faithMile

By Katryna Starks

One day, about 10 years ago, I was in my bathroom getting ready to set about my day. I was trying to style my hair, and thinking about all of the things I needed to do. In the middle of my internal conversation, I thought to myself “I wish I had a bobby pin.” A few minutes later, I glanced at the floor. I had black, brown and beige shagged carpet. I could barely see anything on it (if I ever dropped an earring-back, it was gone.) But this day, as I glanced down, I saw a bobby pin. It was black and should have blended in with the carpet, but I saw it as clear as could be, as if it were floating on top. It was more than just a bobby pin. I felt it was God saying “If I will provide in this small way for you, then surely you can trust me with the big things.” From that day on, bobby pins became a small altar for me. Every time I see one, I remember that God provided, and that He has promised to provide.

The Bible is full of small altars that were built to remember the Lord. In Genesis, there are several mentions of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob stopping to build small altars in order to remember the Lord. In Genesis 12:6, Abraham builds an altar after hearing from God. In Genesis 26: 23-25, Isaac builds an altar when God confirms the family covenant with him. Jacob built an altar when he arrived safely in his own land after encountering Esau (Gen 33: 18-20).

God also used ordinary things as remembrances of Him. In Exodus, God instructed Aaron to save some manna in a jar so that the Israelites would remember how God provided. Later, in the book of Joshua (4:2-3), God commanded Joshua to have 12 men get stones from the dry ground of the Jordan river so that future generations would remember how God delivered Israel by parting the Jordan river.

It’s important that we have small altars – ordinary things we save or use to remind us of God’s protection and provision. These small altars are so prevalent in our lives that if we said a small prayer of thanksgiving every time we saw one, we would “pray without ceasing”(1 Thess 5:17).

When we remember to pray at small altars, God does big, amazing things.

A friend of mine, Sharon Nash, really got to “the heart of the matter” with Bishop Eddie Long. She spoke about his real problem, the fact that it’s shared by many, and how he and others can get healing. She also brought up several other instances that happen every day, and that Christians should be vigilant in praying about all of them.

Real her wonderful article here at The Relationship Lady.

By Katryna Starks

I recently watched a documentary called “The Secret”. It claimed that people could “harness the power of the universe” and have it deliver whatever they wanted. In one scene, a young boy supposedly wished for a bike – and got it. In another, a man used the power of The Secret to get a red sportscar, a big house, and a beautiful woman.

I was bothered by this documentary. Not because they told people that they could wish for what they wanted, but because it was so shallow. If I actually believed that I could snap my fingers and the power of the universe would be at my command, why would I wish for a car? I don’t need the power of the universe to get a car. I just need a job. Why not encourage the use of that power to end war? Simultaneous worldwide nuclear disarmament? End poverty? End sickness? Clean the ocean? Pretty much anything that serves humanity rather than . . . a car?

And herein lies the dilemma of The Secret and other Get-Rich-Quick schemes. They promote spiritual principles for shallow purposes.

The Bible says “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you.” (Mark 11:24) but it also says “and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight.” (1 John 3:22) which means that there is an expectation that we have behaved in ways that are pleasing.

But here is where The Secret really gets it wrong. First, one needs to ask God, not “the universe”, but even so, here is what God says about what we ask for: “When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.” (James 4:3). This is exactly what I’m talking about. If the people who believe the secret actually believe they have that much power, why spend it only on themselves? What a waste.

There is a story in the Bible about someone who follows God and asks him for the right things, things that will help others. His name is Solomon, and this is what he asked God for, and how God answered him: “Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be confirmed, for you have made me king over a people who are as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me wisdom and knowledge, that I may lead this people, for who is able to govern this great people of yours?” God said to Solomon, “Since this is your heart’s desire and you have not asked for wealth, riches or honor, nor for the death of your enemies, and since you have not asked for a long life but for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I have made you king, therefore wisdom and knowledge will be given you. And I will also give you wealth, riches and honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have.” (2 Chron: 9-12)

That is The Secret for Christians. Follow God and share His concern for His people and you won’t get left out of the blessings that follow. Matthew said it best: “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” (Matt 6:33)