Miranda A. Uyeh's Blog, page 24

September 3, 2017

I Am Joshua (Part 1)

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One of the most difficult things in life is to have to fill the shoes of a predecessor that wasn’t only greatly successful, but was deeply loved as well.

This was the case with Joshua taking Moses’ place.

God, understanding Joshua’s struggle, came to him and encouraged him to be courageous. Thus, a new leader who turned out to be great, too, was born.

Do you find yourself in a similar position as Joshua? Are you a new leader taking over from someone considered an icon or legend in your field or organization?

In studying God’s Word to Joshua, there are a couple of wonderful lessons to glean:

“As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you (Joshua 1:5b).” As God was with your predecessor and enabled them to achieve great things, so God will be with you and help you achieve great things too, if you put your trust in Him.
“Be strong and courageous…Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go (Joshua 1:6a,9).” Courage is not the absence of fear, and neither is strength the absence of weakness. In fact, it is when you are weak, that in Christ, you’re strongest (2 Corinthians 12:9-10), and because you’ve admitted this weakness to Him (and to yourself) and surrendered to Him, He will supply you with His own strength and lead you to victory if you let Him. Take up the shield of faith (Ephesians 6:16) and gain strength and courage from it, because it is with faith that the impossible is achieved; whatsoever is impossible with man, is possible with God (Matthew 19:25-26). So do not be terrified; do not be discouraged because God will be with you wherever you go, every step of the way. Faith, after all, is being sure of what you’ve hoped for, and being certain of what you haven’t seen happen or manifest yet (Hebrews 11:1).
“…Because you will lead these people to inherit the land that I swore to their forefathers to give them” (Joshua 1:6b). The biggest mistake you’ll ever make as a successor is to try to be exactly like your predecessor. Your destinies are different. What success was to your predecessor may be misery to you because your callings are not the same. While the final destination was the Promised Land, Moses was only able to lead the people out of Egypt and into the desert, performing many great wonders and miracles that kept them alive and taught them about the God that had saved them. Joshua, on the other hand, was called to lead them out of the desert and into the Promised Land. It would have been grossly inappropriate if Joshua had tried to be exactly like Moses and tried to redo the things that Moses had done. Joshua’s destiny required him to operate differently and with a very different set of tools; his destiny required him to be a warrior while Moses was called to be a prophet. As Apostle Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but it was God who made it grow” (1 Corinthians 3:6). Apollos’ destiny would have gone wrong if he attempted to plant like Paul, instead of water as God had called him to. In like manner, discover your calling, and follow the path that God has placed you on. Don’t try to be like anyone else—not even your predecessor.
“…Be careful to obey all the Law…do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you will be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful” (Joshua 1:7b-8): As a child of God, the final authority in your life is God’s Word—not any traditional culture, societal norm, or popular belief/opinion. God Himself proved this to be true when He abolished the culture of circumcision of Israel’s males when the New Covenant with Jesus was born, making it clear that Jesus, His Word, trumps all else. God once spoke to His people through angels, but now He does so through the Son, Jesus Christ (Hebrews 1:2), and this same Jesus is God’s Word (John 1:1). And what did the Word, Jesus Christ, say to us? He said that if we love Him, we will obey His commands (John 14:15), which is His Word.

Secondly, remember that everything hangs on love, which extends grace. It is not wise to turn to the right and become over-righteous and legalistic, or turn to the left and become overly liberal and complacent (Ecclesiastes 7:15-18). These two extremes are sin; one makes irrelevant the work of Jesus on the cross by insisting that we are saved by our own works, and therefore insults the power of grace, while the other takes grace for granted and leads one to continue to sin that grace may abide (Romans 6:1-4). This is also what hinders a lot of Christians from having victory over besetting sin (Hebrews 12:1).

Like David, what you’ve been called to do may require you to lay a new foundation, which will mean taking a completely different path from the one your predecessor took. This is okay. There may be no existing manual for it. Just follow what God has laid on your heart, doing things His way, and you will be fine, because as Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit will guide you, teach you all things, and lead you into all truth (John 14:26; 16:13).

[image error]About the Editor

Miranda A. Uyeh is the founder and editor of To Be A Person (TBAP), the author of Christian Romance/Suspense fiction, To Die Once: Child of Grace #1, a Mogul Global Ambassador, and a copywriter. She was a one-time shortlisted judge for the Inspy Awards in 2014 in the Contemporary Romance & Romance/Suspense Category.

When Miranda isn’t reviewing books/entertainment or hosting interviews on TBAP, she’s writing, reading for fun or relaxing with a good movie! When she gets bored with the world, she talks to God about it! To learn more about her book, To Die Once, her journey as an author and her other activities, you can follow her personal website. You can also connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Google+.

*The article, I Am Joshua (Part 1), was first published on To Be A Person (TBAP), and is part of the I Am Series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Personality, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article, I Am Joshua (Part 1) Article, Inspirational Article, TBAP Article

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Published on September 03, 2017 23:00

August 27, 2017

I Am Barnabas

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Human desire is quick to believe that when God wants to use you to change the world, He’ll do so by putting you on a great platform where everyone will see you, adore you, admire and “love” you. Fortunately, God in His great and supreme wisdom, doesn’t always let it go this way. He may call you to impact the life of one person, who will in turn impact the life of hundreds, thousands or millions in their lifetime. This way, you would have changed the world forever, but still remain an unknown. This is not a bad thing. It’s a place of humility.

This was the case with Barnabas.

Barnabas, after much prayer, was selected by the Holy Spirit, along with Paul, to become partners in ministry. Along the way, John Mark, a relative of Barnabas who’d been with them but absconded, later came back. Paul wasn’t convinced that they should carry John along any longer. But Barnabas, being an older Christian (with a better understanding of grace) and a man with more patience, knew that John shouldn’t be abandoned, but rather, properly discipled. This resulted into a quarrel between Paul and Barnabas, with Paul deciding to take Silas instead since Barnabas refused to abandon John Mark, and so Paul and Barnabas parted ways (Acts 15:36-40).

Barnabas was never mentioned again in the Bible.

But John Mark was.

As it turns out, after Paul was imprisoned by Caesar in Jerusalem, he needed help from trusted hands to receive supplies, and also to have his letters safely delivered to the churches. John Mark was there for Paul (2 Timothy 4:11). Perhaps, Barnabas was too old or had already died, but before doing so, had instructed John Mark to carry on the mission work, and be there for Paul and the churches when they needed him to be, teaching John what it meant to truly love, forgive and gracious, even to Paul who’d initially refused him a second chance in faith and mission work. It was with John’s help and devotion that some of Paul’s letters that are now part of the Bible, were safely delivered to the churches. Barnabas, probably from the beginning, understood his role in the life of Paul, and in the event that he could no longer help Paul, had prepared John Mark to carry on in his place; all this Barnabas did even when Paul didn’t know that he would need Barnabas someday. Today, the church has the complete Bible because John was faithful to Paul—but only because Barnabas stepped away from a platform with Paul that would have seemingly made him “great,” and he did so to lovingly guide and disciple John until John became the capable and trusted missionary that the churches could count on (2 Timothy 4:11).

This is humility in its highest form. This is also love, kindness, grace and forgiveness (to Paul).

In the same way, God has called some of us to be an instrument of change in one or a few people’s lives. This is not a bad thing, but good.

Are you a parent, teacher, high school sports coach, librarian etc.? Don’t worry if you see failure or little fruit in your work as long as you’re doing your best. There’s always an observer or onlooker, a person listening or paying attention even when it is not obvious. You may be someone who’ll impact the one person that God ordained to change the whole world in a great way. Understand that your choosing to help a person that the whole world has given up on may likely not be approved or applauded by those who’re closest to you or who believe should know better. But if the Holy Spirit urges you to continue what you’re doing, then do so. In like manner, when Paul chose Silas, Paul was commended by the church for doing so (Acts 15:40). Remember that God’s Word and instruction to you trumps popular opinion, even the ones generally held up by Christians. Know this: When your work is done, that person, as well as all the people that they impact, will be special jewels on your crown someday in heaven! God bless you and continue to remain encouraged, so that you too can in turn be a Son/Daughter of Encouragement like Barnabas (Acts 4:36)!

[image error]About the Editor

*The article, I Am Barnabas, was originally published on To Be A Person (TBAP), and is part of the I Am Series.

Filed under: Article, Christianity, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Spirituality, Stories Tagged: Christian Article, I Am Barnabas Article, Inspirational Article, TBAP Article

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Published on August 27, 2017 23:00

August 25, 2017

Album Review ~ Miracle Maker By Open Heaven Band

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Genre

Contemporary Praise/Worship

Release Date

September 22, 2017

Rating

4 Stars

Review

The Miracle Maker album is softly energetic and fun, but doesn’t in any way take away from the exhilarating and soul-lifting nature of the songs. There’s a freshness to this worship album that is sweetly electrifying in a way that inspires one in the continued belief that contemporary music—no matter how many artists/churches and albums are out there—it will never grow old.

It’s uplifting to note how remarkably the worship draws one into an atmosphere where the heart and love of God is not only truly felt, but it also causes the listener to surrender with heartfelt worship and awe to God.

About Open Heaven Band

Open Heaven is a passionate group of singers, songwriters, and musicians based out of the worship ministry of Faith Life Church, located in Columbus, Ohio. With progressive and ambient pop sounds mixed with the power of live worship, Open Heaven brings an upbeat, encouraging experience in their new album, “Miracle Maker,” releasing Sept. 22, 2017 through Dream Label Group.

Open Heaven’s first project “Live from Faith Life Church” (2015) has had successful reach through many churches across America and in several other countries. Their second project “Lion of Judah” (2016) followed it with even greater reach.

Celebrating 22 years of ministry and with over three thousand people now calling Faith Life Church home, the ministry has grown to include several international media outreaches, two daily television programs, a missions organization, and homes for the underprivileged.

With a passion for creating an “open heaven experience,” Amy Keesee Freudiger leads Open Heaven and has been the Worship Pastor at Faith Life Church for 14 years. Amy and the team desire to create an atmosphere for the miraculous to happen. If you attend a weekend at Faith Life, you will see a group of people experiencing revival, miracles, restoration, emotional healing and freedom during worship services.

Amy says of their mission,

“This music is meant to bring a prophetic voice to churches, inspiring us all to believe for the impossible in our own lives. We believe that God has already given us an open heaven, and we are simply saying yes to what He wants to pour out. As we worship the Miracle Maker, we know the miraculous WILL happen!”

Filed under: Album Feature, Christianity, Entertainment, Inspirational, Music, Music/Album Review, Spirituality Tagged: Christian Music, Contemporary Praise/Worship, Inspirational Music, Miracle Maker Album, Open Heaven Band, TBAP Music Review

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Published on August 25, 2017 23:00

August 24, 2017

Artist Scoop! ~ Interview with Music Artist Carmen Justice

Carmen Justice was the front-woman for the Christian music girl band, One Girl Nation. After a good run of about five years, the group disbanded, and Carmen went solo. This year has seen her release some singles such as Flaming Arrows and Red & Yellow Black & White (feat. GabeReal). Carmen took the time to share a bit about her life with us on TBAP. Take a look below!

Miranda ~ Hello Carmen! Delighted to have you visit TBAP today. Please tell us a bit about yourself.

Carmen: So excited to do this interview and glad to answer any questions you may have! Thanks for supporting my music! I am a native Nashvillian who grew up dancing and singing. I studied music at Belmont University and I love traveling, dark chocolate peanut butter cups from Trader Joes, and Pinterest. A fun fact about me is that I can walk on my hands.

Miranda ~ How did you become a Christian? Is there a story?

Carmen: I have been a follower of Jesus since I was a little girl. I was lucky that I grew up with parents who both had a relationship with Jesus, and at 8 years old, I decided I wanted that too. I really feel like God grabbed my heart at a young age, but I definitely think that my faith became my own in college when I went through a season of doubt and soul searching for myself. I remember asking myself if I really believed the whole “God” thing and if I just believed in that because it was what I was taught all growing up. The book “The Case For Christ” by Lee Strobel really helped bring me back to a faith of my own, and I always recommend that book to anyone who is seeking to learn more about the Bible.

Miranda ~ When did music become a part of your life and, what led you to decide to become a professional in the Christian industry as opposed to the mainstream?

Carmen: I actually can’t remember a time in my life where I wasn’t singing! I grew up singing in church and that led to me writing songs I am super passionate about now. I’m blessed to be a part of the music industry here in Nashville—it isn’t an easy, glamorous road like some would imagine, but there is so much reward doing what I feel God has called me to do!

Miranda ~ You released a video for Flaming Arrows not so long ago, and also spoke of a period in your life when you experienced fear, which led you to write Flaming Arrows. How would describe that period/experience and, what do you hope a listener will walk away with after they’ve listened to Flaming Arrows? What would you say is the core of the song?

Carmen: This song was inspired by the verses in Ephesians 6 where Paul talks about the armor of God. I thought the part in verse 16 where it says “take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one” was SUPER applicable to where I was in life. Last year, as some of my fans know, the band I was in 1GN came to an end and I was in a place where I had absolutely no clue what was ahead for me. I found myself asking God “what’s next?” and “why would you have me here?” Sometimes, I still find myself asking those same scary questions. There was a ton of fear and anxiety that overwhelmed me, and I realized that until I learn to have complete faith in Jesus, I was not going to overcome this fear I had in my life. In writing this song, I wanted to acknowledge that fear is a real thing that everyone deals with so that we all don’t have to feel alone in that. I hope that any listener of “Flaming Arrows” feels empowered to overcome whatever fear they have in their life, to seek council, and to ultimately find their shield of faith in Jesus.

Miranda ~ What are the principles that generally guide your songwriting and choice of lyrics?

Carmen: My whole goal is to write from a genuine place. Whatever I’m feeling on a particular day, I just write about it. I want to write about real things I’m dealing with in my own life, as well as issues going on in the world. My latest single, Red & Yellow Black & White (feat. GabeReal), is a song I wrote because I was getting so tired of seeing so much hate whenever I checked social media, even from people that I knew loved Jesus that expressed emotions of such hate towards people groups. That day, I really wanted to write a song about love and unity. Other days, I’ve gone in the studio and am super excited and want to write happy songs about love or my marriage! Ha!

Miranda ~ How would you describe your early days in the Christian music industry and, what would you say is the one principle that has kept you afloat all this time?

Carmen: I would say as a whole, the industry is hard, whether it is Christian, mainstream, country, or whatever! It takes a ton of work and people aren’t perfect. It’s funny—I remember this random lady when I was first getting a start telling me, “Remember who you are, and Whose you are”…that truly has stayed with me until this day. If I keep that at the center of what I do, I can keep going.

Miranda ~ When do you know you’ve finished writing a song?

Carmen: I am kind of a perfectionist, so I feel like I would keep changing and adding things forever if it weren’t for my team helping me finish songs. Once the song is mastered, I can then call it finished.

Miranda ~ What would you like to see change in the music industry?

Carmen: I would love (in a dream world) for the industry to become less competitive and less about money. I feel like so many times we find ourselves comparing and trying to out-do each other instead of just owning our strengths and weaknesses and supporting each other, and going back to focusing on enjoying music that makes us feel something.

Miranda ~ As a Christian who’s also a music artist, what do you believe a Christian artist can add to the world? What do you believe you give to the world?

Carmen: I believe that because I know Jesus, I have everything to give the world—we all do. I feel like whether it is 5 people or 5 million people who are impacted by my music, I want to do my part in making the world a more loving and Christ-filled place.

Miranda ~ How do you successfully juggle marriage and a solo career in music? Any wise words for others soon to be in your shoes?

Carmen: Life can get super busy, and sometimes overwhelmingly so. We make it a priority to have good communication and have learned how to say no to things. We go on dates and like to read and be silly together! Since making a vow to Matt, I’ve made our marriage a priority over my music and I would tell anyone, regardless of career choice, to do the same. I’ve seen friends of mine put their careers over their marriages and some have ended in divorce—that’s just not an option for me.

Miranda ~ What are you most grateful for generally and right now?

Carmen: The first thing that comes to mind right now is coffee! Ha. I might have a slight addiction, but I love a good cup of coffee and am very grateful whenever I find new amazing coffee shops. But more seriously, I am so grateful during this season for all I’ve been learning—patience, contentment, perseverance, losing my pride, how short life truly is, and I could keep going on and on. God is really teaching me a lot in this season of my life.

Miranda ~ What advice would you offer to a young person who believes that they are called by God, and so are going into the music industry for the first time?

Carmen: Brace yourself for trials—they come to steal your joy and they WILL happen. But never lose your vigor for life, and always believe the best in people. If you are a creative, pray that God would give you a path where you can use your creativity to the fullest and if you are more business-minded, pray that you could be a man/woman of integrity leading our music industry with boldness.

THIS or THAT (The Fun Questions!)

Coffee or Tea? Coffee of course!

Gym or Outdoor? Outdoors (unless it’s raining or cold…then gym!)

Sandals or Boots? Sandals

Running or Walking? Walking

Juice or Smoothie? Both!

Salad or Fruit? Fruit

Movies or Books? Books

Vanilla or Chocolate? Definitely chocolate

Dress or Pants? Pants

Summer or Spring? Summer for sure!

Rain or Snow? Really, neither! I guess, snow, if I could go sledding or skiing!

Blazer or Leather Jacket? Leather jacket

[image error]Carmen’s Story

Carmen Justice has been a front-woman in Dove nominated girl band 1 Girl Nation for the past five years, and this year, she stepped out on her own as announced exclusively on CCM. Her single, Flaming Arrows, marks Carmen’s first release as a solo artist as she moves into the next chapter of her music evolution and has been available on all digital platforms since on January 20.

Writing the song from a place of uncertainty and doubt, the pop/alternative song’s driving rhythms give way to explosive melodies in an anthem about overcoming fear. The song was written days after 1 Girl Nation split giving her the creative freedom to explore new sounds and a stylistic tone that is genuine to her artistry while exploring the raw and vulnerable emotions Carmen felt during a time of peers expressing doubt about her career, extreme financial uncertainty and still dealing with past broken relationships.

“I was haunted by the bad experiences I had gone through as an artist, as a woman, and it was starting to control my mind,” explains Carmen. “I got so burned by people in my life and the entertainment industry that I didn’t know how much longer I could take it.” She continues, ” I was always living in fear…fear of not making enough money, fear of failure, fear of people knowing my mistakes I’ve made in my life…the list could go on … but I was comforted by Ephesians 6:16 that says ‘take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.’ With the faith I have in Jesus, I can overcome all of these voices of fear in my head.”

The pop star’s desire is for this song to empower those who are struggling with their own ghosts, whether it be bullying, addiction, anxiety, shame, doubt, and help them take control of their fears, face them and put them in the past.

Carmen Justice is a critically acclaimed pop star, recognized as one of three vocalists in the Dove Award nominated girl group, 1 Girl Nation (1GN). She has shared the stage with mega artists including TobyMac, Sidewalk Prophets, NF, and Andy Mineo. But after five years of being a part of a group, Carmen is stepped out on her own as a solo artist, revealing a more edgy pop/alternative sound paired with honest lyrics. The Nashville native released her first single, Flaming Arrows, in January 2017, with an EP to follow later in the year. Carmen’s hope is to empower listeners to overcome their fears and love those around you.

Filed under: Artist Feature, Entertainment, Entertainment Interview, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Music, Music Artist Interview, Music Video, Personality, Songwriter, Songwriting, Stories, Talent Tagged: Carmen Justice Artist, Christian Music, Flaming Arrows song, Inspirational Music, Red & Yellow Black & White Song, TBAP Interview

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Published on August 24, 2017 23:00

August 22, 2017

Album Review ~ Like No Other By Inspire Church Worship

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Genre

Contemporary Praise/Worship

Release Date

September 15, 2017.

Rating

4.5 Stars

Review

Clearly, Inspire Church’s worship crew aim, through this magnificent piece, to testify of our wonderful God as good, faithful, majestic etc., encouraging the children of God to indeed praise His majesty, as well as pledge allegiance to Him, take their place in Him, and stand firm in His grace and power, for God is indeed faithful—this theme resonates generally throughout the Like No Other album, a message that is most timely and needed in today’s world. There’s a heartfelt cry of love toward God, and also a cry for His presence and mercy to rain down on God’s children and the earth as a whole—a uniting and harmonious prayer that not only rings deep in the hearts of all of God’s children all over the world, but also inspires complete surrender to God.

About Inspire Church Worship

From humble beginnings in 2001 to a thriving multi-site congregation, Pastor Mike and Lisa Kai are passionate about building the Church. They are visionary leaders with hearts to advance the Kingdom of God by attracting non-believers to Christ, connecting them to their church family, training them for life and ministry and sending each person to fulfill their God-given potential. Pastors Mike and Lisa believe that “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind can comprehend what God has for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9). Out of this conviction emerged the Equip and Inspire Network. Each year, the Network hosts the Arise Women’s Conference, Kingdom Man Conference, and the Equip and Inspire Conference, which empower people across the Hawaiian Islands, US Mainland, and Internationally.

Filed under: Album Feature, Artist Feature, Christianity, Entertainment, Inspirational, Music, Music/Album Review, Spirituality Tagged: Christian Music, Contemporary Praise and Worship, Inspire Church, Inspire Church Worship, Like No Other Album, Pastor Mike and Lisa Kai, TBAP Music Review

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Published on August 22, 2017 23:00

August 20, 2017

I Am Moses

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I, personally, can relate to Moses as he sought with much zeal to fulfill what God laid upon his heart.

Can you?

When there’s a holy desire burning in your soul and you’re sure that it’s put there by God, it is easy to believe that—because you’re on fire, because you love God, because you’re so talented, because you’re “special” and stand out in some way, then you’re definitely ready to march on and slay any dragons that stand in your way and thereafter, fulfill destiny. So imagine your shock when, like Moses, you set out to do “God’s will” and it backfires completely!

Has God abandoned you? Did He not send you? Were you mistaken when you thought you heard His voice?

These questions slam your mind again and again, and sometimes even, to the point of psychological trauma and emotional insanity. Failing to go back to God for comfort and direction may send you spiraling down a path of confusion and depression that you may be in danger of not surviving, because it may put you on a path where you will emerge on the dark side with a skewed perspective of God and life on earth. Worse yet, fear and doubt may creep in and morph into more damaging forms that will produce a daunting lack of self-confidence and a distorted view of yourself, which will consequently sink your self-worth. Some Christians may even remain in the faith after such an experience, but will do so while simultaneously holding unto a pitiful faith that allows just enough for them to believe that they are saved, but will go no further than that truth because they’ve given up on life itself; you’ll find that these Christians have a dangerously unhealthy yearn to depart earth too quickly as a result of their sorrowful state on earth.

Making their state even worse, they may also possess an unhealthy fear of God or His punishment that doesn’t allow them to receive His love and gifts (I John 4:18-19), or may even believe that such goodness from God to them is not possible. This is why it becomes exceedingly difficult for such people to receive love from others or give it, because they themselves believe that they are not loved, or that they’re unlovable, or have consciously accepted that they’re irreversibly damaged to a state that will not permit them the ability to receive love, freely give it or return it. A Christian in this state is [disputably] worse than a non-Christian in a similar condition. Why?—because they’ve “apparently” tasted of God in a way that seemed to agree with how they’d initially perceived Him, and somewhere along their journey, found God “wanting” in that particular character that they’d come to expect of Him. This “disappointment” leads them to either do away with God or refuse to venture further into any level of faith beyond the obvious or simple because they believe God is not faithful to His Word; some even go as far as believing that there’s something that they did wrong or didn’t do right. This is what happens when a Christian doesn’t take the time to know the person of God.

God is a person with a unique and constant character. Failing to understand the character of God for yourself can place you in a dangerous position when trouble strikes, because false or no understanding of who He is will open you up to interpreting occurring events in diverse ways that could be detrimental to your faith, as well as cause you to view God from a perspective that is the opposite of who He truly is. It takes only the power of the Holy Spirit to bring such a person back into a thriving faith which will allow them to flourish on earth and live a life that is not only fully satisfying to them, but will be a testimony to others.

This analogy helps one understand the case of Moses, and why he fell from an over-confident warrior into the state of fear and lack of confidence in which God found him in. Sadly, many Christians are in this state today—reduced into a faithless rubble or a less than mediocre faith void of God’s love and manifested blessings.

Are you like Moses?

You can trust God again. Please allow me to propose a way that you can consider—one that may, perhaps, lead you into discovering that God is love as you once believed, and that the desires He put in your heart can come to life in you and even take form in reality. This is what I propose: forget every doctrine and teaching you’ve ever been told about God; all of it put together made up your belief system and probably led you to perceive God in the way that you did, and so are directly responsible for the state of confusion, anger and depression that you’re in right now. Go back to the basics—God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life (John3:16)—and start from there. Pick up God’s Word, the Bible, inspired by God Himself to teach and instruct man in everything he needs to know (II Timothy 3:16-17), and study it for yourself with an open heart. Let the Spirit of God, the Holy Spirit, teach you who God is and what His promises are…that simple.

My reason for this proposal is this: there is a promise from Jesus in Luke 11:13 that the Father will give the Holy Spirit to those who ask of Him. Jesus, again, promised the Spirit in John 14:16, even stating in v.17 that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth, and so will teach you all truth. All you need to do is ask. Jesus further listed the work of the Spirit in John Chapters 14 through 16, essentially telling us that the Holy Spirit is not just our Counselor/Teacher sent as a gift from the Father, but is also our Comforter. If you are willing to give God another chance, be assured that because you have been broken for so long, He will heal and comfort you. You will be blessed with comfort because, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matthew 5:4).

Bear in mind that you can only receive the truth by studying God’s Word for yourself. In the past, God spoke to His people through angels, but today, He does so primarily through His Son, Who is the Word (Hebrews 1:1-2; John 1:1-18), and we must study His Word to know who God is, since the Son is the exact representation of God’s being (Hebrews 1:3). Jesus promised in John 14:26 that the Holy Spirit will teach us in two ways—by reminding us of everything Jesus taught, and will also teach us everything else that we need to know. John 16:13 further emphasizes this by saying, “He will guide you into all truth.”

I will be bold and say that if you do this with an earnest heart, you’ll discover this: firstly, God is a person, and like everyone else, He has a character that is unique to Him. Secondly, God’s character is constant and consistent with His Word. Thirdly, what you’d initially thought, learned or perceived as true is probably false, distorted, or you applied these truths wrongly to your faith. Fourthly, what you will come to learn will astoundingly convict and humble you in degrees that you never ever imagined or thought possible. In other words, God will blow your mind. In this place of new discovery, you will rise again more beautifully than ever before, and you’ll learn that you were created in love, for love, and to love—that is, you are meant to love and be loved. Finally, you’ll realize what this is really all about—that the point of everything that God has ever done and will do is to build you into the image and likeness of Jesus, His perfect Son (Ephesians 4:12-16). Everything else is two things:

(i) a plus, that is, blessings, and,

(ii) tools given to you to accomplish the good works and service that He already planned for you to do before you were born (Ephesians 2:10; 4:11-12; Jeremiah 1:5).

In light of this, you’ll understand every discipline that comes your way. You’ll understand why God chooses the salvation of your soul over certain “wants and desires” that will lead you in a different direction and tarnish His good work in you. You’ll also understand that as long as you’re on earth, you’re a work in progress—God’s workmanship, and that all this time, He’d been preparing you in the desert, like Moses, for the very thing that you’d been aching for!

Moses sought to fulfill his destiny in his own strength, and so rushed into it unprepared. The result was a disaster (Proverbs 19:2-3), because, no work inspired by God can be accomplished with the strength of man, but only by the Spirit of God (Zechariah 4:6; Philippians 4:13; Ecclesiastes 7:11). This is why Jesus instructed the disciples to stay in Jerusalem until they received power (Acts 1:4, 8). Thankfully, Moses heeded God’s Word and received His love, and therefore became the greatest prophet in Old Testament (Deuteronomy 34:10-12). You, too, can fulfill destiny! And if you’re worried that so much time has passed, look no further than Moses who was 80 years old when God found him again. God gave him forty more years to fulfill destiny, and would have given him more if not for a certain misconduct. In those forty years, Moses strength did not fail, and neither did his eyesight (Deuteronomy 34:7). The same God that found Moses is the same God who reigns todays (Hebrews 13:8; John 1:1; Hebrews 1), for He is not a man that He will change His mind (Numbers 23:19).

Do you know someone in this state?

In the words of the late Kenneth Hagin (paraphrased), pray Ephesians 1:16-23 and 3:16-19, inserting their name(s) in the relevant spaces. These are prayers that ask God to reveal His love, power, and glory to an individual in a way that only He can. Remember that these hurting people who’ve probably refused any more counsel are not the real enemy (II Corinthians 4:3-4), because the real enemy we wrestle against isn’t flesh and blood (Ephesians 6:12; II Corinthians 10:3-5), but are great powers that are rebellious to God and are at work in the hearts of men, telling them lies (Ephesians 2:2).

[image error]About the Editor

*The article, I Am Moses, was first published on To Be A Person (TBAP), and is part of the I Am Series.

Filed under: Article, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Personal Development, Spirituality Tagged: Chrisitian Article, I Am Moses Article, Inspirational Article, TBAP Article

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Published on August 20, 2017 23:00

August 4, 2017

Album Review ~ Kingdom By New Hope Oahu

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Genre

Contemporary Praise/Worship

Release Date

August 9, 2017

Rating

5 Stars

Review

New Hope Oahu doesn’t disappoint with the number, Kingdom, the song by which the album is titled, as its head-nodding and hands-lifting attribute easily take over the atmosphere so that God’s presence reigns. An uplifting song that inspires pure worship and complete surrender to the will and sovereignty of God, the Kingdom song, as well as the album as a whole, is what any child of God needs to be reminded of God’s awesome power and majesty. The spirit of joy, faith, hope, and love rings deep and is felt and experienced as New Hope Oahu leads with the truly inspiring and joyful songs of the Kingdom album.

About New Hope Oahu

New Hope Oahu is listed as one of the top ten most innovative churches in America with Outreach Magazine listing them as one of the “top five churches to learn from.” New Hope Oahu is known for redeeming the arts and technology with thousands attending services each week between their 5 campuses and via the Internet. NHO’s previous 3 albums have each charted on The Billboard Overall Christian Music Chart, with their last release, “Greater Together”, debuting at #1. The Hawaii Academy of Recording Arts has also recognized New Hope Oahu’s albums as “Religious Album of the Year” for the past 3 years. Their new LIVE album showcases the worship experience from their prior album’s more popular songs.

Filed under: Album Feature, Artist Feature, Entertainment, Inspirational, Music, Music/Album Review, Spirituality Tagged: Chrisitan Music, Contemporary Praise and Worship, Inspirational Music, Kingdom Album, New Hope Oahu, TBAP Music Review

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Published on August 04, 2017 23:00

August 3, 2017

Artist Scoop ~ Interview with Music Artist Andy Garcia

[image error]With a heart clearly sold out for God, music artist, Andy Garcia, sings with such passion, it’s contagious. He released his debut album, Forever We Sing, July 14th (read the TBAP review here), and the music was as fresh as it was impressive. With the profound belief that his life is nothing short of God’s miracle, Andy, in turn, has developed a love for people that runs deep and will sing to an audience of one or a million. Andy took some time to tell us a bit about himself, sharing a testimony about his life that is both moving and inspiring. Follow our conversation!

Miranda ~ Hello Andy! Happy to have you here on TBAP today. Could you please tell us a bit about yourself?

Andy: Well, let’s see. I want to do crazy things. I love people. I love to laugh, and I love to travel the world! I grew up in Dallas, TX, as a kid with a large extended family. I lived in a bad area of town, and with my mom and grandparents. My alcoholic father left when I was a baby and never returned. At a young age I was presented with many bad options including drugs and gangs. As a child and teenager without a father and living in poverty, I was searching for anything to give me identity. I know my mother’s prayers and example are what kept my head above water and put me in places where I would grow and experience Jesus. Her and my grandfather kept me in church and paid a high price to take me to church events. I also had a youth pastor who came in and loved me as I was. He would actually hug me like a father and pour value into me. Through him, I gave my life back to Jesus and began to help with the church as much as I could. I always had a great love for music, but this was beyond just a normal love of music; it was a calling. And, out of a small prayer meeting that I, with three friends, had every Thursday night, God began to show up in such an amazing way. Now I have a passion for worship, and for His presence. Once you experience His presence, you are forever changed.

I travel around the US doing music and helping churches build great worship teams. I have an amazing wife and two sons who have blessed my life. They want to do crazy things too and carry the same vision. My passion is to see people’s lives changed through music. I want to see stadiums filled with people worshipping, and God just shows up and changes a city.

Miranda ~ What particularly led you into a personal relationship with Jesus? Also, in what way can you say your painful past has led you to become the better person that you are now?

Andy: As a child and teenager without a father and living in poverty, I was searching for anything to give me identity. I had an option to be in a gang, but I had a close friend who was shot by gangsters, and so I didn’t want to go down that road. I know my mother’s prayers and example are what kept my head above water and put me in places where I would grow and experience Jesus. She and my grandfather kept me in church and paid a high price to take me to youth events. I also had a youth pastor who came in and loved me as I was. He would actually hug me like a father and pour value into me. He saw something in me of purpose and would put me in leadership positions. Through him, I gave my life back to Jesus and began to help with the church as much as I could. My life experiences have given me such a deep love for people, their struggles, and have put in me a passion to help them to succeed in life. My goal each day is to help people see who God has called them to be and enable them to take steps to fulfill what they are called to do. I know I would not be who I am today if it were not for the few people who saw something great in me, and chose to selflessly give to see me succeed.

Miranda ~ Who would you say you sing for—the broken hearted, lost etc.? Why do you believe you’ve been called to this particular group of people?

Andy: I have a huge heart to see people rise above the circumstances of life and the boxes that they are in because of what I experienced in my life. My heart is to see people experience God and know His presence. I want people to see that if I can do something with my life, then anyone can. I was supposed to be a statistic—a failure—but God saw different. Throughout the Bible, God chose the nobodies, the failures, and the people less likely to succeed. So, if those are who He chose to bring Him glory, then anyone can make something of their life.

We are not called to live this life for ourselves, but to make Him known to a hurting world. So, my answer to the question of who I sing for is my Father in heaven. If I choose to sing for Him, then my heart will be right, and His presence will show up and impact people.

Miranda ~ What inspired your song, Forever We Sing and, why did you title your album with this song?

Andy: I am honored to feature the song, Forever We Sing, which my son, Sam, wrote with me, along with my wife, my son, Moses, and my producers. We wrote this song late one night as God was stirring in him a heart for music. As a family, our heart has been to write songs that describe God and bring Him praise. So, this song has special memories for me. It has also been a theme of what God continues to tell us—to magnify Him above all else, and to forever sing of His greatness. I was also privileged to finish this song with my producers—some very talented guys—which I also call my friends. They made the song amazing. They put so much heart into it as well.

Miranda ~ Your songs are sung so passionately! What principle guides your choice of lyrics as you write songs?

Andy: When we choose songs or write songs, we want lyrics that will paint a picture of who God is to people. We want songs that will move them and stir their hearts. We want songs that will heal their hearts, and make them dance as well. We are not looking for just a cool song; we want it to change people’s life.

Miranda ~ How would you describe your journey in the Christian music industry? How has your journey drawn you closer to God and made you a better person?

Andy: I have been doing music and working with artists for a while. One thing I have decided is that anyone can make it big, but not everyone can make a God-impact on people. I don’t want to be another great singer or performer; I want to leave a legacy. But, that takes much effort, prayer, and strategic purpose to see that happen. I love the music industry, and have, since I was a young child. I have always had a heart to be part of it. I just know that God has called us to do better than the world with our skill, creativity, and influence, and that is my goal.

Miranda ~ Who are the people that have inspired you the most in life and in music, and, in what way have they done so?

Andy: Growing up, I was influenced by many people. I had an amazing mom, grandfather, uncle, and family. I had a wonderful youth pastor and good friends. I loved watching TD Jakes and other pastors on TV. For music, I was influenced by Fred Hammond, gospel music, Kent Henry, Hillsong, Lindell Cooley, Jason Upton and Matt Redman. I was also influenced by people like Whitney Houston, Celine Dion, Keith Urban and other very talented artists. I appreciate music and talent. So, I have a very diverse influence, but all of them had so much passion for Jesus. I must say that, this is my goal, no matter what style I may be playing.

Miranda ~ What moment in your life (apart from when you gave your life to Christ) can you say changed your life forever?

Andy: When I was younger and in youth, I and some friends would have a prayer meeting every Thursday night. When we started having the meetings, I was dealing with depression, heaviness of heart, and suicide thoughts because of the things going on in my life. During these prayer times, God was so real to me. I would feel His presence and hear His voice speaking value and purpose to me. He healed my heart during this time. His presence can accomplish way more in a short time than years of counseling can do.

Miranda ~ What are most grateful for—generally/right now?

Andy: I am most grateful for all that God has done in my life. I could have been a statistic or a lost human being, but God came in and rescued me. I am thankful for all the opportunities I continue to have each day, and the doors He has opened for me. I am thankful for my wife and two sons who support me like crazy, and do everything they can to be a team and help out. I am thankful for some amazing friends and extended family that, also, are so loving and faithful to me. It makes life worth doing. God has been so good to me.

Miranda ~ What advice would you give to an artist who believes that they are called by God and are just starting their journey into the music industry?

Andy: Well, ha-ha, I would say get prepared to do a lot of work! The music industry is not for the faint of heart. To be in this industry takes a person who is not just creative and can perform good, but it takes a person of character, integrity and discipline. I would also say to make sure God has called you here, and that you are not just here because everyone says you sing good or that you should perform professionally. You must be called to be here or you will end up frustrated. There will always be someone who is better than you and more talented, but you have to know your purpose for being here. You have to know God’s heart for each day, and why you are to do what you do. When you have God’s heart and vision before you, then you will be able to get through hard times and difficult people. I have worked with music artists for years and know that pride and selfishness will only turn people away from God, and not make you look like a superstar. So, stay humble no matter how big you make it, and continue to pour into the lives of those around you. It’s all about Him!

This is That (The Fun Questions!)

Coffee, Tea or Mocha? Frappuccino and Iced Tea

T-shirt or Collar shirt? T-shirt

Boots or Sneakers? Sneakers

Breakfast or Dinner? Dinner

TV or Magazine? TV

Rain or Snow? Snow

Gym or Outdoor? Gym

Leather Jacket or Blazer? Leather Jacket

Thank you, Andy, for stopping by today!

About Andy Garcia

Andy Garcia grew up just outside of Dallas, Texas, in a small town called Oak Cliff. As a baby, his dad left him and his mom never to return again. By God’s design, Andy’s uncle took him under his wing as a father to the fatherless. Here is where Andy gained his heart for music since his uncle traveled with a Gospel band all over the US. As a little boy and teenager, Andy experienced much sorrow and pain, but a praying mom, a selfless youth pastor, and the Gospel music carried him through this time. His chance came one night when his cousin happened to hear him singing in the car and knew the youth group needed a new worship leader. Andy, not believing he could sing, and being told he would not succeed in life, decided to take a step and began to sing and play the guitar. From there, he never stopped singing and playing for God. He has led worship all over the US, and has mentored many others to do the same. He loves people like no other and will lead worship for 1 or 1 million. From worship leading, to events, to training up leaders, his heart is to see people moved and blessed through God-filled music. His vision for this world is just as big as his heart—to see people touched—and his passion will never let him quit. He speaks the Father’s heart like no other because he has lived it out. He lives and loves to worship his God.

Filed under: Album Feature, Artist Feature, Entertainment, Entertainment Interview, Faith Testimony, Inspirational, Music, Music Artist Interview, Personal Development, Songwriting, Spirituality, Stories, Talent Tagged: Andy Garcia Music Artist, Christian Music, Inspirational Music, TBAP Interview

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Published on August 03, 2017 23:00

July 27, 2017

Artist Scoop ~ Interview with the Rock Worship

[image error]The Rock Worship released the God Will Reign album this July 7th (read the TBAP review here), with instrumentation as powerful and excellent as the songs were wonderfully joyful! The group first launched in the year 2000 in Anaheim, California with the passion and vision to disciple Orange County for Jesus. The Rock Worship took some time to talk with TBAP, granting us a little insight about the group. Follow our conversation and learn more about them!

Miranda ~ Hello! Happy to have you here on TBAP today. Could you please tell us a bit about The Rock Worship?

RW: Hi, it’s great to connect with you today! The Rock Worship is a community of worshipers that gather weekly at our home church, The Rock, in Anaheim, CA. Our team is made up of many singers, musicians, writers, artists, and technicians that have a common goal, which is to connect with God in a fresh way, and to help many others connect with Him wherever they are.

Miranda ~ What inspired the God Will Reign Album and its title?

RW: It seems like this is said often, but over the last few years our world has seen a lot of change. There is major tension politically, economically, socially, with religion, and on and on…our world needs Jesus! This album is a declaration of praise to God. Our cry is that He will one day rule the earth, and His love will be known to all. The songs on this album were written from the hearts of our church calling out to God and praying for our world.

Miranda ~ Who would you say you sing for—the broken hearted, lost etc.? Why do you believe you’ve been called to this particular group of people?

RW: I don’t know that we would say we necessarily sing for a specific group of people. We hope that regardless of status in life or background, everyone hearing these songs would be encouraged, inspired, and reminded that God is real, that He loves them, and that living a life with and for Him is worth it no matter the cost, and no matter the situation they may be in. And, hopefully, that ultimately, these songs would become their songs, too.

Miranda ~ What would you say is ultimately the core message of Rock Worship’s music?

RW: I think the core message of our music is that God is love, faithful, strong, forgiving…really everything that we need and more. Once you connect with God (get in His presence) and know Him, you realize just how much His heart truly beats for you. That will change your life forever!

Miranda ~ What principles guide the choice of lyrics for the songs that the Rock Worship writes/sings?

RW: I think a few principles we stick to are:

1) Our lyrics have to line up to the bible.

2) They have to be genuinely from our hearts.

3) “Singable” for others.

4) Creative.

5) They point people to God.

There are more, but these for sure, are some of them.

About The Rock Worship

It was the year 2000 when The Rock launched in Anaheim, California with a vision and passion to reach and disciple Orange County for Jesus. What started in one small room is now a church with 13 congregations on 9 campuses in 4 languages; and with a discipleship program that reaches over 160 U.S. churches and is in many countries around the world. Throughout the years many singers, musicians, writers, artists and technicians have been divinely gathered together to collaborate and bring something beautiful in worship to God. This group that we call The Rock Worship has compiled 10 original songs for their sophomore album released on Dream Worship entitled God Will Reign. Our prayer is that these songs would fill many homes, cars, parks, jogging trails, hospital rooms, houses of worship, mountains high and valleys low with the sweet presence of Jesus.