Posted on by Christian Armetta · 3 Comments

What Are We Doing?

Psalm 101

I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. 
    I will praise you with songs.
2 I will be careful to live a blameless life—
    when will you come to help me?
I will lead a life of integrity
    in my own home.
3 I will refuse to look at
    anything vile and vulgar.
I hate all who deal crookedly;
    I will have nothing to do with them.
4 I will reject perverse ideas
    and stay away from every evil.
5 I will not tolerate people who slander their neighbors.
    I will not endure conceit and pride.

6 I will search for faithful people
    to be my companions.
Only those who are above reproach
    will be allowed to serve me.
7 I will not allow deceivers to serve in my house,
    and liars will not stay in my presence.
8 My daily task will be to ferret out the wicked
    and free the city of the Lord from their grip.

Stressed Young Woman

I received some devastating news a few days ago. My childhood best friend’s mother passed away unexpectedly. When I saw my friend’s name scroll across the caller I.D., I was initially thrilled. We haven’t spoken in so long now that we live in separate states. I was most certainly not expecting to hear the words, “She’s gone.” I sank. I spent my entire childhood in her home. We lived in the same neighborhood, and both of our families shared life together. She was such a kind woman. During summer breaks, I am certain I became one of her own kids as I spent as much time as I could there. Those memories are priceless!

I was convicted thereafter. I couldn’t help but think, “What are we really doing as Christ-followers here on earth?” I must share the thoughts of my friend as it speaks volumes:

“Do not take a single day for granted. We aren’t promised any time at all here on earth. Make sure people know how you feel about them. Get right with God, and get right with others, or you may lose the opportunity. You may be the only bight spot in someone else’s day, make the most of it!”

This my friends is the answer! We are called to grow closer to God through an intimate relationship with His Son Jesus Christ. We are charged to share this relationship through His gospel with those around us. We most certainly are instructed to quickly forgive in order to prevent Satan from gaining a foothold, and we are always advised to be the salt and light of the world.

I also providentially came across this passage in Psalm today. I encourage you to read it carefully, and meditate on it wholeheartedly. Psalm 101:2 says, “I will be careful to live a blameless life.” How many of us can actually say we strive to live a blameless life? What about living with integrity? Do you protect your eyes from all things vile and vulgar? Are we convicted yet? [YES]

We will miss our dear family friend. Yet, in true encouraging fashion, we are still being reminded to live like Christ through the reflection of her life and to that we say, “Praise God!” I echo my friend’s words. Strive to live a blameless life dear friends. Be the salt and light in a tasteless world.

What impact are you leaving? Better yet…what impact are you LIVING?

In loving memory of Ms. Rita Mann.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 2 Comments

Are You Coming?

Psalm 100:4

Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name.

Are You going

I work with some of the most amazing people in the world. God has blessed me with a team that exhibits a vast array of personalities and spiritual gifts. We are beyond blessed to be in a “helping” profession. We get to see God’s work first hand even in physical healing. It never gets old, and I’m always looking for the Spirit. In fact, I listen intently when my team speaks because I want to hear more than the literal terms; I want to listen for God’s message through their conversations no matter how unrelated.

Just this morning, I was blessed to have a spiritual conversation with a new team member. She brings such light, spiritual awareness, and truth. She is gifted and people cannot help but listen when she speaks. Her genuine heart is tangible and visible. She is more than an answer to prayer; she is a gift. This spirit-filled lady made a profound statement today that I couldn’t get out of my head all day. We were discussing the importance and power in worship. We both expressed disappointment when those around us simply appear unmoved and unaffected by His presence. She then stated, “I’m going to the throne room no matter what so are you going with me?”

YES – she gets it! Not only does she “get it” but she helped me understand it too! You see there is power in worship.

Exodus 23:25 – Worship the Lord your God, and his blessing will be on your food and water. I will take away sickness from among you.

Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.

Acts 16:25 – About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.

John 4:24 – God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.

Joshua 6:2-5 – 2 But the Lord said to Joshua, “I have given you Jericho, its king, and all its strong warriors. 3 You and your fighting men should march around the town once a day for six days. 4 Seven priests will walk ahead of the Ark, each carrying a ram’s horn. On the seventh day you are to march around the town seven times, with the priests blowing the horns. 5 When you hear the priests give one long blast on the rams’ horns, have all the people shout as loud as they can. Then the walls of the town will collapse, and the people can charge straight into the town.”

I must admit, my friend is right! She’s going to the throne room to worship, and I want to go too! She doesn’t become frustrated when those around her fail to be moved. In fact, this drives her to worship more for she knows the Father is WORTH IT! The Father’s room is deep and wide. His grace and mercy bind us together in one body. The Father yearns for all His children to – come! Don’t delay dear friends. Meditate on the Word; pray without ceasing; and worship like He deserves!

Friends, I’m going to the throne room to worship…are you coming?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 4 Comments

Glow

Philippians 2:4

4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

glow

God placed a very special friend in my life over a year ago through providential occurrences. At our very first encounter, God spoke, “You will minister to him.” The problem…I was out of town and didn’t even know this man’s name. I said, “God you must be kidding, right?” His response was steady and sure, “You will minister to him.” The conviction was so strong and the voice so loud that I almost started to believe that the people around me heard God’s voice too! There was nothing left to do than to obey. That simple act of faith and obedience has taken us down a grateful road for well over a year.

Through a series of special “God winks,” we have become good friends and have shared life together. Even more, you would never “put us together” by society’s standards. You see, we are complete opposites honestly. This is what makes this a beautiful God-designed encounter. In full transparency, I do not care about what society tries to define upon my life. I seek to live and act like Jesus. I would venture to say that Jesus also met and shared life with people that society would consider “opposites” even today. For starters, Jesus was ridiculed for being friends with tax collectors and sinners (Luke 7:34). All I have to say is, “Praise God” that glory came down and broke bread with sinners – like you and me!

I found out today that this friend might be moving far away. “Lord, are we done?” I asked. “I thought I was to continue ministering to him. How can I do that so far away?” I continued. The Spirit stated, “I’m the One who brought you together so trust Me to deliver for physical distance is only a barrier for those who don’t believe.” I must admit, this was hard to hear! “You’re right, Lord, I humble myself and place my human restrictions and finite cognition into your control and hands.”

I call upon you too dear believers. Please pray with me. I pray that we are in agreement and in unity with our prayers for each other. I pray for God’s blessings over my friend. I pray that he will fully surrender to the King. I also pray that God will continue to equip me to minister, lead, and/or instruct however He sees fit. Ultimately, we are called to “take an interest in others.” So, our journey is not done just because of a possible move far away; it is just beginning a new chapter.

Question: Are you taking an interest in others around you?

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Sharpening

Proverbs 27:17

17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.

sharpen

I am blessed to belong to the FaithWalk South Louisiana community. FaithWalk is a ministry that “focuses closely on the person of Jesus Christ and his teachings as they apply to real experiences in our daily lives.” In addition, “It is best described as an opportunity to have a spiritual encounter with Christ. Many who have attended the weekend have experienced a deeper and more meaningful relationship with Christ as they sense His love in a dynamic way.” If you are interested in learning more about this weekend, ministry, and community, please search for your nearest community and get involved.

FaithWalk South Louisiana      https://faithwalksl.org/

[Other 4th day weekend ministries include: ACTS Retreat, Discipleship Walk, Tres Dias, Great Banquet, Walk to Emmaus, Chrysalis, Cursillo]

I wanted to share a profound lesson that I learned during my FaithWalk over a year ago, which was then reinforced when I worked as a servant. The devil has done a good job at convincing men that we don’t care about each other and therefore we most certainly wouldn’t be interested in developing meaningful, Christ-centered relationships aimed at building, sharpening, and edifying one another. In fact, the devil has deceived us so well, that we simply avoid each other – convincing ourselves that we are being “self-protecting.”

We think, “Why would I subject myself to judgment by a group of men? It’s easier to stay where I am.” We continue in our irrational thoughts by saying, “Men aren’t interested in ’emotional’ concepts even when it comes to Christianity; I have too much baggage so why get involved?” Our minds take us down even darker roads when we believe, “This sounds too much like high school, and that didn’t turn out very well for me. I don’t feel like being teased, bullied, or judged for my past so why try?”

Within just a few minutes of this ministry experience, doubt is erased; fear is destroyed and love WINS! You quickly realize that you are not alone. Of most importance, we must identify that there is a spiritual war on godly men. The evil one will do everything in his power to keep us apart because as the passage above states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” I have learned that most men carry baggage from their youth and superimpose those negative experiences onto adult encounters.

For me, I carried the baggage of being the short, skinny, red-headed kid who wasn’t big enough to play football. Was I teased? – Absolutely! Did I inadvertently give myself permission to own these negative feelings? – Most certainly! You see, we define our young men by ability. Sadly, most of us carry this weight around our necks for decades. I am thankful that I was able to not only identify the devil’s ploy but to release the negative permission over my life! Yes, I’m still short; I’m still skinny; I’m now bald and only wish I had my red hair. Yet, I am a child of the King, and I’m not the only one carrying baggage!

So today, I speak directly to our godly men. Stop giving the evil powers permission over your life. Your baggage does not define you, but most importantly please know you are not alone—you are loved! The best thing you could do is release these wrongfully planted evil thoughts and seek the counsel of other godly men who can mentor you, sharpen you, and build you up. Do not run the other way. That’s the devil’s hope for you. As long as you are alone, then you are “dull.” A dull sword is not as effective as a razor-sharp weapon that had been sharpened time and time again.

Question: Are you interested in attending a FaithWalk weekend or another 4th day ministry? Feel free to contact me directly, and I will help you get connected.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta · 1 Comment

Vulnerability

2 Corinthians 6:11-13

11 Oh, dear Corinthian friends! We have spoken honestly with you, and our hearts are open to you. 12 There is no lack of love on our part, but you have withheld your love from us. 13 I am asking you to respond as if you were my own children. Open your hearts to us!

sitting on bench

While sitting on a newly dusted sofa, she anxiously awaits the knock at the door. Through the deafening clicks from the clock on the wall, she mentally sounds off every painful second…tick-tock, tick-tock. It’s almost as if time itself is reinforcing her deep-rooted insecurities. Each secondhand click brings forth these dreaded words: unwanted, unloved, failure…She is now paralyzed by her own insecurities and fear.

She cannot remember a time when anyone stumbled across her doorstep much less through an open invitation. Today was different. Since giving her life to Christ, she has experienced a transformation through the power of His blood – transformational! Although continuing to fight the inner demons of insecurity, she is choosing to remove tall walls, layer by layer, that have isolated her for years.

While staring at the wall recalling her life’s struggles, she comes face-to-face with her deepest fear – vulnerability. Just at that time she hears the knock at the door. “What do I do?” she thinks. The dark inner voices come forth and say, “Why did you invite them here? You know they will eventually hurt you! You aren’t worth their love anyway so just hide, and they will go away!”

Tears begin to flow from the deep well of personal torment. She stands up in what appears to be self-defeat; the demons cheer as they continue to press her to retreat. Yet, she reaches for the door handle instead of turning to run. The inner voices leap forward in their last attempt to self-harm. She nearly retches as she slowly opens the door all while fighting her inner-demons.

With the most fluid of motions, the church members awaiting outside glide into the foyer where they individually embrace their new small group member. One by one, they speak words of encouragement and thankfulness, “It’s so good to see you! Your home is beautiful. Thank you so much for inviting us over for Bible study today.” Every single word, phrase, and physical embrace marking the true love of Christ through His people appear to wipe away every negative thought. She turns around to find a room full of Christ-loving believers in the same space where she once gave in to self-defeat and depression.

A smile replaces apprehension! As she walks back into the living room, she offers a prayer of thanksgiving. She is thankful for opening not only her home but her heart. She thinks, “I never dreamed being vulnerable would be so fulfilling; thank you Lord!”

Dear friends, there is no greater reward than building God-honoring relationships; however, this requires vulnerability. Do not withhold your love. Allow God to deliver you from fear, anxiety, and doubt. Also, ask Father God to fill you up with His peace where you can share the love of Christ in return.

Thought: Satan loves an isolated Christian! There is power in community. Tear down the walls and open up your heart.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Step

Psalm 119:105

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”

lantern

While leaving work today, God blessed me with a special encounter. As I’ve stated before, nothing happens by chance. I seek God’s face in all conversations, encounters, and even disruptions for God works in all situations. The question then is, “Are you willing to listen?”

Yet, today was different. This was most certainly not a disruption; this was a divine and destined encounter by God. I was running slightly behind schedule which providentially allowed me to run into a dear friend walking out of work on her very last day. You see, we all have been dreading this day for we love her, truly. I thought I had already said my goodbyes, which was hard to do, but I was so thankful to see her one last time – this special time as she leaves her job for the last time.

We cannot imagine no longer working alongside this special friend. She is kindhearted, light, attentive, God-fearing, and just plain fun to be around. Yet, over the past few months, she has had to hold back tears of true physical pain as she deals with a newly diagnosed physical condition. However, through this trial, I have seen her faith grow like the deep roots of an oak. She says with pure determination all while clutching her hands in pain, “I’m going to get my miracle!” This my friends is FAITH!

She is truly taking a single step in faith as she begins a new journey – cautious, nervous, and even scared, but this is where God is made perfect in our weakness. The passage above reminds us that God’s Word is a “lamp upon my feet.” You see, this special friend is living this passage to the fullest! She is taking a single step in faith focusing on Christ to sustain, deliver, and protect her and her family – wow – what a testimony.

With tear-filled eyes and such a heavy heart, we embrace and offer words of encouragement. God IS in control! So, today I encourage you and my sweet friend to keep taking steps of faith, one at a time, focusing on Christ who will steady each step. Even though we are intellectually gifted enough to problem solve many steps ahead, the Word says give it to God because let’s face it…we aren’t THAT gifted! Try to picture Father God sitting high on His throne in full control of the whole world and universe. We have enough trouble controlling our children, work, school, and athletic schedules let alone every single human being, living creature, and universe…o.k. I think you get the point.

It boils down to stop looking so far ahead and simply asking God to steady our next step as it aligns with His perfect will on earth as it is in heaven.

“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34).

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding.
6 Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:6-7)

So, my friend and I parted ways not knowing when we would see each other again, but this special friend will never know how much she touched my life! I pray that you always remember that you are projecting a testimony in the way you live your life – positive or negative! Today, I say thank you Jessie for showing us faith and a positive testimony. You will be missed greatly. We will not cease in our prayers, and we too believe that you will receive your miracle! We will commit to picking up our lanterns and taking one step of faith alongside you.

Thankful,

Christian Armetta

Posted on by Christian Armetta

Truth

Psalm 15:1-3

A Description of the Godly

A Davidic psalm.

1 Lord, who can dwell in Your tent? Who can live on Your holy mountain? 2 The one who lives honestly, practices righteousness, and acknowledges the truth in his heart—3 who does not slander with his tongue, who does not harm his friend or discredit his neighbor.

truth

If you have not met my dear friend Ms. Rita Harris, then you are truly missing out. First of all, she will not be very “happy” with me for placing a very large spotlight on her because frankly her life’s mission is to impart the Word of God onto each and every person she comes into contact with; it is most certainly not to edify herself.

I met Ms. Rita many years ago in the business sector, and the best way I can describe her is infectious! She does not miss an opportunity to share the love of Christ with strangers and friends alike. I’ve seen her pray with broken souls without any hesitation while my initial tendency is to say, “I’ll definitely be praying for you,” while I walk away missing a perfect opportunity to minister right then and there. Ms. Rita’s ministry is active, dynamic, and real. I learn from her each time I see her.

Without a doubt, my spirit jumps when she is around…truly! When she speaks, my hair tends to stand on end. My senses are on high alert, and I cannot get enough. She is a mentor, a model, and a beautiful soul! I am blessed and privileged to call her my sister in Christ. She does not miss an opportunity to pray over anyone in need and to share the gospel in all environments. Having said that, I wanted to share a comment Ms. Rita posted yesterday [see below]. I pray the Holy Spirit unveils your eyes and you experience true worship through her words. She is the definition of living for Christ and we thank you!

thank you

From Ms. Rita Harris

I HATE the devil and His tactics!!!!!!! I couldn’t help but think about the scriptures in Romans 8 we’ve been studying for the conference! We serve an awesome God whose only reason for coming to earth was to seek and save the lost!

There are several questions Paul addresses in this chapter.
1. If (since/because) God is for US, who can be (successful) against US?
2. Who (Satan/anyone allowing him to use then) shall bring a charge against God’s elect?
3. Who (Satan) is he who condemns?

These three stick out this morning!
Paul had already answered these questions at the beginning of the chapter!
“There is therefore NOW NO CONDEMNATION to those (US) who are in CHRIST JESUS….for the law of the SPIRIT OF LIFE in CHRIST HAS MADE US FREE from the law of sin and death!!!!!

Isaiah 61 clearly emphasizes why Jesus came!!!
The thief (Satan) comes to steal, kill and destroy but JESUS has COME to give US LIFE AND IT MORE ABUNDANTLY! John 10:10
Paul ends the chapter with another profound profession…”WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS through HIM who LOVES US!

Therefore, it matters NOT what others say or think of us…it really doesn’t matter much what you think…the TRUTH remains: WE ARE NOT VICTIMS OF CIRCUMSTANCE!
WE ARE VICTORS!!!!!
🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽

~Rita Harris

________________________________________

Thankful,

Christian Armetta