V. Rose - Cry Holy (New Pop/ R&B 2011)

Feelings vs. Truth...

A friend of mine has this writing from John Piper printed out & posted on her wall in her room. I decided to write it in the front of my journal, to be reminded of these powerful words, every time I read it, it has the same effect on me... Hope it does the same for you :)

My feelings are NOT God. God is God. My feelings do NOT define truth. God's word defines truth. My feelings are echoes and responses to what my mind perceives. And sometimes --- many times --- my feelings are out of sync with the truth. When that happens --- and it happens everyday in some measure. --- I try not to bend the truth to justify my imperfect feelings, but rather, I plead with God: Purify my perceptions of your truth and transform my feelings so that they are in sync with the truth. That's the way I live my life everyday. I hope you are with me in that battle.  -John Piper.

Stand Firm!!!

Read Acts 20:18-38

No matter what the situation

may look like, no matter the

threats, no matter how fearful

the enemy may try to make you.

DO NOT WAIVER IN THE TRUTH.

DO NOT GO AGAINST THE WORD OF GOD.

BE OBEDIENT, TRUST THE WORD OF GOD.

DO NOT ALLOW THE WORDS, VIEWS, OR WAYS

OF BOTH PEOPLE OF THE WORLD, AND PEOPLE

IN THE CHURCH CAUSE YOU TO 2ND GUESS OR

GO AGAINST WHAT GOD HAS SHOWN YOU, OR TOLD YOU TO DO.

"God has the FINAL say so"

point. blank. period.

-SELAH

March 11, 2010 Journal Entry...

"Before I proceed to share this entry with you all I'd like to answer a question that I'm sure readers of  my blog have probably asked themselves before... Why does this blog contain such personal words/info? In a nutshell, I truly believe that my experiences, thoughts, mistakes, etc are not only for me to learn from, but also for others. Enjoy ;)"

I'm so upset and annoyed with myself. I can't just go blaming things on "my flesh", "the devil", or "the world". Sometimes it's just me, my lack of self-control, and my lack of understanding. But I'm learning just how desperately I need Jesus. I AM WEAK..."I AM NOTHING WITHOUT CHRIST" has become a reality to me. The Gospel, who God is, who I am, ALL of it has become ALIVE to me.  I will die without Jesus, Literally. I sometimes allow these earthly things and problems cloud my mind/vision. But reality is, my heart knows truth and that's what I need to hold on to. Thank You Jesus that if I lose my grip, He's there to hold me up, there to pull me back into the light of truth. Circumstances will no longer determine how I feel, or if I will trust the Lord or not. I will trust the Lord at all times, His word shall continually be in my mouth.

-Selah

Don't allow negative words spoken over you/by you

the opportunity to dwell in your heart. Speak Life and

only receive/give room for Life to dwell in and around you.

Don't allow death/negative words shape who you are in Christ!

No Worries

Read Isaiah 45:9-13

God is in control. He is at work in me and around me.

He is my maker, therefore He knows what I need.

He will direct my way. As long as I stay submitted

to Him I have NOTHING to worry about.

"Thirsting For God"

*memorize* Psalm 63:1-8

Life without Jesus. 

Time without a personal, intimate relationship without Jesus 

is like hours, days, months, years in the desert without a drop of water.

(what would you do to find that water?)

Life without Jesus.

is empty & worthless.

(Acts 20:24)

Psalm 63:5

JOY! FULFILLMENT!....

I'm beginning to realize just how much I've missed out on 

by looking to be fulfilled by others and other things.

My search was meaningless. Why?

because I would have never found what I was looking for aside/apart from Jesus Christ.

(Read Psalm 103:1-5, 107:8-9)

Psalm 63:6

Even as I sleep, In my thoughts I want to have, and remember thoughts of You.

(Before I sleep spend time with God in His word. Why? So my thoughts are narrow, no distractions) 

-Deu4:9 & Ps. 77:11

"Remembering what God has done in the past, 

will strengthen and encourage you in times of weakness and woundedness." -anonymous

July 3, 2011 Journal Entry

• I will trust in the shelter of your wings (Read Psalm 62 & 63)

• SELFLESS!!!

• Everything that I am, Everything that I have, is in and from God. It's sad that I constantly have to remind myself of this most sobering reality. But I will NOT be moved, I will NOT be persuaded. I WILL stand firm. If this what it takes, then I'm down. I WILL FIGHT!!

• Feed your gift with the WORD!!!

It is Love, Real & True Love

I don't want to Love You because of your gifts, talents, miracles, etc. I want You for who You are. 

I Love You for You first and foremost. 

No matter what the enemy tries to make me believe about myself. 

I will NOT believe it. 

Nor give it room to manifest itself in my life. I am all of Yours, completely Yours God, my heart is Yours. Conform it, and my thoughts to Your ways. 

I will obey your commands, NOT what "Christianity" looks like, 

or how "Christians" do it/act. LEAD me Jesus. Direct my path. LEAD ME. 

I don't want to be conformed into the image of this world, 

religion, church, "church people", christians, etc. 

NO IMAGE, BUT YOURS LORD. 

Help me Lord, to stay focused on You, The True and Living God. 

(Playing; "I give myself away" -William Mcdowell)

-Signed A Servant Submitted to Jesus!

It wasn't Love...

Truth is...

"I HATED JESUS"

Although I said I "loved" Him. In my heart and my actions no love existed.  

I treated guys that used me and mistreated me better than 

The God who LEFT & LOST everything for Me...

How can we say we Love someone, yet we only spend time with them 

once a week. We only know things about them that others told us.

We only talk to them or call them when we need something.

We constantly do the things we know they HATE.  We're always

putting everyone before them.... Imagine If someone said they Loved

you but treated you this way.

Ofcourse we'd be highly upset about it and probably wouldn't put up with it

for to long right? So why do we expect God to deal with it? even after He sent His ONLY son 

to die for a people He knew would continually treat His son like trash.

(Meditate On It)

And Remember;

LOVE IS AN ACTION WORD...

The List...

I sat down and prepared to write a "What has God done for me" list. So many things came to mind, but all I could write down was YOU SAVED ME, YOU RESCUED ME. Every scenario and/ situation that came to mind was you protecting me, being my Savior. Even now, You continuing to provide for me is you protecting me from starvation, homelessness, poverty, pride, just any and Everything that defiles who You are, and even though I fall short, and at times condem myself for doing so, You've kept me. I always seem to look to you to help me UP. You don't allow my heart to be hardened in those times. THANK YOU JESUS! Even when I feel like giving up You don't allow me to forget Your sacrifice and your promises or the fact that You are Faithful and you Cannot lie. You never allow me to forget YOU. THANK YOU LORD JESUS! " I Love YOU, and Your word is forever written in/on my heart"

READ: Luke 12:22-34 :)

Use to be bound to depression; but I'm FREE Now! JESUS DID IT!

Dear, Kevin "TrackBully" Harris

I often find myself trying not to think about you. It literally hurts me to. My heart aches and my whole body gets heavy :( thinking about you just brings back so many memories; great memories. Thinking about you use to make me feel like I was doing something wrong, which made me run from my own feelings. But I'm tired of running, I'm ready to face them. Every time I think your just a distant memory, something ALWAYS comes along to remind me of you. Even as i write this letter, with each push of a button my heart aches to just see you one more time, to talk to you one more time, see you smile one more time. You were my friend and I Loved you. Every time I think of you I think of THEM; every friend I've lost to the violence of this world (Robert "Roberto" Jackson, Jasmine Payne) & every friend I'm losing/lost to the deceptions of this fading world. Even though you are no longer here on this earth, you remind of Life. How quickly it can end, no matter how young, attractive, talented, or ill prepared we are. Life can end *snaps fingers* just like that! There are so many thing I wish I could've shared with you, so many things I hope someone shared with you... I MISS YOU!




I will not Stop telling people about the one who holds the key to eternal life in his hands. JESUS; the way, the truth, & the Life. It is inevitable, we will all pass away one day; so let's make sure we're ready to stand before the Lord...




Ps. I truly thank God for pens & paper...Don't hold it in; let it out, write it down! There is freedom in confession :)

There's something heavy on my Heart and I feel like the only way to get it out, is to push tears from my eyes until they run dry. It feels like an ocean of tears decided to rest itself in my Heart. It's trying to consume every area of my Heart. Why can't I just CRY!!!! I need to cry. For my family, friends, the world, the people that are stuck in slavery to satan, for the people who think they've been forgotten, the people I've lead to the path of destruction, my enemies, the people that Love me, I need to cry for them. I know they are hurting and I need to intercede in prayer for them. I just want to cry for them. Souls are perishing without knowing You Lord. Why? We (Christians) are not crying, or caring for them. We are not Opening our mouths to tell them about the healing, comforting, forgiving, saving, changing power of our Savior Jesus Christ. We are so caught up in ourselves. God please crush us, break us down, Crush ME, break ME before I ever become self centered and forget about your people. Give is all Hearts for souls. Winning souls for you...




"It's not about Us, It's about Gods Glory"




-SELAH

In The Morning, The Sun's gonna Shine...

I find myself sitting in this room staring out of this window; off white, chipped paint, and rusty latches admiring your creation, I think to myself the God who created this beautiful complex creation Loves ME and wants me all to himself. So why don't I feel like I Love Him, when I know how much I do and want to. What is wrong with me :( I constantly look around me and see people smiling, laughing, yet they do not know this creator. I on the other hand have Full am Complete access to Him, yet I find myself complaining, or "feeling" alone, even though I know the TRUTH. It's always me wanting and expecting more, when I haven't even fully grasped on to what I've already been given. So Lord all I'm asking for at this time, in this place, is for you to allow me time to appreciate all that I have now. I want to rest in the Grace you have given me TODAY, instead of worrying if there will be any left for tomorrow. Thank You Lord.




"If we get back to the place of Worship; Everything will be OK"




We will have up's and We will have downs but the truth of the matter is, through it all. We will ALWAYS have Christ with us and in us. Aslong as We never forget Him, We can never forget TRUTH! Keep Fighting no matter what the day may look like.




•Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God. Trust also in me. -John 14:1




•When Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. -Matt 9:36




•“Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” -Psa 30:5




-SELAH

Where You lead; I will follow!

Give me rest oh Gracious God. Teach me your ways. Teach me how to live and how to Love the way you intended for me to. I love your presence oh God. Hear me, Teach me how to be SELFLESS, how to be a disciple. The scriptures say, "if anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me."

FOLLOW- to travel behind, go after, come after.
-travel along certain course.
*-comply; act in accordance with someones rules, commands, or wishes.
-come after in time as a result.
*-take after; imitate in behavior, take as a model, Trace, or to shadow someone.




We cannot be followers of Christ, we cannot Love Christ, unless we Deny ourselves of our desires, wants, etc. If it does not please God it should not please us. I'm learning each day how to say NO to myself, it isn't easy. But to know that God is pleased makes it easier to handle. Each day my desires are becoming less of a distraction, less of a pain, and everyday I become more like Christ, I conform into His image each time I say NO to self... Be encouraged; it is possible :)

Psalm 23...

No matter how raging the storm, you will calm it for your servants sake oh Lord. No matter how dark the road may seem, you will send light to guide me. You're the God of the Universe, You're my God, Holy and Blameless. You're the God who loved me in my sin, and kept me in my weaknesses. You promised to keep me, never to leave, so I shall not be afraid. It's never the end unless You say so. You've already won the battle... You are my Abba Father, my Love, my Savior, so I WIN. Nothing the enemy says, or tries to do to me is real. If it isn't from You then it is from the devil, which makes it a LIE. Oh Lord you are my Truth and I will Trust and Believe in you until you return, Oh I will wait for you Lord.




Each day is a struggle, so days harder than others, but one none the less. It's a serious fight; especially when your fighting against things you can't see. It's important that we continue speaking life & truth into our own lives aswell as the lives of others. We were born to die, but Christ gave His own life that we may live, therefore His word is the only Life we have. I'll never fully understand all that He's given us, but I know I desperately need it. I encourage you all to keep Pushing, keep Fighting, because there is nowhere we can go where God isn't there to give us strength to get through it.




-Selah

He Understands Me :D

You get me, You understand my "randomness", and my goofiness. You know why I love laughing, and joking. You understand me, even when I make no sense, or think to deep into something and end up way off subject. You get me. You understand my "randomness". You never tell me to "kill it", you don't look at me funny. You tell me to embrace it, as you look at me, smile, then embrace me. Well atleast that's what your words feel like in my heart; LOVE! You get me, you understand my "randomness". You smile down at me and say "that's my girl" look at what I've created. "Don't run from how unique I've made you, embrace it. I GET IT"




Each day I'm learning to Love the girl God created in my mothers womb. Every imperfection, blemish, and everything the world taught me to hate. I am beautifully & wonderfully made. Created in the image of God. No matter what the world tells me or how much they may misunderstand me. God created me, & he'll always be the one who gets me :) I was made for His Glory; not for the worlds... Or My Own!





-SeLah

Speak Lord...

I need to hear you oh Lord, I know your there, I know you can hear me. I need to know your voice, so that I make take heed to your words. Speak to me oh Lord. I feel like I'm in the wilderness with no direction. Be my guide oh Lord, be a lamp unto my feet. Comfort me as I walk through this unfimiliar territory. I will fear no evil, you are with me, your rod and your staff they comfort me. Oh Lord you are my God.


("Pour Out" -Shawn McDonald)




-Selah

My Psalm; Day 1

Dear God,




I love you, but I don't know how you want to be loved. I'm not even sure I know how to Love anyone. How do you show someone you care? How do you show someone you Love them? What is Love? Is it submission? Commitment? Dedication? Works? Honestly my view on how to Love is all the way off, it's all selfish (what can I get; me, me, me). I want to learn to Love selflessly. I want to know you. I want you to know me. Teach me how to Love and how to Live, because I only know death, I only know how to die. I don't want to mess up this chance, or take this chance to Live for granted. Lord you are the only one that can show me. You are the key to Life & Salvation, you hold them in your hand. Help me & Teach me Oh Lord, How to Love you and how to live for you.




-SELAH

Closet Full Of EX-Shirts; I'm actin Brand New!

Although this is an older blog post, It is something I'm reminded of daily... This is my Testimony. What's yours?

This is NOT for the SELF RIGHTEOUS; This is for the SINNERS who have recognized that they need a SAVIOR...you may know God; but is your heart & your life style allowing God to know you...i'm not here to Judge; that's Gods job. but i am here to share my testimony. OBEDIENCE is better than SACRIFICE...so your doing good in school, making money, "doing something with yourself/life"; congrats...sad part is you putting more into ya career, yourself, ya reputation than your putting into your final destination ! Oh you the flyest; congrats. sad part is you worried more about ya rims, ya bling, ya clothes than you are ya soul. Just bcuz you go to church every Sunday, sing in the choir, ya daddy, ya mama, ya granny, are ministers...DOES NOT mean your going to Heaven. God doesn't care about your works. He cares about whats in your heart. We use the phrase "God Knows My Heart" so lightly; the bible says in Jeremiah 17:9 (The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?) if you were honest about the things that were truly in your heart Or for that matter apart of your lifestyle. You would know that neither are pleasing to God. i don't care who you are; you are NOT exempt from death Nor are you exempt from Judgment. These things here on earth are T E M P O R A R Y....i repeat T E M P O R A R Y; that dude/woman you idolizing, that car you drive, that house/apartment you live in, your style, your swag, your abilities, sex, money, fame, celebrity status; ALL T E M P O R A R Y. & when your standing before GOD; its NOT going to matter. So i say its time to start choosin up; the WORLD or GOD. Its simple. EITHER YOUR OF OR YOUR OUT; OF THE WORLD or your OPPOSING it. BUT its to hard to serve God; but truth is the only thing holding us back is "FEAR OF MAN" you can say your not scurred of nothing..but if you care what others think of you or what they might say. or your not doing something, wearing something, going somewhere bcuz you don't wanna be embarrassed; Whatever the case may be...YOUR SCARED ! what you really should be afraid of is how this world is destroying you BIT by BIT. you see the enemy is very subtle and patient. and a lot of the times "we follow our hearts" right into what the devil has set up. and we're so blind to the truth that we don't even know its him setting us up to FAIL. nothing Good come out of Sin (wickedness, darkness) while your still in it and enjoying it; that's like you trying to squeeze water out of sand. its impossible. unless of course God chooses to make that happen (yes; he's that good) the only way out is through the blood of Jesus Christ; and think about it; if we all were not "that bad" why would he have come to earth to become a pure, holy, blameless MAN (the only man who can call himself a savior; EVER) & die a gruesome and painful death; FOR OUR SINS. if it wasn't that serious !! I'M GOING TO BE REAL; i not to long ago in my life went hard for the world & thought i was OK because i waited until i was 20 to lose my virginity, i didn't really do bad things like kill, went to church on Sunday, & through out the week, wrote facebook post about him, blogged about him...i actually convinced myself that the drinking, smoking, fornication, lust, idolatry, parties, pride, attention seeking, vain,and the list goes on Artisha Nicole Ivey i use to be; was just me having "FUN" & living my life to the fullest. even tried to convince myself that i was happy ; but i can remember how i always felt a void; all these things i did was me trying to fill a place that only God can fill; let me tell you something you can NOT fix something that was meant to be mended by God... i learned the hard way; went from a lot of things to Nada. But truth is i gained so much more. (happiness, joy, peace.....) & i'm not saying that now i'm perfect because i'm far from it; i still face a lot of temptation, but i now have the key to going through a situation; without having to GO THROUGH; & JESUS CHRIST is that key, & i'm not saying that the walk with God is easy bcuz it isn't, i personally Lost friends, family, followers. lol i mean you name it i've probably lost it. but i've gained CHRIST; the one who loves me so much that through my sins, through the times i hated him, through the times when i could careless about what he did for me. HE KEPT ME, PROTECTED ME, CALLED ME, STAYED WITH ME...his Love is everlasting; it NEVER ENDS, EVER !! that alone makes me want to surrender EVERYTHING to him. ive been delivered & set free so that's why i can walk around with this "EX" on my chest (Ex-Diva, Ex-Narcissist, Ex-fornicator, Ex-Masturbator, Ex-Hypocrite, Ex-Liar, Ex-Conformist, Ex-Pharisee, Ex-Rebel, Ex-Failure, Ex-Slave, Ex-Deceiver...this WAS me; but i died to myself & allowed God to consume my life; & in me he reigns supreme =) !! (Sin can only take you deeper, & deeper & deeper. truth is there is no limit to what you'll do when your in sin...even the ones in that "things ill never do" list) Tomorrow, next month, 5mins from now is NOT promised to anyone; not even our President; God has given us so many chances, yet we still think we have time WE DON'T; YOUR SOUL IS ON THE LINE HERE !! so choose; GET RIGHT; WHEN EVERYONE'S GONE LEFT or OR GET LEFT; WHEN EVERYONE'S GONE =) God Loves you; if he can do it for me; i know my God can do it for you !!

This is Who I am !!

Hola, Como Esta?

I hope you all are doing well. For those of you have no clue who I am, (the short version) My name is Artisha, California resident, 23 year old Woman Of God. Worshipper. Minister. Stylist. Entrepreneur. I Live Life Creatively. Saved by Grace thru Faith in Jesus Christ!
I've recently ventured over to Westbrook, Maine from March-June 2011. Business & Pleasure. So I thought, I strongly believe the Lord sent me miles & miles away from my family, my friends, and my strong Christian influence to teach me how to be a Disciple Everywhere. I was so spoiled.
I had the privilege of always being surrounded around believers. Honestly I got comfortable in that, naturally I was always on my "best behavior." But here in Maine I've been very uncomfortable, I've had to practice my Christian values more here than I ever have in my 2 years truly striving to Live life according to the word of God.
I'd say I've officially been enrolled into spiritual boot camp. There are great days, and there are days when I wanna quit. But the Lord has continued to show me Grace and give me strength to persevere to the end. I'm realizing just how Desperately I need Him 24/7, 365 !!!
One day in my alone time with the Lord He put it in my heart to create a blog about the things He's been teaching me and going to teach me here, I pray that it is not just entertainment, But most importantly a testament to the Glory, Love, Grace, & Compassion that the Lord has towards us, I pray that is encourages to fervently seek the Lord, I pray it challenges you, and pushes you toward a INTIMATE LOVE RELATIONSHIP with our Abba.
My goal is to post something everyday, although each entry will be from my point of view, or how I received it, make it personal to you and allow the Lord do the rest.
-God Bless :)