Fading Romance: rejuvenate your atmosphere

Romance: Ardent emotional attachment or involvement between people; love. a romantic spirit, sentiment, emotion, or desire. Many marriages have failed because of fading romance. Many people have also forsaken God because of fading romance. Romance is not only natural but also spiritual. Romance is the gateway that leads to a greater dimension of love. There is an atmosphere that is attached to romance that attracts certain things. When there is true romance then time is usually not an issue. When you begin to place time "limits" on romance this is a definite sign that your romance may be fading. When musicians sing romantic songs or book writers write romantic novels, there is an atmosphere from within them that allows their desire to emanate on the outside. When I seek after God I have to realize that the less "limits" that I place on Him will allow me to have the best possible experience. No limits equals no restraints and this is the kind of romance from God that I desire. Whether you are seeking greater romance in your marriage or in your relationship with God there must be a change in your atmosphere (mindset, surroundings, environment, desires). The first flame which ignited your romance must be the same flame that is rekindled. There is a pure inspiration of creativity from God that can guide and revitalize your romance. When you have a rejuvenated atmosphere then you have a rejuvenated (invigorated, recharged, revitalized, renewed) romance. It takes energy and patience to rejuvenate a fading romance. I just want to encourage you today to ask yourself "how passionate are you about rejuvenating your atmosphere and experiencing a refreshed romance?."

Rules of Engagement: the passionate embrace

Embrace: An act of holding close with the arms, usually as an expression of affection; a hug. To receive, to welcome. There are certain environments that when I enter into there is a certain atmosphere (surrounding influence). Usually when I go to the library the atmosphere is conducive for me to study. When I step into a gym to play basketball it is usually a high energy, fast pace atmosphere. The atmosphere in certain work environments is more stressful than others. There are certain environments that you can not enter into if you are not dressed appropriately, because the atmosphere is not conducive for that type of apparel. When we look at these examples it becomes evident that when we seek to enter into God's atmosphere there is a certain standard that must be met in order to engage Him and His presence. One of the aspects of God is holiness. When I seek to engage God and His atmosphere I have to make sure that my lips are not tainted and that my heart is not tainted. There is a benefit to repentance that repositions us in order to engage God without disrespecting the standard of who He is. When a husband and wife engage each other in a romantic setting there are certain aromas that can be pleasant for that setting. When we seek to engage God we must recognize the spiritual aroma that we are releasing into the atmosphere. Is it a pleasant aroma or an unpleasant aroma? I just want to encourage you today to let God prepare the atmosphere of your heart and your mind, so that you can engage His presence with no restraints and be engulfed into His passionate embrace.

Losing your fire through the fire: invisible flame

Fire - burning intensity of feeling i.e. passion; ardor. A severe test; a trial or torment. Before my lifestyle was transformed through the power of God there were certain things that I had a passion (fire) for. Whenever I would get ready to go out to a night club or concert I would have a feeling of expectation and excitement. I would even try to arrive early at the night club or concert because of this expectancy. Whenever I was preparing to go out on a date I had a feeling of expectancy because I was pleased with the person I was about to meet up with. Now that my priorities have changed ever since my transformation; I have to continually examine my passion towards the things of God. Even when I used to have a bad week I would still get excited about my date or that night club I was going to. When we begin to live for the things of God and we go through situations that challenge our joy and peace, should we lose our fire? When two fires come together there should be an even larger fire. The larger fire should engulf the smaller fire. What is the substance of your fire (passion) ? When you go through situations are you being engulfed by the situation or is your fire superimposing the situation? When your fire comes in contact with another fire what happens to your fire? The best fire is a consistent fire. Fires produce flames. Is your lifestyle a flame that someone can see (watch) or does your fire continue to fade in and out because of inconsistent passion? I just want to encourage you to stay consistent when it comes to the things of God by maintaining your passion through your persistence of seeking Him.

Tainted Experiences: life through a double lens

Tainted - A moral defect considered as a stain or spot. An infecting touch, influence, or tinge. As I look back at the situations I found myself in especially with regards to how I related to women; I would have to say that I truly had a tainted mindset. I would view women in a way that I would not want a man to view my mother or grandmother. This tainted mindset was driven by my atmosphere which was inspired by my music, friends, and unregenerated spirit. Until there is a change in one's atmosphere there can be no real change. The way I viewed beauty was tainted. The lens I was looking at beauty through was full of lusty residue. I John 2:16 states "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world". I found myself in unfavourable situations growing up because of my tainted view of life. If I am driving a car and the windshield is muddy then most likely I am going to go in a path or direction that I did not intend to go. Until the lens (perspective) on how you view life has been adjusted then your experiences will remain tainted and your destiny will remain blurry. When I changed my lifestyle by giving my life over to Jesus through the new birth process is when the "lens" on how I viewed life became clearer. By giving my life to Christ I can now say that I have seen life through a "double" lens. The first lens was tainted through my sinful lifestyle and this new lens (my 2nd lens) has been purified through Christ. I just want to encourage you today to seek the other perspective of life through a purified lens so that you can clearly begin to see your destiny.

New Creation, Old Standards

2 Corinthians 5:17 states "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new". New - Not habituated; not familiar; unaccustomed. Fresh from anything; newly come. Newly; recently. When one becomes a new creation there should also be a new paradigm shift even in regards to our preferences. I have been asked on numerous ocassions what I look for in a mate. I always think back to what I looked for in a mate before I became a new creation and I make a comparison to my present mindset (post-salvation), because there should be a difference in my preferences. Our lifestyle preferences should never supercede our spiritual well-being. I have asked the question before " what is the difference between what I am attracted to now compared to before I became a new creation?". If there is not a distinctive difference then there is still something that is hindering one from becoming holistically a "new creation". Another word for "new" is freshness. Can someone have fresh preferences with the "old" foundation of a previous mindset? What I was previously attracted to in regards to music, career(s), life, television shows, clothing, friends should not be the same as what I am attracted to (prefer) as a new creation. If there is an inconsistency it is not because of the process of salvation but rather the will power (choices) of the individual to be completely transformed versus partially transformed. I just want to encourage you today to believe at a greater level so that you can be transformed from your old mindset/preferences through your faith in Christ Jesus.

The disconnect of expectation(s)

I grew up in a home where my mother displayed a certain level of love. I attend a church where there is a certain level of expectation in regards to lifestyle. I have a certain expectation in regards to the type of woman that I want to marry. When you have a certain expectation about something then your lifestyle should portray it. I believe that I serve an awesome, magnificent, holy, and infinite God. If I have high expectations of my God then I should not have low expectations as it relates to the things that God can do. There is no reason for you to think that you do not deserve the best God has to offer you. The best husband, wife, career, ministry, children, and life. Low expectations = little faith. If God shows you someone as a potential future mate it will be up to you as to whether you believe you are worthy enough for that individual. The individual may be farther than you in their career or even in ministry. The expectation(s) that you have of the God you serve will ultimately affect the quality of what you get in life. There are certain individuals that settle for less because their self-esteem/confidence is not where it needs to be to receive what God is trying to give them. If you serve a God with no limits then you should not be trying to put limits on the type of spouse, career, ministry, lifestyle, job, business, anointing, or friends that God is capable of giving you. If someone is a janitor then why can't they marry an evangelist? If someone is an undergrad student in college then why can't they marry a successful business owner? If someone is just an usher then why can't they marry a pastor? When you say that you serve a God that can do anything but you do not expect the best things, then there is a disconnect in the expectation that you have of your God. I just want to encourage you to position your focus on the best things in life that a magnificent God is capable of giving you.

An Infinite Romance: inferior love just won't do

Infinite: never-ending, everlasting , limitless, no boundaries, immeasurable. I was talking with a couple of friends a few days ago and the two words "infinite romance" came up while we were talking. I began to think about what that entailed. I have experienced a father telling me that he loved me, but have yet to experience the substance of relationship behind his words. I have experienced the love of my immediate family, but there are days that I do not even see or hear from them. I have experienced individuals in the Church tell me that they love me but then struggle to fellowship with me. I have never been seriously "in" love with anyone before; so I ask the question "can any love compare to the love that I am experiencing now with Christ Jesus through His grace?". I have never cared about about a person to the point where I felt incomplete without them, but I need God daily. People have told me that it is better to "have loved" than to "have not" loved at all. Every rendezvous that I have had with Jesus has never been disappointing. I have been on numerous dates where I wish I could have been somewhere else with someone else. I have never heard God tell me that he was too tired or too busy for me. When you have experienced inferior love and the shortcomings that come with inferior love there should be a desire in you that wants more. It is a shame to be at the point where you feel that you only deserve an inferior love. I am living proof that once you submit your lifestyle to God that His love will satisfy you. Until you have experienced this infinite romance you have never experienced a superior love which only comes through Jesus. I dedicate this blog post to my two dear friends; you know who you are.