Did you just say that?

A couple of days ago on Pintrest I came across a picture that gave a little exercise that would help you think before you speak. I don't know about you but my brain-to-mouth filter is frequently out of order and unfortunately a lot of times, what comes up, comes out. In this past 4 year relationship that I've grown with Christ one of the biggest lessons I had to learn was how to bridle my tongue. When I first came to the Gathering (my super awesome college ministry led by none other than Tim 'PT' Johnson)  as a freshman I had a really nasty attitude. I didn't know how to be nice or how to give a compliment. My only objective was to say something rude and demeaning to you before you had the chance to say something hurtful to me. The root of the issue was plain to see: INSECURITY. I was not confident in the person that God made me to be so therefore I felt everyone was out to hurt me and as a result I equipped myself with a shield of attitude and vulgarity. I was determined to hurt you so bad that you would never have a chance to hurt me. As I started to grow in Christ, He revealed to me my funky attitude and He showed me how it had an affect on the way people dealt and interacted with me. He showed me that a lot of people didn't like me because I had such a jacked up attitude, the rudeness was getting me nowhere. So I say that to say this, the things that you say can have an impact on the entire world around you. James 3 tells us that the tongue is a tiny organ that can control the whole body just as a tiny spark can cause a forest fire! Proverbs 18 tells us that death & life are in the power of the tongue. This should show us the importance of bridling our tongues but if that doesn't do it for you let me keep going. Proverbs 21:23 "Whoever keeps his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of danger. Ephesians 4: 29 "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."  James 1:26 "If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless." Matthew 15:11  “Hear and understand:it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.” So as you can see, the bible has a lot to say on the importance of taming the tongue. I'd like to share this little exercise with you so hopefully the next time you're about to open your mouth and speak recklessly, you'll T-H-I-N-K before you speak. 

Ask yourself each of the following questions

T-Is it true? Often times we will speculates, exaggerate or just flat out lie, but what does that say about our integrity. Our validity? Will people still consider us a trustworthy source or will they dismiss anything else we ever tell them. If something is not true it simply shouldn't be stated

H- Is it helpful? I know that I am the queen of piping with useless information that is providing assistance to absolutely no one.If you add your 2 cents will it help come up with a dollar or is it simply 2 cents that can't be used for anything.  If you don't have anything to state that is helpful to the situation or will help provide a solution, it may be appropriate to keep it to yourself.

I-Is it inspiring? Once again I have to correct admit that I'm severely guilty of this. My niece constantly calls me a dream-crusher because I'm quick to tell her that she sounds horrible when she sings and that she does not have a future in the music industry. Am I telling the truth? Very likely. Did I inspire her and tell her that she can do anything under the Son that is in the will of God? Not at all. People have the world that is there to disgrace them, they don't need it in the body of believers as well. If you can't be encouraging & inspiring then it may be appropriate once again to keep it to yourself.

N- Is it necessary? Have you ever met someone who just always had something unnecessary to say, especially when no one asked them? They could never let the conversation rest until they took it way too far and stated everything that they felt was necessary for the conversation to continue. I'm sure everyone has met a person like that, and if you haven't you very well may be that person. Once again if you're not apart of the solution then you are part of the problem. Make sure that all your input is needed and welcomed.

K- Is it kind? I'll be the first to admit that I struggle in this department. It is honestly easier for me to fire off an insult than to say something nice. I seriously have to be intentional with almost every compliment or encouraging word that I give. That doesn't mean I'm being fake with my compliments, they are truly sincere but its honestly not in my natural inclination to give a compliment. It took someone to sit me down one day and tell me that what I considered jokes were actually hurting their feelings and for once it would be nice to receive a compliment. That was over 2 years ago and I still remember it like it was yesterday. If you can't find anything kind and gracious to say then be quiet.

I'd like to encourage you today to be thoughtful with the words that you speak. You can either build someone up to the highest mountain, or you can drown them in the lowest valley all at the flick of a tongue.

(-gracefully, Channing]

What's On The Inside Of You?

Here recently I've been thinking what did God see in me that made Him want to save me? I mean seriously like my last blog stated I am the worst of sinners, or at least I truly feel I am. I've always wondered since I have been saved why me? Of all the people Christ could have saved, he choose me; a county girl from Mississippi who was 100% okay living this watered down Christ-less lifestyle not fully aware that I was headed for hell. Don't get me wrong, I AM THANKFUL FOR GRACE!!! So thankful I got it tattooed on my wrist. I'm really grateful that God decided to choose me, but I was really curious to know why. A few nights ago I was laying in the bed after prayer time just before I slipped into unconsciousness and the Spirit spoke and said: "What has God placed inside of you that is so valuable that He would save you to get it out?" I quickly jotted it down in my phone, thought about it for a brief second and passed out. The more I sit and meditate on it I realized that there is a purpose that is inside of me that is strictly for me. No body else has this purpose, no body else can do it. Jeremiah 1:5 states "Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you.." God created us before the foundations of the world were laid (Ephesians 1:4). How amazing is God; before Earth was even Earth He created me and birthed a purpose inside of me. My Father knew me from before the beginning, he didn't just meet me on May 20, 1990 at 7:58 am. My Father created me and He placed something special on the inside of me, just as He did for you. I know sometimes in life you may not have a clue why you are here. You look around and your  fellow believers all seem to be walking out in their purpose, and you're just sitting there not really knowing where you fit in. I want to encourage you that you too have a purpose. There is a reason that God saved you. It was because He placed something on the inside of you when He created you that He is desperate to get out! God didn't place your purpose inside of you so you can be an 'Amen Pastor Pew Member' until your 50. NO! God wants you operating in your purpose while you still have youth and use. Not to say that God doesn't save and use 90 year olds, because He does, however they are at the end of their life. They don't have much left to dedicate to God and His ministry. I encourage anyone who doesn't quite understand why they are on this earth to stop what you're doing (even reading my blog), fall on your knees and cry out to the Father for guidance and direction, link up with a community of believers, talk to some spiritual elders who can help you...Do whatever it is you have to do to find out why you walk this Earth.  God loves you more than life, and He didn't just created you for the fun of it, there was a reason...a Purpose.

(-gracefully, Channing]

I'm guilty and I accept the plea

So the other night in Bible Study we were talking about out past sins and how there needed to be admittance, acceptance & repentance. We talked about allocation and how you needed to admit your guilt in full detail to receive a plea bargain. A plea bargain can only work if you are willing to admit that you were guilty, if not be prepared to go trial and give an account yourself. The truth of the matter is that we are SINNERS, we couldn't save ourselves. We needed a savior and only Jesus Christ could do it. I’m guilty of sin, and I need to admit it so that I can accept the plea bargain that Jesus Christ offered on the cross. I was guilty of…fornication, porn watching, masturbation, lust, bicuriosity,  pride, being a Pharisee, lying, scheming, conniving, cheating, hatred, spite, envy, insecurity, self-hate, sarcasm as a result of insecurity, manipulation, cursing, anger, excessive unnecessary attitude, excessive drinking, hypocrite, ambitious, gossiper, a lack of identity, blasphemy, judgmental, and living outside of my financial means to name a few. Today I encourage you be free from the guilt of sin. Christ Jesus already came and died so you & I could have life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10). You can think that I’m crazy but I don’t care because I have FREEDOM. I encourage you to face your past because if you don’t have a past, you don’t have a Christ. I’m guilty, and I accept the plea!

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life.

-1^st Timothy 1:15-16

New Mindset, New Blog

Well allow me to introduce myself. My name is Channing LaRose commonly known as @chan_kan on Twitter & Instagram. I am a 22 year old Senior at The University of South Alabama. I will be graduating in December of 2013 with a Bachelors of Science in Health Care with a concentration in Health Care Management and a minor in EMS. I am currently a dispatcher & EMT at a private ambulance company. I'm a pretty average, ordinary young woman who serves an Extraordinary God. I accepted Christ Jesus as my savior & Lord my sophomore year of college, and my life has not been the same since then. I decided to start a blog to share with anyone who is willing to listen (or read) the gospel of Jesus Christ as well as to chronicle my journey in growing up in Christ and life. I'm slowly discovering my purpose in this life and I'm learning so much about life in the process. I think God has something amazing planned for my life and he impregnated me with my purpose before I was in my mothers womb. I believe that the trials that I face in this life is God pruning & purifying me for my purpose. Life is a journey & I'd like to share it with you, so thanks for reading and please be patient with me as I get started with my first blog.

(-gracefully, Channing]