Drunk In Love- Setting a Standard Part I

 

Verse of the day:

Mark 9:42 (NIV)

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.”

When we cause our children to stumble, the stress we will bear from the negligence of their care will be significant and we will reap a harvest of unrighteousness which we have sown. We need to set a standard.

Before, we get into the lyrics of “Drunk in Love”, I want to give a reason behind this bible study. Little girls are singing this song with their friends, to the boys in their schools, church girls, and it’s sad to me to think of the influence media and music has on our children. But is it the media’s fault or our own? Are the parent’s in control of their children or are the parents allowing and enabling their children by leaving them to themselves to “do as thy wilt!”

Now let’s break down the lyrics of “Drunk in Love.”

I've been drinking, I've been drinking
I get filthy when that liquor get into me

The first 2 lines of this song jump right into indulging in “spirits” and continues to speak diligently about drunkenness. The term spirit refers to a distilled beverage that contains no added sugar and has at least 20% alcohol by volume. Popular spirits include brandy, fruit brandy (also known as eau-de-vie or Schnapps), gin, rum, tequila, vodka, and whisky. We need to set a standard.

A display of spirits in a supermarket.

Now let’s define filthy:

1. foul with, characterized by, or having the nature of filth; disgustingly or completely dirty.

2. vile; vulgar; obscene

Is this the daughter or son you want to produce?

Proverbs 18:21(KJV)

^“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof."

 Now as we go through this song, imagine your child internalizing these words as they sing it. What are we allowing to go into our children?

Matthew 15:11 (NKJV)

^“Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”

I've been thinking, I've been thinking
Why can't I keep my fingers off it, baby?

As we get into the song, we find out what “it” is that she can’t keep her fingers off. She wants “it” because she’s feeling filthy. Liquor makes you “feel some kind of way,” right? Yes, it makes you “feel” like doing things you would not normally do because you are entertaining the “spirits” and under the influence of them. We need to set a standard.

James 3:15 (NIV)

^“Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic.”

I want you, na na
Why can't I keep my fingers off you, baby?
I want you, na na

Cigars on ice, cigars on ice
Feeling like an animal with these cameras all in my grill
Flashing lights, flashing lights
You got me faded, faded, faded
Baby, I want you, na na
Can't keep your eyes off my fatty
Daddy, I want you, na na
Drunk in love, I want you

We woke up in the kitchen saying
"How the hell did this shit happen?", oh baby
Drunk in love, we be all night
Last thing I remember is our
Beautiful bodies grinding off in that club
Drunk in love

Little girls and boys singing about getting drunk, cigars, getting faded, and men eyes looking at their “fatty” or their behind like it’s the thing to do. No it is not the thing to do. Our older and younger women should look to Titus 2 rather than Beyonce.

Titus 2:3-5 (KJV)

^“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed.”

1 Peter 1:13 (NIV)

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.”

 Let me just say I have been drunk and have experienced getting “faded” and dancing and grinding in the club and that being the last thing I remember. You black out but you’re still conscious (in the spirits), something has taken over and you end up at home like how did I get here or like in this song, you end up in the kitchen like how did you get there. But this is okay to impress upon the innocent minds of our children right? It’s not even good for us adults to listen to let alone a child without discernment. We need to set a standard.

It’s just a song until they actually go out and go do it right? No, the industry is indoctrinating our children right in front of our eyes and we call it “just music” until they “just do it!” Then we’re wondering "How the --- did this --- happen? oh baby”, when they're doing stuff they have no business doing these “churched girls!” Cursings or blessings out of the mouth of babes?

Look at what we’re feeding them. My God! Something has to change to rearrange the minds of our children. We need to set a standard.

Is it any wonder why the teen pregnancy rate, sexual transmitted disease, and rape crime is high? The children even younger than teens, even tots talking about…

 

We be all night, love, love
We be all night, love, love

…being drunk in love or in love with being intoxicated by strong drink and sex.

Ephesians 5:18 - And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

Proverbs 20:1 - Wine [is] a mocker, strong drink [is] raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise.

Galatians 5:21 - Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Tomorrow, we will continue with the second verse and follow up with the last verses of this song. We are breaking the strongholds and chains of wickedness proclaiming the name of Jesus. Loose the bonds of wickedness, undo the straps of the yoke, let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke for His yoke is easy and His burden is light saith the Lord of hosts.

Walk in the Spirit,

Prophetess Deanna Mack

A Purpose in Affliction

Verse of the Day:

Psalm 119:71(KJV)

^“It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”

Today I suffer through some minor heel pain in my foot.  I woke up yesterday morning with this sudden pain, out of the blue, and nothing to trigger it that I know of. Though minor, the pain has commanded me to rest and stay off of my feet. The pain was slight at first, so I continued doing my normal routine through the slight pain, dance rehearsal, church, etc. At the end of the day I had to hop to get from one place to another because my foot could not bear the weight. Today, my husband has taken off to pick up some duties to help me rest my foot and help care for me and our 4 young children. But there is a purpose in affliction.

2 Corinthians 12:10 (KJV)

^“Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”

The affliction could be worse, but this affliction leads me to a humbling state of reflection. The feet are very important for everyday life. Thank God for feet! But why is God allowing this affliction?

I have been on a steady “Go” mode, so it is very possible God has allowed it to give me rest and slow me down and I believe that is a big part of it. Without the pain, I would still be moving full speed ahead, but I am stuck right now and confined to sitting and resting or hopping around. But there is a purpose in affliction.

Hebrews 5:8 (KJV)

^“Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered”

See at church last night there was a message about how we are handling the ones in our care. The message focused on teaching our children and not losing them to other influences due to neglect and not losing our spouses by pushing them aside and handling them carelessly. As a wife, Titus 2 spoke to me about being a good mother and wife, chaste, discreet, and a keeper at home. But there is a purpose in affliction.

When I got home and began to reflect on the message and how it related to my home, I began to relate the pain in my foot to my negligence of keeping my home. It is through the affliction in my foot that has caused me to be more thankful for the little things like feet to walk, my husband, children, and pain. During the last 12 hours I have thought about what needs to change in my life to relieve me from what this pain signifies. But there is a purpose in affliction.

Hebrews 12:10 (NIV)

^“…but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.”

First, I need to take more time in putting my husband first instead of making my schedule for him around everything else. Even though we have a lot of unevenness in our relationship, there are ways I can even things out a bit by doing the little things that show he is important, loved, and a high priority in my life.

Second, I have to continue and excel in teaching my children because the days are evil and the influence of negativity are running wild in our society. I also have to take more time in loving on them and giving them the attention they need, so they do not seek love and affirmations elsewhere and in the wrong places.

Lastly, this pain has caused me to reflect on my time management. I have been running with homeschool and preschool activities, spiritual and church activities, extra- curricular activities, and personal activities and putting aside the keeping of the home. Some things need to change. But there is a purpose in affliction.

Hebrews 12:11(NIV)

^“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Like the woman who lost the coin in her home, I need to light a candle and have the light of Christ shining in me at all times and keep my broom moving out the dirt in the house. My husband and children are gifts from God that are valuable, and I need to show them they are treasured. His light should shine in me to my husband, to my children, and in the works that I do first in my home and then elsewhere. If the home is out of order, how can I set in order things in other places? But there is a purpose in affliction.

Bottom line is, sometimes we go through things to bring us through things. We have to reflect on the positive side of our afflictions to see the light in it. Sometimes it takes a little pain to make us sit down, be still, and listen to God. Amen! Are we listening? Let our ears and our lives be sensitive to His chastening and great calll of higher orderly love. Never neglect your first ministry no matter what that ministry looks like. Don’t grow weary in well doing for you WILL reap a harvest if you faint not. There is a ram in the bush and God desires to use you as a light to others. Amen! Be a light in your afflictions!

Hebrews 12:5-7 (NIV)

^“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”

God wants His works to be manifested in us and through affliction God is loving on us as His children.

James 1:2-4 (NIV)

Trials and Temptations

^“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So no matter what your affliction may be, (and you may have more than one…I sure do), you can look to God in your affliction, shine your light, and allow God to use you in the midst of your affliction because He is making you better for His glory! Amen!

Walk in the Spririt,

Prophetess Deanna Mack

1 Peter 2:21-24 (KJV)

^“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”

 

God’s Unfailing Love

Psalm 52:8 (NIV)

^“But I am like an olive tree
    flourishing in the house of God;
I trust in God’s unfailing love
    for ever and ever.”

There’s no doubt God is a lover of our souls. His love never fails and it consumes my very being. When I think about His goodness and all He’s done for me, I can testify firs hand of His unfailing love of this lost sheep. Several times I strayed like a cat that’s lost its home, but my Father never left me nor forsook me, He even searched for me until He found me…

Luke 15:3-7 (NIV)

^“Then Jesus told them this parable:  ^‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it?  And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”

My God! Isn’t He just simply marvelous? He Lord came and found me when I was in the darkness and not only did He bring me to the light, but He put that light inside of me so that I could shine in Him. Awesome! Isn’t it amazing to know that God seeks after his lost sheep. He will come where you are to bring you back home.

Deuteronomy 31:8 (NKJV)

^“And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”

2 Peter 3:9 (KJV)

^“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God’s unfailing love for us is longsuffering. Imagine the celebrations in heaven over the sinners who repent and come to the Lord. I can only imagine. What a great love we have in Jesus! Amen! Thank God for His amazing grace!

Walk in the Spirit,

Prophetess Deanna Mack

Who is Jesus?

John 3:16 (KJV)

^“ For God so loved the world,  that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

Was there ever a time in your life when you were like doubting Thomas and you had to see God to believe God? Maybe not. But for me there was such a time. After about a year of praying for revelation after doubting, I gave up the faith and praying for about 3 months.  Then revelation came. I seen Jesus in a vision and he showed me his hands and feet and back and told me to read John 3 and 4. So today, I want to talk about who Jesus is according to these 2 chapters in John as God revealed himself to me.

First, we see in verse 2 that Nicodemus acknowledges that Jesus came from God and that God is with him.

John 3:2 (KJV)

“The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.”

Then in verse 13 we see that Jesus came down from heaven and He is the Son of man. The Son of man is mentioned also in verse 14 as well as having eternal life in Him.

John 3:13 (KJV)

“And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven. And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 tells us that Jesus is the only begotten Son and faith in Him gives us everlasting life.

John 3:16 (KJV)

^“For God so loved the world,  that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

We find our Savior in verse 17 and we are saved through Him.

John 3:17 (KJV)

^“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”

Jesus is Light.

John 3:19 (KJV)

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

He is the bridegroom.

John 3:29 (KJV)

 ^“He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.”

Jesus comes from heaven and is above all.

John 3:31 (KJV)

“He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all.”

He testifies of the truth, is sent of God, full of the Spirit, all things are His, and we have everlasting life in Him if we believe.

John 3:32-36 (KJV)

“And what he hath seen and heard, that he testifieth; and no man receiveth his testimony. He that hath received his testimony hath set to his seal that God is true. For he whom God hath sent speaketh the words of God: for God giveth not the Spirit by measure unto him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things into his hand. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

In John 4 we find that Jesus is the gift of God and living water…

John 4:10 (KJV)

^“Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.”

And last but not least we see Jesus as a prophet…

John 4:17-19 (KJV)

“The woman answered and said, I have no husband. Jesus said unto her, Thou hast well said, I have no husband: For thou hast had five husbands; and he whom thou now hast is not thy husband: in that saidst thou truly. The woman saith unto him, Sir, I perceive that thou art a prophet.”

Messiah the Christ…

John 4:25-26 (KJV)

“The woman saith unto him, I know that Messias cometh, which is called Christ: when he is come, he will tell us all things. Jesus saith unto her, I that speak unto thee am he.”

 Savior of the world…

John 4:41-42 (KJV)

 ^“And many more believed because of his own word; And said unto the woman, Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard him ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Saviour of the world.”

… and Healer.

John 4:47-53 (KJV)

^“When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death. Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe. The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die. Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.”

This was a profound revelation, especially being in the state of unbelief I was in. Giving thanks for His amazing grace! If I were to count the many times He saved me from myself, I would lose count. Just have and faith and believe. That is all folks!

Walk in the Spirit,

Prophetess Deanna Mack

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons to Stay Married

^“So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”

I can say that I love my marriage and how wonderful it is. I can tell you how we are an amazing couple and how we got it all together. The reality is that my marriage is under attack and I am holding on to a thread, breathing on thin air.

I thought when wedding bells rang that this was it. I had found the love of my life and we would spend the rest of our lives together. God has a plan but, the enemy does too, and if we are not strong we will surely crumble.

I find myself today trying to find encouragement in God in the midst of the “D” word. Usually, it is not me who brings up the “D” word but last night I did. I have grown tired and my hands went up like I am defeated. I told the devil I am not defeated. I will overcome these emotions. God already told me the battle was coming and it was already here. He prepared me for this day by giving me these words “be strong in the Lord and the powerof his might.” I didn’t know then what God was referring to exactly. I knew my marriage had been a roller coaster to say the least, but I didn’t know I would actually have the feeling of desiring a divorce.

How many of you know the enemy will give you reasons to move forward with a divorce. I went online and did a search for how to get a divorce and ran into this article, “5 Ways Divorce Benefits Kids.” I sat back and thought about all the benefits of letting go of marriage, tempting like the fruit in the Garden of Eden.

It wasn’t until this morning that I began to think about what God had been revealing to me in time. First of all, we had major problems over religious beliefs in 2011-2012. During this time I had several dreams of revelation as I sought God for our marriage. One dream I was following my husband and we were supposed to be going to see a plum tree. My husband decided to follow his own route to the tree instead of being led by the man of the house. I followed my husband from a distance as he went out a back side door. From the inside the back yard was gorgeous, but when we got outside the ground was broken and we had to jump from one piece of land to the next. My husband fell into a pit as I was following him. Then the man of the house came out with a bridge and we both ended up being reunited, getting on the bridge together, and going inside the house with the man. Inside this man had a Son and they were preparing gifts.

The revelation I got from this dream was that my husband would soon come back to the faith and we would go forth with the gospel, the gift of God.  God has recently been preparing me to be strong in Him, put on the armor of God, and stand firm. He has spoken to me through others to take being treated unkindly and stand strong in that, so that he will come to the Lord. Maybe it is me who will make the difference in the end for him coming back to Christ. Maybe the enemy is so set on keeping my husband from coming back, Satan is using me to kill my husband’s spirit. It makes sense to me that the devil would try to use me to destroy the man, the wife, and the family; the enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy…marriage.

My thoughts of being miserable for the rest of my life are from the enemy. My thoughts of being more happy as a single mother than remaining in the marriage God has called me to is the devil in disguise. So I sit here to encourage myself because I need it right now as I am in this battle. I share this information to hopefully encourage others to look to God and what he has been revealing and preparing your hearts for in your situation. What is the spirit of God leading me to do?

After careful consideration and humbling myself, God is still in control and no matter what situation arises I am an overcomer. The devil can’t keep me down, I choose Christ, peace and rest in Him. Be strong in the Lord my sisters! God has a plan in the midst of our troubles. I will not submit to my feelings and the overwhelming urge to let go. I will hold on and let my testimony be “God did it!” I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me! When I am weak, He is strong so be strong and of good courage. In Him is peace and rest for my soul.

Will you let God determine the outcome of your marriage? Will you humble yourself and pray for your marriage?  Will you allow God to be the HEAD of your marriage and work all things for your good? God needs our humility to move in our hearts and if we let Him move, He can save our marriage. He has been saving our marriage over and again and today still is. God of a turn around! Amen!

Christ made the sacrifice and said not my will but God’s will be done. God loved us so much He sent His Son to die for us, so that we might live. Are we better than Christ? What sacrifice will we make for our families?

If only you had a machine that you could just shove your spouse into, type into the machine what you want, and the spouse comes out with all the details of your desires. This is the dream but it’s not the reality. We married into reality.

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

^“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The article I read gave me 5 reasons to get a divorce. Here are 10 Reasons to stay married.

1.      We said…For better or worse, through sickness and in health, for richer or poorer, until death do you part. (Remember your vows before God and man.)

2.      God hates divorce. (Malachi 2:16)

3.      Let no one (even yourself) separate what God has brought together (Matthew 19:6)

4.      Forgive 70 times 7 (Matthew 18:21-22)

5.      Love one another because God loves you (through your mistakes John 13:34-35)

6.      For my thoughts toward you are good and not evil for a good and expected end (Jeremiah 29:11)

7.      The enemy loves divorce, division, and separation because it is not the love of Christ. (John 10:10)

8.      We walk in the spirit-love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22-23)

9.      God’s  strength is made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9)

10.  God has pity on the fatherless; a disadvantage to every child. (Psalm 10:14, Psalm 68:5, Psalm 82:3)

11.  There is strength in your testimony of overcoming through marriage and staying together. (Revelation 12:11)

12.  Love covers a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8, Pr. 10:12)

Okay, 12 reasons…and the list could keep going and get personal. Let God take the leading role in your marriage.

 

Walk in the Spirit,

Prophetess Deanna Mack