SEELE SERIES
New Year
Last week as I pointed out that God is our Mighty Conqueror, this week it’s important for us to remember this year that in order for us to have a smooth year in our walk with Him, we need to remain teachable.
This month for SEELE, it’s about “New Year: New Beginnings.” Seele’s editor Ally points out one facet of God’s nature is that he is the conqueror, a fact that we need to have in our minds everyday of every year.
Having A Marriage Character Before Marriage: Vows
The month of May is a focus on marriage. This series is on having a marriage character before marriage, more specifically: what does it mean to be a wife or husband before you are a wife and husband. In order to have a thing, we must be the thing before it is truly manifested in our lives.
With her poetic language, SEELE contributor Oboitshepo Tladi continues our theme of: “having a marriage character before marriage.” Marriage is a ministry, a calling to shine the light of Jesus to your partner and to those around you. It’s also an inheritance, a blessing, and a walking into new territory of richness from the Lord, to receive all that He has for you and your spouse.
Continuing our theme of: “having a marriage character before marriage,” we see that there are things we can get sorted in our singleness before marriage. If kindness is one of the things that men notice in women, then it would behoove single women to be kind before marriage, to be kind to friends, coworkers, family, and strangers.
In order to have a fulfilling life, the most important decision that any one of us can make is to choose to follow Jesus, and the second most important decision we can ever make in life is who we choose to marry. Continuing our theme of: having a marriage character before marriage, we see and need to understand that it’s imperative to let our triune God work on our issues and our character so that we can be a good husband- or a good wife.
The month of May is a focus on marriage and what it means from a Biblical standpoint. Last year the theme was “God’s purpose for marriage,” focusing on being in the act of marriage. This year, I want to focus the Friday Posts on having a marriage character before marriage, more specifically, what it means to be a wife or husband before you are a wife and husband. In order to have a thing, we must be the thing before it is truly manifested in our lives.
Getting Back Into the Swing Of Things
we see the world is getting back into the swing of things in this age of Covid, but we must remember that it is God Who we will need in all seasons to get through all types of situations.
For today's Friday Post, SEELE Editor, Ally shares in a new series that as we’re all getting back into the swing of things in this age of Covid, and as we start up again, we may be faced with questions of trying to discern the voice of God. In this new decade, the roaring 20s, what a roar it will be with seeing many signs and wonders from God. But, with moves of God in this year there will also be moves of the devil. In order to make it through 2020, we have to resolve to go deeper with God, to be in a deeper relationship with Him to overcome what the decade may throw at us.
For today's Friday Post, SEELE Editor, Ally shares in a new series that as we’re all getting back into the swing of things in this age of Covid, and as we start up again, we may be faced with questions of trying to discern the voice of God. Some of us have been asking God for months or years, “what should I do in this situation?” Some of us have been trying to discern the voice and will of God in a matter for so long that we’re exasperated wondering, “where is He?” In these moments, we need to know how God uniquely speaks to us to discern His will.
We’re all getting back into the swing of things in this age of Covid, and as we start up again, we may be faced with questions of trying to discern the voice of God. Some of us have been asking God for months or years, “what should I do in this situation?” Some of us have been trying to discern the voice and will of God in a matter for so long that we’re exasperated wondering, “where is He?” In these moment, we must exercise wisdom to discern His will.
For today's Friday Post, SEELE Editor, Ally shares in a new series that as the world is getting back into the swing of things in this age of Covid, we must remember that it is God Who we will need in all seasons to get through all types of situations. It is God who we need to resolve to keep our eyes on.
Black Lives In The Bible
The Bible teaches that God doesn’t see race and He has made all races and ethnicities into one ancestry that’s rooted in Him. No matter your skin color, we are all made in the image of God, and made right with Him through the gift of salvation by of Jesus. The Apostle Paul made it clear that in Jesus there is “neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Jesus Christ (Galatians 3: 26-29), and “that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation,” can separate God’s people from His love (Romans 8: 38-39). Quite simply, the family of God knows no bloodlines or skin color.
Holy Spirit interrupted our plans for June 2020 and whispered ever-so-gently to do another theme: “Black Lives In The Bible”. I hope that this month’s theme is insightful and a blessing to you.
Concluding with the series: “Black Lives In The Bible,” SEELE Editor, Ally points out another intriguing Black woman in the Bible, who’s blood is still running through the veins of Black Jews in Israel today: The Queen of Sheba. We encourage you to sit down to Netflix this weekend and watch the film: The Red Sea Diving Resort, as it shows through suspenseful and action-packed scenes how the state of Israel in the 80s, over a period of several years went into Sudan on secret military missions, called Operation Solomon, to bring its Black Jews, the children of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba back to their homeland- Israel. Today’s Friday Post will help you understand how thousands of Black Jews are residing in Israel today, though they face systemic racism and murder at the hands of Israelis.
Continuing with the series: “Black Lives In The Bible,” I had planned to highlight the life of Asenath, the wife of Joseph in the Old Testament. But, the situation going on in the U.S. has me wanting to write a letter to Black people instead. “There are far deeper issues Black Americans need to face than solely the police and White subjugation,” says SEELE Editor, Ally.
Continuing with the series: “Black Lives In The Bible,” we see Zipporah, a Black woman and the wife of Moses. We see through her brother-in-law and sister-in-law (Moses’ siblings), that through a situation they were racist towards her. And we see because of this situation God hates racism, as well as having His decisions challenged by man’s opinion. Racism is not a skin color issue, it’s a heart issue. In looking at the account of Moses’ siblings’ racism towards his wife, we see that the Hebrews were held back from moving forward, until Moses’ sister’s bad heart was sanctified and transformed. Racism doesn’t just hold back the racist, it holds back the subjugated as well.
To kick off this series: “Black Lives In The Bible,” Seele Editor, Ally unpacks Simon of Cyrene, who helped Jesus carry His cross up the Via Del Rosa, and he had a personal encounter with Jesus, as He served the Savior in His final hour, an encounter that you and I are invited to have with Him as well. We see one key factor, symbolism really that as Simon carried the cross and followed Jesus, Jesus was modeling discipleship. Jesus was still leading as He walked into death. Blacks and minorities who carry their individual crosses of racism are to follow Jesus, as He leads us into a victorious life. All people in the crosses that they bear are to follow Jesus, as He leads all into a victorious life.
God’s Purpose for marriage
Few week old new parents, Ben and Mel Chow share what makes a successful marriage with four years of experience under their belt.
As we wrap up this month’s theme: “What’s God’s Plan for Marriage,” we have seen that marriage is serious and purposed by God. Today, we see that God purposed marriage to be an example, where those around a Godly couple should be able to see Jesus in their union.
Looking at the relationship journey between author, motivational speaker and worship leader Joe Tannous in Beirut, Lebanon and his girlfriend, Vanessa Ghssoub, it seems in the natural that it shouldn’t happen. But with God in the center, you see how His hand guides Kingdom relationships and brings a man and a woman together, for the right partnership, which is for His glory and two peoples’ good.
So, if we know from the previous weeks that God’s purpose for marriage is the ‘Two Become One Flesh’ AND that both husband and wife are each other’s ‘Ezer Kenegdo,’ we find out that another aspect of this purpose is that: a husband is his wife’s covering.
Continuing with SEELE’s “What’s God’s Purpose for Marriage,” Gareth Noble unpacks and outlines 9 ways for women to destroy their marriage. This is a read you don't want to miss .
When God made Adam and Eve, He made them with unique and distinctive purpose. She came from Adam’s rib, at a time when Adam was ready for a companion. The loneliness of being in the Garden, created a burning desire for him to have a lifetime ezer kenegdo.
Continuing with SEELE’s ““What’s God’s Purpose for Marriage,” Zimbabwean couple Trevor and Sandra Weaver say: ‘On the spur of the moment, with the aid of Google, our definition of a good marriage would be a legal or formal union of a high standard between a man and a woman.
Marriage is a beautiful institution created by God for a man and a woman. “Two shall become one flesh,” what does this mean? When you marry, the two become one flesh. Either person is no longer single and should not be living a single life, but a life with one Spirit, physical intimacy, same goals, and a united mindset for a healthy home. No home is perfect but it should be healthy. Both people should be entering a marriage with 100% (not this 50% stuff) but 100% and whole, this is the mindset, the foundation to build on the unity of a healthy home with a strong vision
For the month of May, SEELE will be focusing on the question: "What is God's Purpose for Marriage?" There is only a 50% success rate of marriages, and divorces are more common than ever. Today it's Adrian and Rebecca's story of what makes a good relationship and how God brought them together. In a couple months they will be married.
Forgiving the Unforgivable
Today is Joseph’s story, a Hebrew who at age 17 was sold into slavery in Egypt by his 10 brothers. Their first plot was to kill him but the oldest brother Ruben persuaded the other 9 brothers to sell Joseph instead. For 13 years he was enslaved and later imprisoned, after being lied on for rape charges by the wife of Potiphor. With two injustices done to Joseph before he was 30, he found the courage to forgive his brothers and the lie that was told on him by a desperate woman. He rose to become Egypt’s second most powerful man, paving the legacy of being seen as Egypt’s first Minister of Finance by the Egyptian people today. And, for preventing his people, the Hebrews from starving to death. Joseph’s story is one of unbelievable triumph.
Today is Dave Pelzer’s story, an American who at age 12 was California’s worse domestic abuse cases. What he endured from age 2-12 by the hands of his mother is unthinkable and unforgivable. But somehow, he has been able to forgive his mom and his ministry focuses on propelling people to move past their past pains. Dave’s story is one of unbelievable triumph.
Bible Boss Babes
March has been about focusing on inspiring women from the Bible in a series called: “Bible Boss Babes.” Last week we looked at The Witch of En Dor a woman who we can learn something from. This week we’re looking at Joan of Arc, and though she is not in the Bible, Joan was an unwavering woman of faith, and it was this faith that enabled her to do hard things.
Last week we looked at Deborah, Israel’s first female judge. This week, we’re looking at a woman who’s NOT Bible Boss Babe: The Witch of En Dor, but nevertheless a woman who we can learn something from. As you’re home during this Coronavirus time, may this post speak to you in some way.
Last week we looked at Mary from Bethany, the sister of Lazarus and Martha, the one who sat at the feet of Jesus. This week, we’re looking at Bible Boss Babe: Deborah.
This month, Seele’s Editor, Ally will point out four inspiring women and share practical life tips that we can apply to our own lives. And this week we’re looking at Mary from Bethany, the sisters of Lazarus and Martha, the one who sat at the feet of Jesus.
Confront Thyself
This month, Seele Magazine’s Friday Posts were a part of a new series titled ‘Confront Thyself,’ with Proverbs 27:19 as our guide, with this idea, as if you’re looking at your heart and your soul in a mirror- what do you see? Chief Editor, Ally presented 4 issue areas that you may be struggling with that are ungodly and can’t come any further into 2020, unless you want a repeat of 2019.
Last week we looked at our ego, today’s final topic of joy is on the table. We don’t always feel happy and that’s ok. But, joy is a fruit of the Spirit, and it’s something that we should have 24/7 in our lives, that in spite of what we may be going through, we should always have joy.
Human nature in its raw form is all about me, me, me and our social media age doesn’t help with this. We’re hungry for likes, showing off our profiles with duck faced lip photos, or of who we’ve met, or what we’re eating. But, we weren’t created to be egotistical and stuck on ourselves, we were created to uplift others and serve others with the skills/gifts and talents God has given us.
Unforgiveness and bitterness towards another is really like taking cyanide. It doesn’t hurt or affect another person if we imbibe poison ourselves, and eventually, it will eat away at us and in some way kill us- kill our peace, our physical health, or our relationships.
Last week we looked at jealousy, today the topic of fear is on the table. When we let fear hold us back from doing what God has called us to do, we are indeed holding ourselves back from God’s purposes for our lives. Here are a few ways to think about fear.
We’ve entered into a new year and a new decade. But, nothing will change in our lives if we go into this new year not confronting the brokenness and negativity from past years and past decades. 365 days from now, you and I will be in the exact same place if we don’t decide to draw a line in the sand, resolving that certain mindsets and behaviors are ungodly and cannot come 2020.
So, for this month, Seele Magazine’s Friday Posts will be a part of a new series titled ‘Confront Thyself,’ with Proverbs 27:19 as our guide, with this idea, as if you’re looking at your heart and your soul in a mirror. Our Editor, Ally will present 5 issue areas that you may be struggling with that are ungodly and can’t come any further into 2020, unless you want a repeat of 2019.
Today, the topic of jealousy is on the table. When we’re jealous of another, we are indeed holding ourselves back from God’s purposes for our callings. Here are a few ways to think about jealousy.
The Power of a Question- Conversations with Satan
Through the power of questions, Satan seeks to get us off track by thwarting our thinking that God isn’t Who He says He is. He did this with God, over an important figure in the Bible- Job.
Through the power of questions, Satan seeks to get us off track by thwarting our thinking that God isn’t Who He says He is. He did this with the first woman, Eve.
Eve
These are lessons and take aways on what we can learn from the choices of Eve.
March has been “All About Eve” for Seele. We’ve looked at the first woman over a period of 6 weeks from 6 different angles. We're going to finish out this series on Eve by throwing a wrench in yet another way of how you may have never thought of her. This week we will look at Eve: A Special Helper with a Special Purpose.
Seele Editor-In-Chief, Ally Portee continues with the month of Eve. March is the month of Eve, a month where Seele is looking at the first woman from 6 angles, over a period of 6 weeks. This week we will look at “Eve, the Completion of Relationship.” God is relationship, He is about relationships, and He created us to be in relationship. He created us to share in a relationship with Him, to not be independent, but dependent, in the sense that relationship (what He is with Himself) would play out in the lives of humans.
Though she made a mistake, God still showed His love and grace to Eve by sharing a key prophecy. God still spoke to Eve and He will still speak to His daughters through various ways, despite our mistakes. He has plans for us, the daughters of Eve.
It’s interesting that God didn’t bring Eve into Adam’s life until he was lonely and ready or it. When a man is ready for commitment and to love a woman, that’s when he will appreciate her. Before he’s ready, it’s most likely pointless to hope that he will commit to you. Women must understand this and not chase men who aren’t ready for commitment. Let a man chase you, not the other way round.
Picking up from last week, after Adam and Eve let sin into the world, they felt shame and they were in a panic to cover themselves. When they sinned their eyes were opened and they felt shame, they felt regret for what they had done, so they felt they had to make something to cover themselves from the one who created them to know no shame.
She is known as the “mother of all who have life." And because of this, she is a part of us and she is unique. Eve was the first woman victim of Satan. He preyed on her for a reason and this weeks post will look at this in slight detail.
On Trial
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? We can get so consumed with the deeper questions of our faith, or simply get too busy to think about this question, and forget the basics of whether we're actually living and looking like a Christian. This week I will look at three simple things God requires of us. These three things are examples of the evidence of what a Christian should look like.
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? We can get so consumed with the deeper questions of our faith, or simply get too busy to think about this question, and forget the basics of whether we're actually living and looking like a Christian. This week I will look at the topic of “religion that God accepts.”
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? We can get so consumed with the deeper questions of our faith or simply get too busy to think about this question, and forget the basics of whether we're actually living and looking like a Christian. This week I will look at the topic of Fruit of the Spirit. If you were on trial for being a Christian, would the evidence show that the Fruit of the Spirit are overflowing and spilling out of you?
If you were on trial for being a Christian, would there be any evidence that you daily walk, talk and commune with your Creator? Do you know Him and do you allow Him to know you?
What's In Your Hand?
How's Your Soul?
Continuing and ending with the series, "How’s Your Soul?," I want to talk about money. The Bible mentions money over 800 times and makes over 2,000 financial references. Money is important to God and it can be a wonderful thing for those who know how to use it to glorify Him and uplift others. Because money is important to God, writers of the Scriptures wrote about the topic a lot. And Jesus, talked about money more than He did love, heaven and hell combined.
Continuing with the series, "How’s Your Soul?," I want to talk about family. While families have their problems a family is only as strong and good as the people in it. In order to be a good child, parent, cousin, nephew, grandchild, or uncle you have to get your soul right. When our souls aren’t right it can affect how we treat those in our families.
When Jesus is truly the center of a person's life then His fruits (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control- Galatians 5: 22-23) will be in their souls. What's in our souls will affect how we treat others. And, in how we treat our romantic partners.
Making time for God in the busyness of this 2017 plugged in, tech, selfish, gotta get it all world can be a challenge, where Jesus is left in the dust and He’s not even a priority. We often have to fight for time with God.
2016 may not have been that bad for you personally! But if you care even a little about other people, you will still want an explanation for why the world is such a mess. But more importantly, if you are honest, you will admit you are not the person you want to be. We can all put on a good face. But take off the mask and most of us are hiding character traits and behavior that we are ashamed of and can’t seem to change. So we shouldn’t just ask, “what’s gone wrong with the world? We should ask, “What’s gone wrong with me?”
This year I’m starting Seele’s Friday post with a series on “How’s Your Soul?” It’s more personal where I will cover Ego, Brokenness, Spiritual Life, Dating & Marriage, Porn, Family, People and Money. When “I” or “self” is supreme in our lives there is no room for God. The only way we can TRULY know God is with humility, and it’s through Him that we will begin to love others as we love ourselves.
To whom much is given, much is required, and that includes our calling and the gifts and talents that come with that calling.
To whom much is given, much is required, and that includes our jobs. Last week I wrote about family and how various members of our family are gifts from God, placed in our hands for a reason. This week I will talk about jobs and working hard.
To whom much is given, much is required, and that includes our families. Last week I wrote about how our relationships- those that breathe life into us and that bless us, i.e. work, romantic, and platonic relationships are gifts from God, placed in our hands for a reason. This week I will talk about family. God is asking, “what are you doing with what’s in your hand when it comes to your parents, children, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, and cousins?” Why should God bless us with more or take us to new levels when we haven’t mastered nurturing our own flesh and blood?
To whom much is given, much is required. Human beings can be impatient, ready for the next thing, when God is asking, “what are you doing with what’s in your hand now- with what I have given you?” Why should God bless us with more or take us to new levels when we haven’t mastered nurturing what we have now?
Relationship
When we’re nit-picking, living in dissension with others, always finding fault with others, or trying to tell others about themselves in an unconstructive way it’s a clear mirror of what’s going on in our hearts.
A boundary-less life is a life out of control. You’re bad with boundaries when you feel resentful, because you have allowed someone to take too much from you without your having drawn a line somewhere.
Reaction To Action
It can be hard to sit under someone’s authority, especially when we don’t agree with them, but Scripture is clear that authority must be honored and that we must submit it.
Believe it or not, we have as much access to God as we have the faith receive Him. It can be the most challenging thing in life to make time for God. What is your reaction when the Holy Spirit is prompting you to connect with God? Do you seek God or put Him on the lower end of the list of “things to get to later?”
When it’s time to move on from a thing God will let you know and confirm it. And sure, God understands your attachment to the old thing. And sure, there might need to be a period of mourning and sulking. But after time has passed, you’ll sense God saying “You have mourned long enough for this thing, and it's time to let it go.”
We can’t always control what actions we are faced with and that includes success, but we can control our reaction to actions. God is far more interested in our reaction to a situation than we think. Tony Alany, the Pastor of Worship at McLean Bible Church in the U.S., unpacks that in life's successes we Christ is all we need, and how humility should be our response to success.
Personal Mission Statement
We’ve all been called to serve. Jesus came for people, to save us and to heal us. That’s what His ministry was about: people.
A personal mission statement that does not include a mission and aim to uplift others, and to put them before ourselves is a personal mission statement that is weak and lagging character.
If people realize with their hearts and minds that they are (or can be) powerful people of God, then they walk forward with their dreams and desires with more boldness. But we often need a refiners fire (challenges that try us) to light us up so that we can come out as pure gold.
It’s important in life that we be mentally fit for all sorts of situations- to be fit to take on sin and fight the flesh, and to be mentally fit to fight life’s giants. When we’re mentally prepared it shows that we also have great faith in God. And it’s also a big part of knowing who we are so that we can have a stellar personal mission statement.
Who we are a spitting image of shows what’s really going on inside our hearts [our root system]. By heart I mean our emotions, the thing(s) that drives us, the thing(s) that propels us to act or not act, our love for something, the good we do, the evil we do- if we forgive, if we hate, if we surrender our lives to God, if we’re jealous towards other, etc.
There comes a time in life where we have to draw a line in the sand between what has burdened us or once defined us in the past, from, where we’re trying to get to. We can’t move forward if we’re still trying to hold onto the past.
What people know of themselves comes from what they have been told of themselves, and sometimes what they have been told is worldly poor advice. Do you know who you are and what wonderful things you can do in the world- outside of what people are telling you about yourself?
It can be so easy to lose joy in the midst of challenging circumstances, but when we decide that nothing can steal our joy, and when we fight for it, God will supply us so that we don’t lose our joy.