Chosen For a Purpose!

According to Webster's dictionary the word Chosen means one who is the object of choice or of divine favor: an elect person. The word Called means to make a demand on. According to Matthew 22:14 AMP "Many are Called (invited and summoned), but few are Chosen." Therefore the Word of God is clear to point out the differences between the two words for a reason. For God clearly placed us on earth just like He did Adam and Eve for a purpose, for His purpose- to be obedient and worship Him.

In Matthew 9:37 NIV Jesus says " The Harvest is plentiful but the Workers are Few." Once again we see in scripture that there is a need for ministry yet not too many people seem Chosen to do the work that God has prepared and Called us all to do. Yet when you look further down in the story in Matthew 10, you see that Jesus sent the twelve Chosen ones to reach the world. Like Adam and Eve we all have the ability to meet the needs of others in the way that God intended yet the few elect were Chosen to serve His people so that they understand the true Calling on their lives. For this purpose Romans 12 was written to inform us that we must present our bodies as LIVING SACRIFICES, HOLY and PLEASING TO GOD, for this is our SPIRITUAL ACT OF WORSHIP or REASONABLE SERVICE! That we may no longer be Conformed to this World but Transformed by the Renewing of our MINDS daily!
(Romans 12:1-2 NIV)

As God confirms my passion, zeal and purpose for Him I acknowledge that I am not just Called but Chosen to encourage you. To help transform your life based on my experiences with Him! I do not think more highly than myself but I submit to Him according to my faith that He has given me. (Romans 12: 3,6-8) Therefore I realize that all that I have experienced in my life was for Purpose. I receive and submit to His Plan and Promises for my life. Understanding that without constant Prayer that I cannot walk in Power to heal and serve those that He has chosen me to reach.

Get Ready!Get Ready!Get Ready! God is restoring dreams, purpose and plans for those that submit to His will! God can do exceedingly, abundantly more than we can ever ask or imagine for our lives!
 (Ephesians 3:20 NIV)

-Tash
Mirrored Images
"Reflecting His Image Into The World"-Gen.1: 27

Testimony in Progress

In efforts to be transparent so that I am able to free people, I must share my story of FREEDOM. First, I must give my background on my journey that lead me to discovering Christ as the love of my life. In November of 1995 on a Sunday morning church service I accepted Him into my heart. It wasn't out of duty or a feeling that everybody is saved, so I must get "right". It was out of a pure pressing on my heart after being minister to. Before this moment I was highly involved with the choir, dance ministry, discipleship programs and I understood the aspect of acknowledging my religious duty. I was baptized that following month; excited, nervous and not really understanding what I was about to experience. Can I say that I had an encounter with him, not really. But I knew that I was devoted to him. Devoted to ministry and staying connected by being involved with the church was a key to that connection.

I craved hearing the word and being involved with the church. Most of the time it was because I had freedom to socialize with people because of overprotected parents but I still enjoyed my time at church. As I entered adolescence, I very much still had a heart for Him. I tried to do everything "perfectly". Obey my parents, teachers, try to lead by example to my peers. But in trying to be "perfect", I failed. I knew I wasn't. I submitted to my culture, it was a hard balance trying to live holy and be accepted by peers. For we all know that to pursue God,  there will be costs. Yet I didn't understand how to have a good balance of how to effect my culture as a Christian. I had many religious examples of how to serve God, it wasn't until after college that I understood what it meant to have a RELATIONSHIP with GOD.

That HE was truly a friend, someone that understood everything about me. That's because He knew me before I was created that He would always see me through all my circumstances, joys and failures. While acknowledging my new found understanding of relationship vs. religion, I got serious and I was truly set on FIRE for HIM. Yet I developed a super duper Martha mindset. I thought works got me closer to Him, that by being apart of every ministry would show my love to Him. Thus I would be blessed. After working and working, I never seem to get the "blessings" that I was "working" so hard for.

Then in 2011, I was attacked. Some say mental breakdown, some say bi-polar, but He says SPIRITUAL WARFARE. It is truly my belief that Satan knows what I am capable of in the Kingdom of God and wants me to abort the seed that was place inside of me. After spending much needed time seeking Him during Thanksgiving break, I can say that God has begun  to restore and revive the dreams that He gave me. After experiencing two years of depression, anxiety ,fear and suicidal thoughts I can say that I am coming out. The testimony is not complete but in progress. As we all know, we overcome by the blood of the lamb and our testimony. Therefore I too acknowledge Revelations 12:11 so that I may set others FREE.

Therefore the testimony is just beginning and in progress as I do my best to become a P-31 for the glory of the Kingdom of God.

Sincerely,

Tashika Denea' Smith
P-31 in Progress
Creative Visionary of Mirrored Images, Inc
"Reflecting His Image Into The World"-Gen. 1:27

Am I too Peculiar?

I sought You and You were there. 

I threw myself at your people and did they really care?

Lord forgive them for their super spiritual discernment radar must have been off

Or am I just too peculiar?

Could they not reflect the Christian fellowship that they seek to do to please you oh how I pray their human nature just got in the way 

Leaving me hanging like Judas

Yes, there's a Judas inside us all

So let me not be the one to cast stones

For He is faithful when His body is faithless

Yet the shepherd's will have to give an account to the Father

How did you let this one go? How did they let My sheep get lost in the crowd?

Or am I just too peculiar?

All I want to do is please the Father, looking up to leaders 

Yet caught up in wisdom calling their words perfect and even Bible

Only He can redeem me through the Word that He left me

So if I am just a little too peculiar, He will be there

Chasing after me when His disciples drop the ball

When opinions, criticisms look like Doctrine

His Spirit will step in and eradicate the foolishness of the over zealous believer

So maybe I am just too peculiar 

Maybe I am called to reach the lost different then you

I just want to be found reflecting Him

Not missing the mark to seek the lost 

So peculiar people, those lost in the crowd

He will always come looking for you

No need to look like a star because he will shine on you 

Allowing the Holy Spirit spotlight to saturate your soul

For He is looking for a people willing to do more, not just the bear minimum

When the world doesn't care, when the believer walks away

Just know He will always embrace the Peculiar person.

Trusting Him Regardless

Romans 8:18-39 MSG

18-21 That’s why I don’t think there’s any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. The created world itself can hardly wait for what’s coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

22-25 All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

26-28 Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

29-30 God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.

31-39 So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:

They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.

We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutelynothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

May we take hold of the word of God and rely on it more than we do our natural minds.

Sin Is Sin.. Why are we hiding from the Truth?

Why do we go around pretending that Sin doesn't exist? Why do we act like Sin has levels? If we feel that other people's Sin is bigger than ours then we find ourselves living in False Humility which equals Pride because we find ourselves comparing Sin. When God knows  and we know that Sin is Sin. We are to Repent and turn away from theses Sin. Yes we are fleshly humans trying to live a holy lifestyle and imitate a perfect God yet we must be accountable to one another in the faith. If we are truly trying to live a life worthy of calling ourselves followers of Christ should we really act like we don't Sin.

 When we don't admit that we are struggling with our issues how do we expect to be free. I believe that's the problem with the world. Christians are too busy like "Martha" trying to do mighty works for God while missing the beauty of how Mary sat at the feet of Christ to wait and listen to what He was saying in her life. We are getting caught up in works instead of just doing the will of God that we are called to do. The Devil has got us wrapped up in so many frivolous details and tasks that we have missed the vision of salvation.

God wants us to come to Him so that we renew our minds, bodies and spirits to serve according to His plans for our lives. It's time for Christians to stop allowing the World to control our habits,dreams and values. It's time we stand up for truth even if its unpopular. It's not about condemning the World but saving it. For all have sinned and have come short of the glory of God. (Romans 3:23) So we need to continue to Pray and Seek God's wisdom for how we shall live. We seek wisdom from CNN, ABC,CBS, MTV,BET, TvOne, Etc. But do we truly stop and turn the tv off and the music off to turn to the word of God to find a revelation for our lives. We need to return to the heart of Mary and serve our God by experiencing his free relationship with us. God doesn't manipulate his relationship with us, He waits for us to come to Him. We don't have to look a certain way or live up to a certain standard. He just expects us to walk in His principles to show that we love Him in return.May we live a Romans 12 lifestyle. By renewing our minds to live out what He died for us to do.

So lets stop acting like we don't have Sin in our lives and just deal with it the way Christ has shown us. He died for us so that we can live in freedom to deal with ourselves because when no one is with you, He will always be there.

If there is any Sin that you have not confessed to the Lord in your life right now, just pray with me as I pray for you:

Dear Lord,

Please forgive me. Please allow me to see you in all that I do, I admit that I am a sinner and I have put all my strength in figuring out my needs. Please help me to deal with the sins in my life that are not pleasing you. Help me to be free so that I can free others. I want to be an example of your love, grace and mercy. Thank you for our relationship and the things in me that you are showing me. I rejoice in knowing that I am free in Christ and that Sin does not control me but the Holy Spirit guides my every step. Lord thank you for loving me for where I am and where I am going. I repent now and turn away as I control my flesh with the Helper that you sent to support me. I call it done in Jesus's Name. The Devil has no control in my life.
Thank you Jesus, Amen

If you prayed this prayer, continue to seek God's wisdom daily in the word. He is ever presence and will guide you in your walk. Find a church where you can grow continual.

Entertaining The Devil-How Entertainment Rules US!

If you're called to entertain, shouldn't it give life rather than take it? Are we doing stuff like Martha? Or are we being like Mary? Are we making a difference as Christians in the entertainment industry? Or are we just a reflection of Satan hidden behind religious clothing? Is the church content with the state of "impact" that is coming from so called Hollywood Saints? It seems to me like we are desiring accolades instead of being more content with His pressence! If those that define themselves as Christians, who have been given a platform to reach the world through music, film or television my question is where is the standard? Or boldness? If you have enough faith to believe in GOD, why not have that same faith to question the director, producer or stylist that doesn't live up to the standards set by the savior you proclaim to serve?  Why fear man, when we are suppose to fear God?

He said Be Holy, For I am Holy. There is no compromise. The characters you play, the lyrics you sing, the clothes you wear, the people you spend your time with, are a reflection of you but most of all they should reflect Him. So why do I see celebrities who profess Christ confusing me? For God is not the author of confusion. I am not speaking to condemn but to expose and shine my light on the power of an industry that is trying to separate us from Him on a daily basis. Yet no one seems to be standing for truth. We can go to church, we can get involved, we can wear the clothing but until we truly have a boldness to seek Him and stand for righteousness then we are living the life that He died for us to have. Let's get it together people of God. We need to stop consuming the world and pursue His knowledge for our lives. We are peculiar and not of this world, so why are we trying to be accepted by the world.

May we be bold to question and set the standard of holiness in our popular culture. Its not being legalistic or too spiritual. Its about trusting that we acknowledge the fullness of his word and want to walk in his ways.

Romans 12-Let's stay transformed

Give Ourselves Away!

Matthew 20:28 NIV
"Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Mark 10:45 AMP
"For even the Son of Man came not to have service rendered to Him, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for ([a]instead of) many." 


If we are called followers of Christ we hope to live our lives in the way He did. I was lead to think upon the followings scriptures: Matthew 20:28 NIV and Mark 10:45 which both point out the heart of Christ. He came into this world to serve, to sacrifice and allow others to be transformed. Are we doing that in our daily lives? Do we start our days excited to serve?

Most of the time if we are honest with ourselves we value our lives more than those around us. We are so consumed with our problems then looking to help someone out. What would the world look like if we choose to live more like Christ than the world? If we applied the bible than just read it, wouldn't or Shouldn't are lives reflect it? So what's stopping us from not just being the "change we want to see in the world" but living changed lifestyles to effect change in society?

The answer is we are stopping ourselves. Our pride is stopping us from being humble. If humility was more popular than attempting "Star" status this world would be a much better place. It would look and maybe reflect the garden of Eden. We wouldn't be consumed about about how the world viewed us on a daily basis but how God sees us. Yet the "tempter" would eventually come and try to devour us. But if we used more self-control, where would Adam and Eve be if they use just a little more wisdom? If they just had stopped and questioned Satan, what would our world look like?

There is so much unnecessary sin going on in society today. We live for us, we live for pleasure in our lives. Never what we can add to others lives. Even if we claim we are being servants we eventually get caught up in the temptation to get the glory for ourselves. Yet He didn't come to have millions or even trillions of fans. He came to be used by God and return to his Father. So why can we at least attempt to live a lifestyle that will not only point others to Him, but point others to Serve one another as Jesus is our perfect example. We are made perfect by Him. No one can be perfect without his strength.

In Him I pray that we understand that we need to be selfless, humble and willingly to serve by His leading in our lives.

Advice From Beth Moore

Click on Link To Access Her Blog:

Mentoring Girls 101

I want to be somebody for Him!

            I desire to be the best me for Him! I want to walk in His ways, I want my wants and desires to match His desires. So how exactly is that possible? In a world that lives for pleasing "self" and seeking approval based on the latest commercial or what the hottest celebrity believes in. People are striving to be more like their idols then follow Christ. I can admit that I have been there. Loving the latest CD by a popular artist of the time, wanting to relate my style in that manner as well. Was that truly me selecting music, the clothes, the slang of my vernacular or was that the world telling me what to do? We all must come to a point in our lives where we truly seek Him for the way we want to run our lives.

          We may say we are "independent" people that can think for ourselves. But if we are truly independent we should spend more time questioning the thoughts and actions of what the world is feeding us. What do we watch, listen to or even wear and why do we do it? Is it our quest for approval and feeling "apart" of something that we chase the things of this world to feel valuable. With Christ our freedom is being dependent on Him to find our independence from the world.Personally in my life when I think about completing my degree and wanting to be "somebody" in the world.

            I now find myself analyzing my motives for success. Who defined my perception of success? Was it me or my worldly view of success? How do you even define success anyway? Is it being a millionaire or is it raising children towards the values of Christ hoping that they change the world like He did? When you truly look at who Jesus is and His purpose in his life you acknowledge that his life was about service with sacrifice. That was His success in His Father's eyes. So when we want to be "somebody" in this world we must look for ways to serve and make sacrifice to please the Father. For that's are reasonable service. This is the very reason Jesus was sent into this world. If we call ourselves Christians this is what we should desire. Our very being should want to reflect Him daily. We should be Mirrored Images reflecting His service, His sacrifice, His love, His forgiveness, His truth, His wisdom and above all His word.

So I challenge you as I challenge myself, lets be "somebody" for Christ. Let's put away the worldly competition of desiring the American Worldview of success. Let's focus our lives on the Word not the World.

Romans 12:1-2 MSG

"So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

Confessions of a Lost Christian

     The title states " Confession of a Lost Christian"... How can this be right? God isn't the author of CONFUSION! That's what's in the bible, that's what preachers say, that's what other believers say when they try to comfort you through your "confusion" stage. But as for me at this very stage in my life I feel like Thomas. Mr. Doubt! Yet it pains me and convicts me at the same time. I don't intend to call myself perfect yet I have perfectionistic qualities. I want my plans to go the way I want. Yet sometimes I wonder if I have aligned my plans with the ideas of what the World may envision my "plans" should be. For I understand
Jer. 29:11 which states " For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome". I try to quote it frequently and believe it. Especially in times like this when life just doesn't make sense.

          Maybe its time for me to believe that my testimony is a daily work in progress so that I may reach others which is what I so desired to do when I started this blog. For the concept of Mirrored Images was and maybe still is to Mirror the Image of Christ into the World. That was the goal, the vision when I decided to sit down and write down the thoughts of that were given to me by Christ. But now as I truly confess, my walk with Him has grown Cold. No longer am I dying to go to church. I'm more like dying on the inside because I have felt like God has forsaken me, the "Church" has forsaken me. Yet I try to regenerate the feelings of passion that I once had. Having an unashamed praise and evangelistic focus to tell others about the gospel. But when my plans flipped upside down I felt and still feel like I'm a failure in this walk. A failure in this life. Yet in my soul I know God has to be true, has to be real. For He tells us to think on things that are lovely, pure and stand on his promises. (Phil 4:8-9NIV)

            We are to focus on the living water not just a quick sip to get us through. That's the goal right! Duh! I know this, you may or may not know or understand but that's why He was sent on earth to save us. So I guess I write in repentance, like David in Pslams 51:10-12NIV where he laments in his faults seeking forgiveness, wisdom and restoration :

        Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
         Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.
         Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

                    David is writing about his sin with Bathsheba. He understood his wrong and was pleading to God to be cleansed. He remembered his relationship with the Lord. He acknowledge that he was weak and in Him he was made Strong. I understand that I know nothing apart from Him but in my life I just wish sometimes that His plans for me were all laid out. I know that my whole life I have understood that if I do well in life that I will be rewarded and if I don't do as well then I won't be. But I must learn grace! That even when the World doesn't accept me God will always accept me. Even when I'm literally alone, I am never alone in Him. For the Human Church will get it wrong but the Holy Church in Him always gets it. For nothing will will separate me from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:38-39 NIV) So I encourage you as I encourage my self that we must live a Romans 12 lifestyle.

 In the message bible it puts it this way:
  " So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday,ordinary life-your sleeping,eating, going-to-work, and walking -around life-and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily  recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you,always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Romans 12:1-2 MSG)

                         For we live in the WORLD to Transform it. If we don't change how will others!

The Confessions of a Worshiper

I wrote a blog about worship. I was encouraged about it. But it was still hard and is still hard for me to worship through my circumstances. I didn't think of myself as a conditional worship. I truly thought I was super Souled out for Christ. But I have truly had to evaluate my walk with Him. My head understands that God is real. But I am having a hard time getting my heart to connect. As this new year has begun, I have started a 21 day fast. My purpose is to reconnect to my Savior, to get my Zeal, Conviction and Joy I once had. As I go through this journey the following song is truly encouraging me: Nothing Is Impossible by the Planetshakers. Here are the lyrics:

Through You I can do anything
I can do all things'Cause it's You who gives me strengthNothing is impossibleThrough You blind eyes are openStrongholds are brokenI am living by faithNothing is impossibleI'm not gonna live by what I seeI'm not gonna live by what I feelDeep down I know that You're here with meAnd I know that You can do anythingI believe, I believeI believe, I believe in you 

My scripture for the day is Proverbs 3:5 The Message Bible puts it this way-

Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
    don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
    he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.