time to end the conversation. She said…….. “I mean, I don’t want to talk about God ALL the time.” And she said it as if she was saying…….. “I mean, I don’t want to talk about men ALL the time”. You know that conversation we women can get stuck in before one of us gets fed up thinking about our last no good relationship---lol. Yes, that one. It was the same tone. So I basically stated that we obviously have a difference of opinion and that I had to get ready for my dental appointment.

After we parted I felt really disappointed. More like hurt. Cause this colleague is one that claims to love the Lord and claims to really have “strong faith”. I mean, I’ve seen some things she’s done, and heard some things she’s said that made me raise an eyebrow or two. But we’re both growing in the Lord and so we’re entitled to “slip-ups” as long as we don’t stay there. But to now hear her say that she doesn’t want to talk about God ALL the time……wow. I mean, supposed the Lord said to her that He doesn’t want to hear her deepest prayers ALL the time. Or that He doesn’t want to bless her ALL the time. I’m sorry. I’m really venting here---lol.

I mean, I know we all make mistakes and fall. But personally, I can’t stay down for long cause I HATE being out of God’s presence. And I hate the thought of disappointing the Lord. And so my actions and reactions about my Christian journey are expressed all the time to her. Especially at my most vulnerable times. And at my happiest times. I go to her and we talk. About God. And she seems to accept it. I mean, I thought it was safe for me to chat with her about something spectacular that the Lord did for me in my life. And for the most part, that’s daily. Daily I give her a praise report. Because she seemed to be interested. Now I’m feeling otherwise. Like maybe I’ve been backing her in a corner and she doesn’t know how to tell me that she isn’t really interested in hearing what I have to say. Maybe she’s using her cousin as an excuse. I don’t know. And I’m not gonna let my mind lean on its own understanding. Really, I’m not.

Oh, its coming back to me now. She mentioned that her cousin doesn’t have “balance” and that Christians need to have “balance”. Can I say something about balance?????? Why do folk seem to think that balance is God on the left and fun on the right. That’s soooo not balance. That's being totally lopsided---lol. If "church-goers" think this is what balance is...no wonder they keep falling--lol. Anyway.....she even went as far as to say that her cousin was living too far to the left---lolol. Its really not funny, but I gotta laugh to prevent myself from crying. Really, I do.

Ok, when I think of balance I think of mind, body, and Spirit. That’s what we humans are made of. The image of God. Some say soul instead of Spirit, and I guess that’s fine since the Spirit lives in the soul. Anyway, in order for us to maintain properly in this world as humans we have to have all three of these parts of us in action. That’s why you’ll see lots of folk on a daily workout regime to work their body, and going to school to work their mind, and having some type of spirituality to work their soul. Yes, yes…..your soul can be sold to the devil---lol. But this is where a lot of folk practice all types of religions. Cause they need that third part of them to be fulfilled. But unfortunately, when you don’t have Christ these three parts operate on self motives. That’s why you’ll hear of “successful” folk committing suicide. Or beautiful supermodels being depressed. Cause their being is all working against each other.

But this is the thing…….

When you give yourself TOTALLY to God-----your mind, body, and Spirit becomes ONE under HIS authority. So the body aspect becomes much deeper than just going to the gym. It becomes a will over the flesh. And self-control. And the mind thing becomes more than just picking up a textbook, it becomes practicing prudence and having the mind of Christ. And the Spirit……well you know what that is. That’s pure worship to God. Wholeheartedly walking in the Holy Spirit. So when a Christian submits their total self to God and all parts are operating……mind, body, and soul……that’s balance. And God is operating in and ALL parts. Because He’s ONE with us. He’s the sum total!! How can you have God on one side of your life and the world on the other side. Wow!!!! I’m getting a revelation as I’m writing this. It just proves how twisted we’ve become. Just going to church ain’t gonna do it. One has to live, breathe, eat, talk………God. God is in me. He lives IN ME. How can I not live, breathe, eat, talk……God. A true Christian really has no choice. Not fanatically, but just because God is embedded in our being. I can’t even give an analogy because God’s greatness is Supreme. There’s no other and nothing else that can compare.

I gotta tell you…….there’s not a minute that goes by that my thoughts ain’t on Christ. I’m in LUUUUV with God. And if I can walk all day quoting Bible scriptures and singing praise songs I would. So to some degree I kinda understand my colleague‘s cousin. But I can’t always express my feelings verbally. Out loud. So I live it in my walk. And you better believe that just because it doesn’t come out of my mouth at any given moment, doesn’t mean that its not in my thoughts. I LUUUV thinking about Jesus. I LUUUUV talking about Jesus. And I LUUUUUV hearing other folk talk about the goodness of God. I was having a conversation with my girlfriend over the weekend and she said it too how she loves talking about the Lord. She and I can go HOURS talking about the Lord. Especially as we’re growing in Him and discovering how He’s speaking to us---giving revelations. Just how He’s operating in our lives. And so many times we chat just on some of the most amazing things that happened to us over the course of the week. She’ll tell me things and I’ll get excited, and vice versa. And when we hang up, I feel so refreshed and replenished. It’s a wonderful feeling.

But my inner circle (all who too love the Lord--yay!) are not always around. So when I got something deep on my mind…….I blog. That’s what this blog is---my Christian walk. It’s purely for me to tell about the goodness of the Lord to whoever wants to listen. Cause I always got a testimony to tell---lol. And whoever doesn’t want to ALWAYS hear me talking about the Lord then they don’t have to log on. It’s that simple.

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. --Colossians 3:2

I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. --Romans 6:19

You, however, are controlled not by the sinful nature but by the Spirit, if the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ. --Romans 8:9

I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes....... --Romans 1:16