A Servant's Heart: #Clean

Tuesday, March 10th 2014

Have you ever felt rejected? Or are you feeling rejected now?

I DO. I HAVE.

I can and will be the first one to raise my hand. As a 23 year old (as of 7 days ago) who was suppose to be done at 21 but is still on a path to finish undergrad, as a very single woman by societies standard, and the list can go on,on what I lack and how the label of rejection can be placed over my life. I have felt that way, and the thing about feeling rejection is if you let those thoughts manifest it will continue to eat at you. You will continue to enter that "R" hole and then continue to sink further and further in without a light at the end of the tunnel.

Rejection. From our childhood we may have had an experience that "stunted" a particular part of our self esteem that we haven't, or won't let go since. From our past, from people who perished because of a lack of knowledge and hurt us, we felt rejection and held on to it like it belongs apart of our identity. And from our current situation, from something that may not have been out of your control or from a flicker of dwindling hope rejection is felt.

[The thing about feeling rejection is if you let those thoughts manifest it will continue to eat at you]

You see rejection left my life the minute I realized that Jesus Christ had came to die for me, a sinner, a "reject", a cast away. The thing about the feeling of rejection you are feeling or were feeling is Jesus came to die for you too! He came to wipe that label of shame, guilt, and unworthiness away, forever, FOR GOOD.

The LORD says:

Right now, if you are or were weak the LORD wants to draw near to you, to comfort you. He made you, you are his child and he will save you, if, once you allow him in.

He also says in 2nd Corinthians 12:9:

The Grace that manifested on the cross of Calvary, which Jesus Christ, the Son of God came down from the heavens to die for our sins, is sufficient enough for you! In our time of weakness, when those thoughts of rejection want to overcome us, we can run to our savior with open arms and remind ourselves that label doesn't belong to us! Because His love, His grace, and His image has come upon you.

[The Grace that manifested on the cross of Calvary, which Jesus Christ, the Son of God came down from the heavens to die for our sins, is sufficient enough for you! ]

We are co-heirs of God, I am a co-heir of him, and when I accepted Jesus into my life, started reading the scripture, and praying, I knew the worlds standards was far beneath God's standard. Sister, brother, when you walk in God's glory, when you want to serve him, by giving your heart to him, you are stamped a winner, a champion, number 1 in his book.

Your singleness in mans eyes, is married with Him, God as your husband in his eyes.

The stunted growth in mans eyes is the beautiful careful knitting of the precious gift He is brewing inside of you.

You will meet every goal and promise the Lord has for you, if its in Gods will for you. The best schools, marriage, children, wealth and more.

I want to invite you tonight if you've been carrying that label, and you are tired and looking for a means of escape, Jesus is calling you home, he wants you to seek him , if you knew him to re seek the joy of salvation and to seek him more!

Isaiah 55:6

Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near:

My friend, will you today:

Acts 14:15

And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:

Are you ready to turn from the vain things of the world, from the ideas and desires that call you a name contrary to your God given name of Victory?

He is ready, he wants you, and his promise is once you repent, receive him, and start following him you will receive life. You will live life more abundantly and those thoughts of rejection will leave faster then they ever tried to creep in.

John 6:33

33 The true bread of God is the one who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

I love you and I am praying for you <3

(With another fellow woman of God Amanda at a G4CW Awards &Gala Harvard Club NYC)

(If you are in New Jersey You are invited! Hope to see you. Let me know if you have any questions. <3)

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Have you ever felt this way? What did you do to overcome? Share below.

From your Sister in Christ with a Servants Heart,

Janet Adeola Songonuga

Tuesday September 17 , 2013

I recently taught a bible Study on Personal Hygiene on a regular Prayer Line I attend on Wednesday night, the Strive Youth Ministry Prayer Line.

This is a replica of my teaching verbatim.I pray it blesses you.

3 John 1:2

2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

The bible talks about all topics but it really emphasizes the prospering of the soul. This 3 John verse acknowledges when the soul prosperous ones health also prospers!

God is very concerned with our health and Hygiene! Jesus in human flesh remained clean, so God desires the body and items he has blessed us with to be taken care of.

How does the soul prosper?

2 Chronicles 20: 18

Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the SALVATION of the Lord with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the Lord will be with you.

Our soul prospers with Salvation. Salvation is wholeheartedly receiving Jesus into your heart,turning from your sins and believing Jesus died and washed you clean from your sins with his blood. Through receiving salvation your everlasting friend and father in heaven is advocating for you.

Now. Biblical and Practically Hygiene can fall into 4 points plus 1

1. Eating:

Exodus 23:13

Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:)

This verse alongside many other verses in Exodus, Leviticus, and Deuteronomy show that God is a God of detail. He was very particular with the Jews as all Christians are decedents of the Jews. This particular verse is instructing his children to not partake in leavened bread but unleavened bread. God wants our diet to be balanced. He seeks to make us understand what we feed on, not only spiritually but also physically should nourish our bodies.

We are to have a great portion of fruits, vegetables, and drink a lot of water. What goes into our bodies shows on our body and face. Here is a great website that helps you explain the portions of the food group your specific body type should intake daily and weekly: www.choosemyplate.gov

This is very essential to personal hygiene.

2. Exercise:

1 Timothy 4:8

For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.

Yes in this 1st Timothy verse it does state bodily exercise profiteth little, but because bodily exercise was even mentioned , proved God also knows the significance and importance to exercise! I recommend 30 minutes of exercise a day, but I understand my audience is largely students so 3 times a week for 30 minutes is also great! I would encourage you if you are below 30 to get a good workout regimen, find activities you like to do that keep you fit because after 30 our metabolism slows down and habits of physical activities tend to decrease. If you love the workouts you do though you will be prompt to workout. This is very essential to personal hygiene.

3. Aesthetics:

Psalm 139:14

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.

1 Timothy 2:9

9 I also want the women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, adorning themselves, not with elaborate hairstyles or gold or pearls or expensive clothes

Genesis 35

And God said unto Jacob, Arise, go up to Bethel, and dwell there: and make there an altar unto God, that appeared unto thee when thou fleddest from the face of Esau thy brother.

2 Then Jacob said unto his household, and to all that were with him, Put away the strange gods that are among you, and be clean, and change your garments:

3 And let us arise, and go up to Bethel; and I will make there an altar unto God, who answered me in the day of my distress, and was with me in the way which I went.

4 And they gave unto Jacob all the strange gods which were in their hand, and all their earrings which were in their ears; and Jacob hid them under the oak which was by Shechem.5 And they journeyed: and the terror of God was upon the cities that were round about them, and they did not pursue after the sons of Jacob.

In showing the importance of aesthetics and how it plays into personal hygiene through scriptures you can also on your own, look at 1 Peter 3:3. These verses above are very important and need to be read with a prayerful heart. God is essentially telling you and I,we, were made perfect! The way he made us was how he intended us to live. All the holes we needed for us to maintain life on this earth has been given to us. The beauty he gave us at birth is all we need. We don't need to put on add ons, like additional piercings and or makeup to make us more beautiful. The enhancing of beauty comes from God's words and that in it self changes us from the inside out. It's God's joy for you to walk in spirit and in truth. To be confident with the holes, hair, face, skin, and body he has given you! You are wonderfully and beautifully made. Additional piercings can cause infections, and unwanted puss build up! Our body is not ours,it's God. We are in this body temporarily (Romans12:1) In saying that tattoo's are NOT in God's will. Any action that sheds blood apart from bumps and scarps is a covenant with God. We find this all through out Exodus and in the new testament. We are not to continue with getting tattoos once we are born again and have consecrated our lives to God. You also don't need add ons' like weave and fake braids. They even smell if you aren't washing it and some can't get washed without the fear of unraveling the braids.

4. Purification:

Titus 2:1-5

Leviticus 12:1-8

These verses were highlighted to just show the importance God gives to purification and staying clean.

Some practical tips for the girls.We are delicate and to be chaste, meaning clean. I encourage us females if you can to take more baths than showers. If you don't currently have a bathtub, in a future home invest in a garden tub. We want to thoroughly clean our bodies because we not only give birth to children but each month we have a monthly menstrual cycle. We also want to take special care behind our ears, feet and private areas.I was told getting sea salts helps in cleaning and balancing our bodies. You can look into that.

For the boys pretty much the same, make sure you take baths. Pay attention to your feet as well. Take care of your skin.A great natural remedy for moisturizing your skin is honey. Wash your face well. Shave and don't forget to put on deodorant. Pay attention to your private areas and cut your nails.

Bonus:

Many people may have acne because they may not change their sheets. It's recommended you change and wash your bed sheets and pillow cases weekly or bi weekely.

You don't want to keep the same underwear for years on end. New ones should be bought when they start to tear, fade in color and may have un-removable stains.I recommend getting new under garments and underwear yearly.

Clean your surrounding areas. Your room, your dorm.Unclean areas breed unwanted pests. Clean your car as well.

Fornication is UNCLEAN. Having multiply sex partners is unclean. As Christians we must keep ourselves pure. STD & STI's, yeast infections, and more can come from an active sex life with multiple people.Pray for the grace to abstain and wait for your married partner.

It is also unlawful to have sexual intercourse with a woman on her period. This is unclean and represents a convent with blood due to the shedding of Blood. Please abstain.

That's it:) I pray we all live on this earth with great personal hygiene so we may live the number of years God has ordained us to live in prosperity!

Addendum: Found this awesome article for men : Men: Three Signs You’re in Need of an Underwear Upgrade