Who am I? I am...

A child of God (Romans 8:16)

Redeemed from the hand of the enemy (Psalms 107:2)

Forgiven (Colossians 1:13-14)

Saved by grace through faith (Ephes 2:8)

Justified (Romans 5:1)

A new creature (2 Corin 5:17)

Partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)

Redeemed from the curse of the law (Galatians 3:13)

Delivered from the powers of darkness (Colossians 1:13)

Led by the spirit  of God (Romans 8:14)

A  son (daughter) of God (Romans 8:14)

Kept in safety wherever I go (Psalms 91:11)

Getting all my needs met by Jesus (Philippians 4:19)

Casting all my cares on Jesus (1 Peter 5:7)

Strong in the Lord and in the power of His might (Ephesians 6:10)

Doing all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13)

An heir of God and a joint heir with Jesus (Romans 8:17)

Heir to the blessings of Abraham (Galat 3:13-14)

Observing and doing the Lord's commandments (Deuteronomy 28:12)

Blessed coming in and blessed going out (Deut.28:6)

Healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24)

Above only and not beneath (deut.28:13)

More than a conqueror (Romans 8:37)

Establishing my authority over the enemy (Luke 10:19)

An overcomer by the blood of the Lamb and the word of my testimony (Rev 12:11)

Daily overcoming the devil (1 John 4:4)

Not moved by what I see (2 Cor 4:18)

Walking by faith and not by sight ( 2 Cor 5:7)

Casting down vain imaginations (2 Corin 10:4-5)

Bringing every thought into captivity (2 Corin 10:5)

Being transformed by the renewing of my mind (Romans 12:1-2)

A laborer together with God (1 Cor 3:9)

The righteousness of God in Christ ( 2 Cor 5:21)

An imitator of Jesus (Eph 5:1)

The light of the world (Matt 5:14)

Blessing the Lord at all times and continually praising the Lord with my mouth (Psalm 34:1)

Allow no one and nothing to define who you are in life. God is your creator and He is the only one that determines your purpose based on who you are and how you were made. I pray that you seek purpose and counteract negativity with these confesions. If you don't know where to start, please feel free to send me an email at lornekajoseph@gmail.com.

I need you to show up!

Tonight as I sit and prepare myself for another day of  work, I cannot help but think about what my true desire is at this point in my life. For the past few weeks my brothers and I, along with many other Christians have been praying for the release of the Holy Spirit to manifest on earth like the day of Pentecost.

Pentecost was the Sunday after Easter recognized as a church festival commemorating the descending of the Holy Spirit on the believers who were present in a placed called the upper room (meeting place). Just imagine a place filled with Christians from all around the world fellowshipping with one another. Then suddenly comes a roaring sound from above like a windstorm that is heard all throughtout this room. If that's not enough to be amazed by. Well, the bible also tells us that flames and tongues of fire rested upon their heads. What was the result? Everyone in the room began speaking in other languages that was very unfamiliar. You can read the full story in the book of Acts chapter 2.

Basically, I am believing that the same God that did this marvelous work can do the same thing again. "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday,today, and forever."

 But what this blog is really about is that after being born again and having a relationship with the divine trinity( Father, Son and Holy Spirit), have I really gotten what I wanted from God all this time? I am not talking about blessings such as cars, houses, land, a career, gifts or even meeting my future spouse. I am talking about knowing what it is to experience the meaning of walking and depending TOTALLY upon the Holy Spirit. Contrary to popular belief, I honestly believe that we as Christians can walk in the spirit 24 hours a day. How do you know this Lorneka?

Well, Jesus was the word that became flesh and as He went about His father's business, he was led the Holy Spirit. Rarely do you see in the Bible Jesus getting out of character as He did His father's business. Except for that one time when He walked into a temple in Jerusalem and drove out the people who had turned it into a place of buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He violently knocked over the tables with money on them.This was Jesus insisting that people keep his temple a house of prayer (Matthew 21:12-13).

I say all this to say that Lord I want more than anything in this world for you to show me how to walk in the power of the Holy Spirit just as you did on the day of Pentecost. I want to experience the Holy Spirit every moment that I am breathing and going about my day. Hear my heart Lord and answer me please. My desire it to please YOU at all times, but I can not do so by being dominated by the flesh and the cares of this world. We can be Holy Spirit filled when sitting in traffic and someone cuts in front of us and we want to curse them out; when our bosses on the job act up; when loved ones do us wrong; when finances are acting up and even when life does not go our way, we can still be in the spirit.

Your word says that when I pray, believe what I have prayed and I shall receive it. I WILL BE WAITING ON THE MANIFESTATION OF THIS REQUEST.

Goodnight Daddy

This shall come to pass

In 2009 and beyond....

Holiness, Holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need
Holiness, Holiness is what you want for me

Holiness, Holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need (ohoh)
Holiness, Holiness is what you want for me

Righteousness, Righteousness is what I long for
Righteousness, is what I need. (that's what I need)
Righteousness, that's what you want, that's what you want, that's what you want for me
So take my...

Chorus
Take my heart and mold it,
Take my mind transform it, (take)
Take my will conform it, (to yours)
To yours, to yours, own

Brokenness, Brokeness, is what I long for
Brokeness, is what I need (gotta be broken)
Brokeness, Brokenness that's what you want for me

Chorus
Take my heart and mold it, (take... my mind)
Take my mind transform it, (take my wil)
Take my will conform it, (conform my will)
To yours, to yours, oh Lord.

To yours, to yours, oh lord x3

Holiness, Holiness is what I long for
Holiness is what I need (gotta be holy)
Holiness, Holiness is what you want for me

Is what you want for me x3

 

STDs..abstain and have no worries!

Jim- " That was the best sex I ever had, you're the best babygirl."

Sue- " Of all the girls you've dated, you are telling me I am the best? Wow! You do love me"

Jim- "I do love you and I will never do anything to hurt you babygirl as long as we're together"

Sue and Jim are in a long distance relationship. So when they got together on school breaks,they would have sex to make up for lost time.  Sue attends college in South Miami and Jim goes to a community college in Texas. After the summer break Sue noticed something weird happening with her body.She had two weeks of pain when she urinated, inflammation and unusual discharges from her genital area. Sue decided to go and see a physician at a local clinic.

Dr.Flanigan performed a few tests and had Sue to sit in the waiting area until the results returned.Sitting patiently, sweating and heart beat racing and praying, Sue could not wait any longer for the results. Dr.Flanigan read the results. It turned out that Sue had contracted an STD. It was Herpes Simplex Virus(HSV) type-1.

How many of us have seen or heard about these type of situations that affect us or someone we know? We all do. The thing about these situations is not only are they unwanted, but they produce long term effects. Now Jim and Sue are very much in love as you read, but how is it that love has brought on such grief to a young girl in love? What I did not tell you prior to this scenario is that Jim had slept with another girl during the summer break with Sue.Interesting, I know!

There are a lot of Sexually Transmitted diseases that I have not mentioned. Too many to list if you ask me. Here is a website you can check out. http://www.avert.org/ .But fact of the matter is they are out there and most of them are uncurable. We have all sat in those long sex seminars in high school on the dangers of unprotected sex and STDs ,so I wont lecture you on that anymore. But what I will talk about is an option that is rarely discussed in today's society that can prevent these dangers from happening to us or anyone we know. The best and safe option is called abstinence.

December 1st is World Aids Day and I got a chance this year at school to sit down and really think about how is it that the number of infected individuals keep increasing.I am not talking about thirld world countries that are not educated enough and have no resources for treatment. According to the Center for Disease Control(CDC), there are about 19 million new cases of STDs that show up and the majority of those cases comprise of young people between the ages of 15-24 years old.This statistic is not only alarming, but frightening. Why? Because it makes me think if the majority of young people are infected with an STD, then who is educating the other percentage so that they don't contract an STD?

I will not have you to think that I have never had sex, but I was able to not contract any diseases only by the grace of God. Which I am so grateful for. But after giving my life to the Lord I became a born-again virgin and have been abstaining for the last four years. It was the  best decision I ever made. So many times we look at the reasons why we have sex and want pleasure, but do we really know the purpose of sex? Stay tuned for this on another blog.

The reason I wanted to get this blog out on STDs is because the world tells us that the only way we can be effective in our relationships is to indulge in sexual encounters and please our partners. There are so many activities that a couple in love who are waiting for marriage can do. Sex is not the only thing.Unlike Jim, he did not think about what could happen as a result of his one night stand. No one plans to become infected , but when we have sex, we are basically taking a risk. A risk that I believe life is not worth. It is not worth it for anyone to give their soul to someone temporarily and get nothing but pain in return. Now you are probably thinking how is it that through sex you give someone your soul. Sex is a form of expression that connects people together intimately. However, if not done with the right motive, an understanding of the purpose of sex and not with the person God destined to be with you, hurt and pain can be the end results.

For those who of you who have an STD or in a relationship where you feel you may be in danger, get help or talk to someone about it. As a certified pharmacy technician, we know that prevention is the best medicine. I will have you to know that there are some STDs that are asymptomatic( no symptoms). So the best thing to do is to go and get tested at a local clinic. There are over the counter medications that can alleviate minor problems, but GET HELP!

I leave you with a final thought or word. Better yet, the only word that is proven to give great results.  The word of God states:

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (New International Version) 

 18Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a man commits are outside his body, but he who sins sexually sins against his own body. 19Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.

By making a decision to never be worried about whether you have contracted an STD or not, I advise you to pray and ask God how to help you to wait on the mate He has for you. One that you can trust and commit to wholeheartedly. Abstinence has been the only way God wants us to honor Him. It takes having a relationship with Christ and then allowing Him to help you through the struggles of wanting sexual pleasures until He brings you a mate. I am still learning how to be pure in thought and in deeds, but I can offer the word of God to you that has helped me over the years.

So until next time...when you are not sure if to have sex and wondering if you will catch an STD..think about the lives that are already infected and those that don't know they are infected. ABSTINENCE IS THE WAY TO GO!

Working While Waiting

January 2009 is going to mark my 4th year anniversary of being single. Society would definitely label me as abnormal and unbalanced. For it's not normal for someone to enjoy life and to do so without having a mate. As I thought about this great celebratory moment in my life, I was led to re-visit the story of Ruth and Boaz in the Bible. A quick synopsis of the story would probably help you understand why I am celebrating this moment. Ruth was a young woman who had married an Ephrathite man from Bethlehem and got married only to become a widow ten years later. After the death of her husband she and Naomi,her mother-in-law moved to Moab.Ruth decided to go along with her Naomi,instead of returning to her homeland. So to take care of her mother-in-law ,Ruth decided to seek employment in a nearby field.While there in Moab, Ruth began to flourish in her relationship with God after such tragedy. Ruth was able to go out and seek employment to provide for her and her mother-in-law while in this foreign land. In search of a new life, I believe that Ruth no idea of what she would be getting as a result of being a woman of God. To continue on with the story, Ruth finds favor in the fields harvesting,then suddenly and unexpectedly caught the eyes of a man by the name of Boaz who she later married. Boaz, who was a physically impressive and an influential man, not only married Ruth, but he redeemed the family's inheritance since her husband died. Then finally, you guessed it..they had a baby named Obed and lived happily ever after.

Now I would have you to know that all this did not happen over night and there were certain things that transpired in order for this marriage to take place. Ruth clearly from this story in the book of Ruth had to have had a relationship with God to be so submissive to transition I call- PROCESSING. Many times as people,especially women,we want to believe that in order for us to be happy, those in our sphere must either resemble what we want them to be or change them to our desires. Which is not an effective way to being happy. But what about thinking whether or not the other person thinks the very same thing about you. As for myself I have been finding that in waiting for God to send His best for me in terms of a man, I have to get prepared, work now and submit as a single first and foremost to God.
How does that process work? I don't know. But I do know that there is an instructions' manual called the Bible that gives steps on how to go through the process, learn to master it and yet, remain happy in the midst.

So let us visit the instruction's manual on how Ruth did it and got results.
As I read the story there were key evidence of characteristics that Ruth exemplified that can help us as human beings on not just waiting for a spouse, but waiting on anything. First and foremost Ruth had a relationship with God and family.So we must first develop relationships. Relationships with God and people that we like and dislike.Yes I said it.Living in an era where we see times are truly changing, such as in the case of America electing an African-american as president, we can no longer believe that we can grow and change alone.If such was the case,then why did God feel the need to place a woman in the garden of Eden with Adam and then to have them birth forth nations.

Gen 2:18 The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."


To know how the mind works, we must be intentional in seeking the purpose of a relationship and continue to do so until it is perfected in love. As a brother of mind said in his blog, "Being intentional in relationships with others usually means at some point, it will be very difficult to be in the relationship and will REQUIRE that you know WHY you're in that relationship." This also refers to being intentional in your relationship with God if you are not already doing so. So when the times comes to be united with your wife or husband, not saying there will not be communications errors in that marriage, but you will know the skills on how to recognize and fix the errors that arise.

Another characteristic displayed by Ruth, was that she was a servant.
We know this because when Ruth and her mother-in-law migrated to Moab, her first desire was to go out and work to provide for them both.

Ruth 2:2 And Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, "Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain behind anyone in whose eyes I find favor." Naomi said to her, "Go ahead, my daughter."
We live in a microwavable society where we want everything here and now without having to struggle for those things.Its true you can get things easier than others, but what would it profit one by not wanting to be patient and learn valuable lessons that will carry one through life? Successful leaders such Bill gates, Donald Trump and Oprah did not start out leading where they are now. They had to learn from experts in the corporate world, prove what they learnt, go through trial and errors and most important, they served first.Oprah started co-anchoring TV news in Nashville, and Bill Gates learned computers by working along with his Harvard professors, but we have a greater example which is Christ. His life was totally centered on pleasing His heavenly Father by serving mankind. So I am learning how not to just serve people in the church that I greet and minister to at the door or my family and friends,but EVERYONE. To the men especially, I believe that the most effective tool in being a great husband is to serve someone unselfishly on a higher level than you are even when when it hurts.Same goes for women desiring to be an effective wife in the home.

'I love the Lord with all my heart and soul." For some,this statement is a cliche then for others its what we truly do. Ruth undoubtedly had a love for God that it encompassed every area of her life. So much so that it caused her to find favor with man wherever she went. While being loyal,humble,serving and working hard, Ruth was able to find favor with Boaz so much that he allowed her to have security while on the job and food for her family.Thats the kind of love I want to be drawn to me.As a christian, I am usually challenged with my love for God because I tend to place emphasis on what I have said to Him and not what I can do for Him. God cares more about actions than words.So if I want a man that loves me and the Lord, then I need to evaluate my love for Christ and people now as a single woman.


Finally, Ruth exemplified a characteristic that is often difficult and yet, simple to God. Ruth was a confident woman of God who trusted in God daily.
There is no way that I can ask God to bring a man to me if I dont know how to trust Him in daily situations that I am going through now or will go through later. If Ruth trusted in herself and her situation to fix it alone, I don't know if God would have honored the desires of her heart. So the next question I have to ask myself is whether I totally trust God to do what He wants in my life and not be shaken buy it.
Then and only then, will He qualify me to receive His blessings.

I made a working-while-waiting list that guides me as a single woman.

Few desires of my future husband:

A God-fearing man- ask self are you God-fearing in all your ways?
A patient and tenacious man- are you patient and tenacious with God and people?
To be loyal and hardworking- are you loyal in your relationships with friends and family and mostly, God?
A man who knows the importance of sacrifice and servitude- are you serving with a pure heart and do you sacrifice your life for others now? without complaining?
A good steward and provider- can God trust you with what you have now and are you using your paycheck to advance the kingdom?
A man that hears from God and one I can trust-are you hearing from God and can God trust you to do anything to glorify His name?

So I hope you see why in January 2009 I will be celebrating and not moping. Because as God continues to show me who I am in Him and want in a spouse, He is giving me opportunities to perfect these things & more NOW. Of course I won't be totally prepared, but I will have enough wisdom and knowledge on how to go through a marriage.This I must be grateful for and to not rush the process of true love so as to be an effective woman of God, like Ruth. So until then..I am working while waiting!!!!!

LONELINESS-STATE OF MIND OR FEELING?

We live in a world where success,happiness and love are defined by what we possess.I agree that yes,the amount of things we possess may be perceived as a level of success, but in whose eyes do we consider what true success looks like?

Like a chameleon,our lives are meant to go through transition no matter who we are.
If you're life is not changing then begin to ask yourself is it you or are you fighting nature and its purpose for your life? As for myself, this statement is a part of who I am now becoming as a young lady.

One of the things I have been challenged with and meditated on recently is why in the midst of a crowd,family,and even a soul mate,we still tend to feel a sense of loneliness? Loneliness is defined as being without company.Okay,so if this is the definition then why when in the presence of company we still feel lonely? This experience can be so painful that in some cases result in suicide.I am convinced that by following the word of God it can get you two things- the result you want or the result GOD wants. If you are a Christian,what God wants should be our utmost desire.

Growing up in a home where loved one were always around,I still often isolated myself. I know you're probably asking why I did this.Well I have been trying to figure that out myself.Even now living and experiencing college life,I still isolate myself when the activities or people don't interest me.I realized that I have not found like-minded people so I started to..well..get lonely.
Of course I got frustrated but who was I frustrated with? At myself or at God?As a result it brought me to the place of asking myself why am I feeling lonely now more than ever at this point in my life?

The reason I say this point is because there is so much I am grateful for and have accomplished at 24 years of age,motherless,single,a new college student at one of the top black schools and a foreigner in a strange land. Don't get me wrong I have people that I talk to and hang out with,but they don't keep me happy all the time.

I was sitting in a dark room,quiet,still and eyes filled with tears I asked again,"why am I lonely in this new place?" I know that I am friendly, but that was not it.After a few minutes, the response given was that I feel lonely but really I am not??!!! Yeah, going back to what I previously mentioned about whose eyes was happiness defined in. Well apparently I was drawn back to the word of God that says in Deut 30 verse 6," DO NOT BE AFRAID OR DISCOURAGED, FOR THE LORD GOES WITH YOU;HE WILL NEVER LEAVE YOU NOR FORSAKE YOU."

God is the only one who does not lie to us. So if He has not forsaken me then that means not only is He always around me,but I should never feel lonely.Which brings me to my next question. Are we as human beings lonely because we desire to be with someone or are we just really empty and have no understanding of contentment internally? This was where I found myself. Basically my instructions were to be still,wait, allow Him to fill me with love and believe that my niche of people were being prepared for me.

Another reason we get lonely is that we go out and seek people and things that God did not desire for our lives.These people then become influential especially while we're vulnerable.That statement really got me.Now, to combat that loneliness is a state of mind and not a feeling,I am learning how to spend time alone,enjoy my own company and be joyful.While waiting to be surrounded by God's chosen people for my life,I am letting God show me how to be content in every state.

LONELINESS IS A STATE OF MIND AND NOT A FEELING.

So if you're like me or millions of people around the world, there is nothing or no one that can truly make you happy.According to the word of God there is no money, material or person that can provide true happiness.Which means that we must be groomed into becoming confident.In diagnosis of this plaguing disease called "feeling lonely and depressed", the only prescription that will cure this problem is getting to know Jesus. He works in conjunction with God and the Holy spirit who resides in you.But to get to them,you must first ask them to come into your life and fix what's wrong and then you can be healed!!

Please feel free to leave comments or send questions to ladylorneka@gmail.com