Sharing Our Stories: We need each other

Not "Me, Myself and I"
A guest post by Kai A. Pineda

“I want you to think about how all this makes you more significant, not less. A body isn’t just a single part blown up into something huge. It’s all the different-but-similar parts arranged and functioning together. If Foot said, “I’m not elegant like Hand, embellished with rings; I guess I don’t belong to this body,” would that make it so? If Ear said, “I’m not beautiful like Eye, transparent and expressive; I don’t deserve a place on the head,” would you want to remove it from the body? If the body was all eye, how could it hear? If all ear, how could it smell? As it is, we see that God has carefully placed each part of the body right where he wanted it.”

–1 Corinthians 12:14-18 (MSG)

To be created equal in America has meant something different for each American.

Our history tells us we have not always been equal, and our current climate shows us we still have far to go. But why within the confines of Christianity have we adopted the notion that one group, one denomination, and or race is superior than the other? Why are we acting as if one is not necessary and we can get along or carry on without one another? WE CANNOT!

The world would have us believe you do not need anyone. The best thing you can do is to adopt a “Me, Myself and I,” attitude. If you are focused on yourself and making sure you are good above anyone else, then you will be successful. The truth is, this is not true at all. Think about it for a moment. How lonely would it be if you believed you were capable of doing everything by yourself, within yourself?

I am innately an introvert. I am very comfortable being by myself and with myself.

However, I am very aware of the dangers awaiting anyone who does not connect with others.

Because of my role as a pastor, I am with people quite often. I can honestly say I would have never thought I would be a pastor. Because of my love for God and obedience I accepted the call on my life and it has allowed me to meet some of the most incredible people. I, the introvert, love meeting new people, and engaging and learning about others. Their culture, ways they grew up, and their faith, intrigues me.

I have learned to appreciate the nuances and subtleties of the human race.

It is our unique make-up that makes the world truly beautiful.

Let’s pray: Dear God, Help me to break out of my own way of doing and seeing things. As a part of the global Body of Christ I cannot only think about me. Give me your heart towards my brothers and sisters who I know and those I do not. Remove any selfish ways in me. In Jesus’s Name I pray. Amen.

~*~
Author Bio:

I am a fire-starter and a passionate student of the Bible who helps others discover their identity and the beauty within the Body of Christ by leading them into an encounter with the Word of God.
I am married to a man I am madly in like with and love more than I can explain. Together we plant home fellowships within the U.S. and abroad.

I am an author who released her first book, Dear Church: Vol 1: The Beauty of The Body, in 2019. The second volume will be released in 2021.

I have recorded two praise and worship albums and love to travel.

I am an introvert who loves her family, people, rainy days, a chai latte from Starbucks, and my Maltipoo McLovin.

I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nor challenging people to live lives based on a biblical standard and not personal preferences.

~*~
Connect with Kai:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kai.a.pineda
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamkaiapineda/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kai_A_Pineda
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/92920689-kai-pineda

Fix Your Eyes on Jesus

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.” ~Isaiah 26:3 (KJV)

Earlier this year, it made me so mad when someone told me in the midst of my emotional pain, “I know it hurts but let us fix our eyes on Jesus (Christ).”

I disregarded her advice until tonight when I looked at what I’ve been overlooking for months—a Bible verse that I keep taped onto the screen of my computer. The verse is found in Isaiah 26:3 and it reads, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee.”

So, what does that mean?

It means that no matter how much hate and injustice this world hurls at the oppressed, we must focus on Jesus and keep a heavenly perspective because when you look at the bigger picture, you realize that everything we go through on this earth is temporary and will not last forever. Read 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 (MSG): “So we’re not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There’s far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can’t see now will last forever.”

It’s so important to believe and remember that Earth is not our home. If you believe in what God’s Holy Bible says about our life and eternity, you know that the troubles of this world are temporary; Jesus WILL return to take His faithful followers home to heaven and He’ll console us for what we went through on Earth (Revelation 21:4) and we’ll spend eternity with Him. It’s going to be beautiful, ya’ll. So hang in there!

Meanwhile, what are we to do while still experiencing life on Earth? Are we just to sweep injustice under the proverbial rug and carry on as if it doesn't matter? No! The Bible doesn’t say to condone or agree with injustice. The Bible says: “This is God’s Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don’t take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!” ~Jeremiah 22:2-3 (MSG)

God requires ALL of us to “do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with our God” (Micah 6:8, KJV). He even advises people who have servants who society would says are beneath them. In Ephesians 6:9, God says, “Masters, it’s the same with you. No abuse, please, and no threats. You and your servants are both under the same Master in heaven. He makes no distinction between you and them.”

So in the midst of depression, oppression and injustice and all the emotional trauma it causes, I’ve realized that the best way to survive it (in addition to speaking out against it and finding good way to promote peace and harmony) is to as that prayer warrior I know said, “Fix our eyes on Jesus.”

Is it easy? No! 

But, Is it worth it? Yes!

So does fixing our eyes on Jesus mean that we are supposed to accept injustice and tolerate abuse? No! God doesn’t call us to be silent as we fix our eyes on Jesus. He calls us to live peacefully with everyone and renounce injustice! We are to defend the defenseless, be a voice to the voiceless and be a light for Jesus Christ in this world.

Perhaps the best approach to eradicating injustice and healing hearts is found in the words of the great Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” We are to love one another like God loves us.

I want to be a light for Jesus Christ and drive out darkness. I want to drive out hate with love. I hope and pray that this blog post touches your heart and that you’ll be inspired to drive out darkness with light; drive out hate with love.

God bless you!

Sincerely,

Alexis

P.S._ Here are two songs by Christian musician Scott Krippayne that aligned with my message to you in this post: “Every Single Tear” and “The Best is Yet to Come.”

Injustice and a guest post

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." 

-- Martin Luther King, Jr.

Let’s face it, there’s a lot of injustice happening in our world.

Black people in America were rocked by the verdict on the death of a young black teenager named Trayvon Martin who was shot and killed by a Hispanic/White man named George Zimmerman because he “looked suspicious” when walking home in a gated (rich) community in the state of Florida with a bag of Skittles and iced tea in his hands, wearing a hoodie. Who knew a hoodie could look sinister? Apparently if you’re a black male in America and you’re wearing a hoodie, walking in through a rich housing development minding your own business (in fact he was going to a relative’s house) then you are suspect. Zimmerman was found not guilty and Black people in America who could relate to these situations, were immersed in despair.

See, for Black people in America, it’s MORE than a black boy who was killed by a White man. It’s about the history of oppression, hatred and injustice that still hurt people in America today. It’s about feeling that your voice will never be heard and if ever is heard, it will be disregarded. It’s about being "sick and tired of being SICK and TIRED" and yet forced to stay sick and tired because people in power do not care about helping you change your situation for the better. It’s about the silence. Yes, the silence. Black people in America are often forced to suffer in silence for fear of being heard and by being heard, offending people who have the power to make your life miserable.

I wish we all would remember that we are ALL from the SAME two first parents—Adam and Eve--who were the first human beings created by God at the beginning of time on planet Earth (read the Bible book of Genesis for proof). I wish that we would remember that and then DRAW from it, in turn being motivated to treat others the way we wish to be treated and then being resolved that NO ONE is BETTER than ANYONE because in God’s eyes, we are ALL created EQUAL. And not only are we equal, but we are LOVED, yes, LOVED by GOD and I do believe that the good Lord wants us to get along with each other. 

Unfortunately, since we live in a sin-filled world, true harmony with all humans will not happen entirely until Jesus Christ returns to this Earth to take His faithful followers home to heaven and put a permanent end to sin (as it says in The Holy Bible, read the book of John and Revelation for details). BUT until then, God DOES hold us accountable meaning there ARE consequences to our actions and He does NOT expect us to sit idly by and watch injustice have a field day! No, God wants us to ACT, to promote peace, to as it says in Micah 6:8, do what is required of us mortals which is to, “act justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God”.

Read Isaiah 58:6-7 (New International Version) which says, “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”

Part of acting justly, loving mercy and walking humbly with God is sharing your story with the world in a way that encourages dialogue, dialogue that prompts change. Today, I’m being hosted by writer and editor Deidra Riggs on her blog with a guest post for her "Going There" series about race relations in America. You can read it here.

Sincerely,

Alexis