Tag: that’ll preach

Darkies.

1 Comment

I knew that title would get your attention. While I have you here, let’s talk about darkness and light.

Generally speaking, no one likes to be in the dark — literally or figuratively.

If you’re the last person to know something (AKA being left in the dark), you don’t like it. You feel weird, left out, ostracized.

In scary movies, it’s the darkest of dark places that add the greatest fear and suspense for what’s coming around the corner. Directors intentionally make the portions of movies intended to scare dimly lit or even pitch black to evoke the feeling of fear. For we all know there’s nothing too scary in a well-lit room.

In life, there’s nothing worse that stumbling around a room (no matter how familiar, like your bedroom) in the dark. As we pat around to find the light switch (that’s been in the same place for years) we always to manage to stub our pinky toe on the bedpost (that’s also been in the same place for years).

If being in the dark sucks SO much, why would we want to live in spiritual darkness? If being in the dark was so cool, why did Edison invent the light bulb, cavemen discover fire to light their caves, or God find the need to create a star so big and bright it could give light to the entire earth? Why would we want to live in proverbial fear, feeling our way around life, trying not to stumble and fall?

That doesn’t sound cool to me.

Light, in essence, makes things less scary. The light of God makes this life easier to navigate! Light illuminates, exposes, and reveals any and everything. Light is essential in our natural world and in the spiritual one, too.

You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. — Matthew 5:14-15

Just as silly as it sounds to walk intentionally around your house in darkness, it’s even sillier to walk around this life in darkness. God wants us to live in a state of perpetual light. He wants to show you that the places that scare you the most are harmless. He wants to illuminate your path so you never have to worry about stubbing your toe. He wants to show you what it’s like to live in His warm, inviting, protective light. He wants you to be able to see everything that’s coming your way — its the best tool you have available to win in a dark, dark world.

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path. — Psalm 119:105

If you can’t see clearly in your life, if things are looking dim and you’re trying to find your way, turn your heart toward the greatest light source available to mankind: Christ!

On the Chase,

Alisha L.

Philippians 4:13 Break Down!

2 Comments

Break it down! #ThatllPreach [excuse any typos, this is just raw study note taking!]

Okay so Philippians 4:13 is a very cliche scripture that we hear/use all the time but when you break it down, you really are able to see the power behind what it says:

I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me.

1. I can do…
That phrase broken down in the Greek means: to be strong in body, to be robust, sound health. Also to have power, exert, wield power to have strength. To overcome, to be able.

2. all things…
That phrase broken down in the Greek means: each, every, any, all, the WHOLE. Everyone, everything, some of ALL types.

And finally…

3. thru…
[I wanted to know what this word meant in correlation to the scripture AND Christ. What dies it mean exactly when it says “THRU” Christ?
“thru” in the Greek is a primary preposition (prepositions tell the location of something in a sentence) and in this case “thru” denotes a FIXED position (in place, time, or state). In, by, with, at, or among.
So Philippians 4:13 now means:
I have the ability in body and in my health to be strong and overcome each, every, the entirety of anything I face/encounter because Christ’s position in my life never moves, never changes. He is always in, by, with, or among me.

WHOOOO! Jesus HELP! When you say it like THAT, yes we CAN do all things! We can overcome our flesh, overcome trials, people, weight loss, job issues, family issues, love issues, relationship issues. ANYTHING ya’ll!

On the Chase to do ANYTHING through Christ,

Alisha L.

Definitions:

Exert:

  1. Apply or bring to bear (a force, influence, or quality).
  2. Make a physical or mental effort.

Wield:

  1. Hold and use (a weapon or tool).
  2. Have and be able to use (power or influence)

That’ll Preach: A Bible Quickie

Leave a comment

Hebrews 12:1

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us…

Throughout 2011, many of us have dealt with issues, people, situations that still have one proverbial foot in your life with less than two weeks left in the year.

We’ve tried to shake it off, get him/her out of our minds, hearts, LIFE yet they’re still there. Lingering.

We’ve wanted to just DO that thing in our heads to  expand or even start a new business, but the fear of the possibilities leaves us wanting more.

What is it that keeps us from doing, getting, gaining more?

Hebrews 12:1 tells us to lay aside every weight and the sin that easily beset us. Now, what may be lingering in our lives might not be sin, but you can replace [sin] with any noun you’d like.

Two things about this scripture:

1. Beset means to prevent, obstruct, constrict, easily entangling.

What is it that is preventing you, obstructing, you easily entangling you from moving forward?

What I loved the MOST about this translation is that it says easily. Those things that are comfortable, familiar, that we’re used to can be the very thing that entangles us, keeps us from pursing God’s best for our lives.

2. …let us lay aside every weight… When we are trying to get free from those lingering nouns in our lives, we have to be INTENTIONAL! This part of the scripture TELLS us to do something “lay aside”. If I take my cell phone and lay it on my bed, I had to move, put something behind my intentions, and take the phone from one place to the next.

How is this any different in our own walk? We must be intentional to lay aside every weight, do it with purpose, leaving the passive living behind us.

As 2011 comes to a close, what will you lay aside? What will you put action to in order to bring a close to lingering people or situations who have no place in your life for 2012? What will it take for you to put action behind a dream, desire, a plan that you’ve passively let linger throughout 2011?

You have the power to change your situation. You have the power to overcome the feelings and thoughts that are contrary to God’s best for your life! You have the chance to bring to an end to any situation that has not given you its best! You have the chance to actively pursue those things that can offer you more out of life!

You can do it! We can do it!

Here’s to 2012!

Alisha L.

That’ll Preach: Bible Study Notes | December 19

1 Comment

Here are the notes from tonight’s bible study. If you tweet out any of them on social media, use #thatllpreach for a hash tag!

12.19.2011

How do we know if the “voice” we hear is from God?
Scripture references: 1 John 4:1
We are told in the bible to test the spirit by the spirit. How do we know if what we’re hearing is from God? God tells us to test Him! Is what you’re hearing in line with what His Word says? God will never tell you to do anything that is contrary to His Word! Is he suggesting you call someone to clear the air or seek forgiveness? Have you “heard” this but wasn’t sure if it was you, Him, or the enemy? Continue reading →