Do You Look Like Christ?

Since the pandemic, I started watching an online prayer meeting. As a person who is constantly seeking the face and glory of God, I can’t tolerate certain teachings, especially if they don’t line up with God’s Word. Truth is some wonderful, biblical teachings are out there. However, I’m in pursuit of God’s glory! My pastor, a general of the faith, was blessed to experience one of the greatest revivals of all time. He experienced the weight of God’s glory. He saw many miracles and people being saved; it is mind-blowing! Please do it again, Lord Jesus!

A righteous remnant longs for the Holy God of Israel, the God of Abraham, the God of the universe, and the possessor of heaven, earth, and beneath the earth. He is the God who answers by fire. He is the one, true and living God. He is the lover and keeper of my soul, as well as the Author and Finisher of my faith. He is the God of miracles, signs, and wonders. He heals the sick and raises the dead. He is the extraordinary and Holy God who sits on His holy throne. Praise Him with me today!

David said, “I thirst for You, Lord, in a dry and thirsty land.” He also said, “As the deer pants for the water so my soul pants for the living God.” Some of us want more of Him and less of us. The apostle John said he must decrease that Christ may increase.

Back to my story. As I was watching this online prayer service (Global Prayer Meeting), I was drawn to the pastor. There was something different about this man of God. His countenance was different. The way he prayed and spoke was different. He didn’t come across as so many others do. As he prayed and spoke, my spirit and heavy heart felt light. I felt refreshed, renewed, revived, and it seemed as if the fire of God was coming through the screen. I sensed something different while in His presence, even though I wasn’t with him physically.

After it ended, I started wondering, who is this? Where did he come from? I hadn’t seen or heard of him before. I pushed the subscribe button for this channel because I wanted to see him again and know his name. As I watched him, he said something very profound, which explained the difference in him. This pastor told the story about how he was getting up every single morning around 6:30 AM before sunrise and going into his prayer closet. He had been doing this for the last 30 years. Wow. When I heard that I thought to myself bingo! That’s it. That’s what the difference is. He was spending time in the presence of the Lord God Almighty! I couldn’t help but think about Moses when he came down from the mountain of God with two tablets after his 40-day visitation. The Bible says the light of God shone on him so brightly a veil had to go over his face.

The more time you spend in His presence, the more you will look and become like Him. I’m not saying this man was perfect, for we are all flawed and works-in-progress. We are all under construction.

All that said, I would like to pose a question to you. If you profess to be a Christian, when people see you, do they see Christ or the characteristics of the Devil? The world should see something different about you: the way you look, act, walk, talk, as well as how you carry yourself and treat others.

Coming from an Islamic background, I didn’t see many who looked like Christ; this was a turn- off. Had I not set my focus or gaze on Christ, I could have very well stumbled or even turned away from the faith. But I thank God that Christ has always been the center of my life and not people.  Remember Jesus said you will know my disciples by the love you have for one another. He also said let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven (Matthew 5:6).

My Testimony

I was raised up as a Muslim under the leadership of Elijah Muhammad and I attended Muhammad's University of Islam in Detroit Michigan along with my older brother. The girls attended school in the afternoon and the boys went in the morning. Even at the Mosque, the women were seated on the right side and the men on the left. We wore our headpieces and floor length long skirts and dresses to school, the Mosque as well as in public. We were taught that Allah was God and Elijah Muhammad was the Messenger of God. We were given guidelines, rules and regulations that we had to adhere to and if they were broken there were consequences. I remember a friend of mine being expelled from the Mosque for committing fornication.

We were taught in a very structured environment with a very strong emphasis placed on moral and ethical principles. Some of the teachings included – respect for one’s self and their bodies, eating to live and not to die and being self-sufficient and not waiting or depend on the government or anyone to give you anything. The majority of the brothers and sisters owned their own businesses. It was also drilled and instilled in us that your word is your bond and the “golden rule” – Do unto others as you would have others do unto you. This is what Jesus taught as well and we need to see more of this among the body of Christ. We always greeted each other with “As Salaam Alaikum,” meaning peace be unto you and “Wa-Alaikum-Salaam," meaning "And unto you be peace.

We didn't eat pork (Chitterlings and pork chops were outlawed in our house!) or a lot of red meat, but we ate plenty of fish, navy beans and bean pies. People would laugh at us because we ate so much fish and beans, but let me tell you – we were much healthier back then.

At times, I felt like my parents were way too strict. We were not allowed to do very much. We couldn't go to the movies without a chaperone. We weren’t allowed to go to parties or listen to certain kinds of music. I couldn’t appreciate my strict upbringing then. However I can certainly appreciate it now. We didn’t celebrate Christmas or Easter. I remember visiting my cousins during the holiday season and seeing all of their gifts under the tree and feeling slighted, not fully understanding why we didn’t receive any gifts. Yet, my parents definitely made my brother and I feel like it was Christmas the whole year round.

Now fast forwarding, I am now in my early 20’s and feeling such an indescribable emptiness and void on the inside. I felt very lonely and like something was missing from my life. At this time, I was no longer going to the Mosque nor was I going to Church. I didn’t feel a sense of purpose. Every day, on my way to and from work I remember passing by a Church on Alter Road and East Jefferson in Detroit that I felt compelled to visit. The pull seemed to get stronger every day. Something kept telling me to visit this House of Worship but I resisted because Churches had always been creepy to me. They reminded me of funerals. This is because in the past, the only time I would visit a Church was to attend a funeral. So, I associated them with death. So after wrestling with this thought for a few weeks, I finally surrendered and decided to go and to my surprise I had a really good time. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and everything the Preacher said agreed with my spirit. Although, the message seemed so right, why did I feel so? After all, these teachings went against everythingI had ever been taught. Nonetheless this felt so good it just had to be right! So I didn’t give into my reasoning, I gave into my spirit and went back to visit the same Church the following Sunday. I was baptized and accepted the LORD Jesus Christ into my life and my life has never been the same! JESUS was that missing piece from my life! I am so very happy and over thrilled that I obeyed and didn’t resist that small still voice. If I didn’t take that leap of faith and didn’t obey the Spirit of the living God I don’t want to even think about how differently my life would have turned out.

Now there was another hurdle I had to face. I had to figure out how I was going to tell my Family about my newly found faith that has ETERNALLY transformed my life. How was I going to articulate my new found faith? After all I don’t even understand this myself. What will my family think? “Oh boy, I’m in trouble now”, I thought. I knew my mother would probably understand because she had been brought up in the Church but converted to Islam after marrying my father. Well, I finally got up enough courage to spring this good news on them. Just as I expected my family thought I had lost my mind. They couldn’t understand how I could so easily convert to believing in Jesus Christ after basically being brought up as a Muslim, because after all – Islam was all I ever knew. It was difficult for me to explain to them that there is only one GOD. There is this misconception among many Muslims that Christians worship three gods. This of course is not true. The Father, Son and Holy Ghost are one. There is only one God!

One other thing I would like to address is the teachings that the white man is the devil. I have discovered as I’ve gotten a little wiser and older that the devil comes in every color white, black, red, yellow or brown and he will use any nationality. After coming into the knowledge and truth of Jesus Christ, I realized that He loves us all no matter what color or race we are! The scripture tells us in John 3:16 that “God so loved the world that he gave His only begotten Son that if we would believe on Him we would not perish but have everlasting life.” I learned that the love of God transcends all racial and ethnic boundaries. I John 4:8 says, “He that loves not knows not God for God is love,” and I John 4:20 says, “If a man says, I love God and hate his brother, he is a liar. For he that loves not his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?” Then Jesus said, “You would know my disciples by the love they show toward one another (John 13:35).” Blessed be His glorious name forever and ever! I must confess that I have found no GREATER LOVE, peace or joy than the unfailing LOVE that only JESUS CHRIST can give.

I cannot deny that I took away many wonderful attributes and traits from my Islamic background. In many ways, being raised a Muslim helped to shape me into the person I am today. I developed discipline, self-control, character, integrity and high standards. Because of my strict upbringing I was always cognizant about the way I dressed, what I ate, where I went and what I did. Now here I am over 25 years later to testify and praise the LORD for bringing me out of darkness into the MARVELOUS light! I was on my way to an eternal hell but HE saved me. To Him alone belongs all the praise, honor and the glory!! I don’t know why He chose me. Nonetheless, I am beyond euphoric and ecstatic that He did.

Dream of Jesus Return!

On Sunday, September 13, 2020, I got up early in the morning to make an appointment to get my long overdue pedicure. After making my protein shake and finding out that the nail shop didn’t open till later, I went back to sleep to take a nap. I had a brief vision. In the vision, my husband and I were walking somewhere outside. We were surrounded by buildings and people scattered here and there. I noticed some kind of dome over one of the buildings or structures. Suddenly, I saw two hands reaching out from the clouds. It was like Jesus was getting ready to come through and crack that sky. It was dramatic and so very intense. It felt so vivid and so real. I knew Jesus was getting ready to come in the clouds. I was beside myself with panic because I knew it was too late to let anyone know. My first thought was to grab my phone and take a picture, but I didn’t have time. My next thought was that I need to call my mother and father to let them know that Jesus was getting ready to return, but I didn’t have time. Oh my God! 

After awakening from the dream, I was shaken to the core and felt so drained from it. It was like I was trying so very hard to let my parents know about Jesus's return that it drained and took everything out of me. It seemed to take away all of my strength. I called my husband upstairs to tell him about the dream and I wept uncontrollably as I told it to him. I also couldn't wait to call my parents/children and wept again as I told them my dream. Since having the dream, I have felt a heavy burden to warn God's people and to tell everyone that I know about it.

I want to urge you to get right with Jesus. If you don’t know Him, find Him while He might be found (Isaiah 55:6). The time is short! Please get the word out to everyone you know. God is giving the lost a chance to get to know Him and receive Jesus Christ into your heart. His desire is for none to perish, but for all to be saved!  His return is imminent!

Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him— even those who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. So shall it be! Amen. 8“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, who is and was and is to come—the Almighty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIyu0AF7peo&feature=youtu.be

Come and Let us Praise the Lord God Almighty!

Psalms 150:1 - 127:6 - Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.  

John 4:23 - But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

Psalms 100:2 - Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

Psalms 150:6 - Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalms 95:1-6 - O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.   

Colossians 3:16 - Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Hebrews 13:15 - By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of [our] lips giving thanks to his name.

Psalms 117:1-2 - O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.   

Psalms 100:4 - Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name.

Psalms 96:1-9 - O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.   

Zephaniah 3:17 - The LORD thy God in the midst of thee [is] mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing.

John 4:24 - God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Ephesians 5:19 - Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

Psalms 146:1 - 127:2 - Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.   

Psalms 30:11 - Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;

Psalms 149:3 - Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.

Back to the Basics

I would like to share with you the key things that have shaped me into the woman I am today. It is my hope that my words will encourage you to strive in your own walk with Christ. 

Getting back to the basics of our foundation. 

Coming from the Islamic faith, many of the believers I had encountered did not exemplify the Lord that I needed to guide me. It was Jesus Himself where I found the witness and example of His ways that I needed to know. From His example, I strive daily to be like Christ. To walk like Him, talk like Him, love like Him. His ways are pure and easy to understand. While I am human and cannot claim to be perfect, I endeavor to be like Him because of His love for me, and for all of mankind. My desire is for others to see Jesus in me. Sometimes, we as Christians are the only way others will see Him. Many lost people will never hold a Bible in their hands and learn of the amazing God we serve. He has commissioned us to be His hands and feet, spreading the good news of Him, the Saviour, to a sin-sick world. Becoming a devoted Christian and surrendering my life completely to Him over 30 years ago, these are some of the tenets I have stood upon, and encourage you to embrace these truths and disciplines in your own life: 

There is no greater love than His love. I’ve never needed to search anywhere else. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 says, “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord: And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” I endeavor to live this scripture. 

Fall in love with Jesus! If you haven’t already done so, fall in love with the Savior! He is worthy of our love. He loved us first, even in our state of sin and incompleteness. If you strayed from your first love, I encourage you to return to Him, the One who loves you immeasurably! 

Hebrews 6:6 tells us, “If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.” Love Him so much that the thought of hurting Him hurts you. Love Him so much that your love and care for Him are as pure as they are toward those you love on Earth. Psalms 103:1-2 - With my whole heart, with my whole life, and with my innermost being, I bow in wonder and love before you, the holy God! Yahweh, you are my soul’s celebration. How could I ever forget the miracles of kindness you’ve done for me. 

Luke 6:31 instructs us, “And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise.” As a Muslim, the golden rule was instilled in us. Why would I want to treat anyone in a way that I myself would not want to be treated? 

Aim to be pleasing to our Holy God. Colossians 1:10 - So that you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and may please Him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God. 

Choose you this day whom ye will serve, as is written in Joshua 24:15.  Commit wholeheartedly.  It really is that simple. He would rather you be hot or cold, not lukewarm. Christians and non-believers alike will have tests, trials and tribulations. Those who are grounded in Christ will remain steadfast and be unmovable because He is the foundation and rock of the believer’s salvation. 

Crucify your flesh daily. The Bible says in Galatians 5:24, “And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” I love the scriptures that says, Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer (Psalm 19:14). When I am driving on these roads sometimes, I have to really crucify my tongue. I feel so provoked by the enemy to say some ungodly and ugly things. God help me! 

Have reverential fear for our Holy and loving God! He is worthy of our reverence! 1 Samuel 12:24 - Only fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you Praise and worship Him! He is worthy! Psalms 100:4 - Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, [and] into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, [and] bless his name. 

Study His Word and pray for revelation and understanding. I am on a yearly Bible plan, and will begin a five year plan in 2021.  Reading the Word of God has been such a tremendous asset in my life.  I love and stand in awe of His Word which is sharp, powerful and cuts like a two-edged sword.

Be quick to repent. I ask the Lord to forgive me daily. While I strive to walk righteously, I will make mistakes along the way. I may inadvertently hurt others, including the Lord and myself, through an unkind word, thought or deed. 

Obey His commands. 1 Samuel 15:22 says, “And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” 

Let Your Word Be Your Bond. These days, people will lie and make promises that they have no intentions of keeping. There are folks whose word doesn’t mean a thing. It’s so very important to keep your word. How does it feel when someone doesn’t keep their word to you? Yes, there will be times when things will come up. Life happens. However, if for some reason you can’t keep your word, the least you can do is let a person know that you will not be able to commit to whatever you promised. I have made promises sometimes and have put my foot in my mouth. When this has happened I had to honor my word even when it hurt or was an inconvenience. Please strive to be a man/woman of your word. I try my best to keep my promises. Proverbs 15:5 - Keep your word even when it costs you. 

I have strived to live a holy, obedient life, walking in humility, and doing good as Jesus did good. Whatever the Lord has asked me to do, I have aimed to do His will with a spirit of excellence and as unto the Lord. My husband and I also celebrate God’s appointed feasts found in Leviticus 23. I once heard a lady at church sing a song at church that has continued to minister to me over the past 20 years. “Teach me, oh Lord, the way of thy statutes and I will observe them with my whole heart.” That was so very profound to me! When those words are the cry of our hearts, I can attest that He will indeed teach you His ways! Let us keep our hearts and hands pure and clean. I often ask the Lord to create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me. As Matthew 5:8 says, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”