8 SIGNS OF A SPIRITUAL ATTACK...

A spiritual attack is a series of events coordinated by the demonic realm in order to abort promises, shipwreck faith, oppress a believer and stall out destiny.

1. Lack of spiritual passion
2. Extreme frustration
3. Confusion about purpose
4. Lack of peace
5. Unusually sluggish & tired
6. Strong urge to quit assignment
7. Drawn back towards old bondage
8. Questioning direction & call that was one so clear

Keys to overcome:
Recognize attack
Get out of sense realm- sight, touch, feel-
Tap into divine revelation
Prophetic Ministry often exposes attacks

Break the attack-

*With Authority - Luke 9:1- "And He called the twelve together, and gave them power and authority over all the demons and to heal diseases."

*With Faith - Heb. 11:6 - "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

*With Prayer - Eph. 6:18-19 - "With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints, and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel."

*With Resistance - James 4:7 - "Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you."

*Stand FIRM* - "None of these things move me!" - Acts 20:24

‪#‎Freedom‬ ‪#‎Faith‬ ‪#‎Authority‬

Do What's Right...

First, I don’t take relationships lightly. Everything about entering one is intentional both because I value relationships as sacred; and having marriage as an eventual goal, I tend not to get caught up in relationships where our journeys do not align, our faiths do not sync, and our core values repel. Why do it? The absence of these chases away peace, stunts growth and thwarts longevity.

Should I choose to step into a relationship, I will have gotten to know the man well enough to know that we are compatible. There will have been discussion to that end. No assumptions or up-in-the-air notions. A relationship, to me, is a commitment after true friendship that extends beyond whims. It is the searching of two souls and the discovery of unconditional love. With that as my baseline, I find it difficult to see the need to live with my significant other before marriage. I won’t need to ‘test him out.’ If we are both committed to God, have open and honest communication, and we love, respect and honor one another – what domestic issues can we not work through? Living together before marriage isn’t a crystal ball foreseeing the success of the future together. The work done together ensures that.

My generation jumps into ‘situationships’ before we ever really get to know a person’s character and heart. Based off of first emotions, sexual attraction and the high of infatuation, we determine that we ‘love’ an individual who often, we’ve only ever shown our façade. We are jaded and afraid of long-term commitment. We need instant and round-the-clock gratification in order to love. Should we lose that, we leave convinced that it just was not meant to be. We rarely allow room for flaws in others for fear of being hurt. We’re the popcorn generation – unwilling to put in the work of real face-to-face communication and effort. We lack an appreciation for the ability to work through issues in relationships. No, we test each other out and at the first sign of behavior that displeases us, we jet.

The second reason that I personally do not want to cohabitate before marriage is the story of my relationship with Christ – which is the ultimate model for any relationship. He didn’t have to ‘test’ me out to see if I was worth loving for the long haul. He didn’t monitor my domestic habits and walk away because I snore or talk too much or don’t always do the dishes. He saw me at my worst and decided I was worth it anyway. He familiarized Himself with my heart and decided to work with me to cultivate the good in it. This is the ultimate example of love… And I can’t value the man I want to marry that much?
My understanding of the trajectory of love, as it relates to meeting a significant other, marrying them and everything in between is directly and gratefully related to my relationship with Christ.

So, to the man I’ll one day marry, whoever he is, wherever he may be – I won’t need to test you out. It has little to do with giving away “free milk” or fearing repercussions of “sin” but because I see the value and honor in emulating the greatest and most long-lasting love story ever told.

*Ashley is a writer, professor of English and an advocate of young women’s empowerment, leadership and service. She mixes her interest in social and cultural issues with her faith and life experiences to encourage thought, discussion and positive change in her writing. Follow her on Twitter: @ashleylatruly and check out her site: www.hersoulinc.com. - See more at: http://www.urbancusp.com/…/wont-shack-thoughts-love-gener…/…


Urban Cusp News

Co-Dependency: From Qualities of A Good Man

Codependency is unhealthy love and a tendency to behave in overly passive or excessively caretaking ways that harm one’s relationships and quality of life. It also often involves placing a lower priority on one’s own needs, while being excessively preoccupied with the needs of others. Codependency can occur in any type of relationship, including family, work, friendship, and also romantic, peer or community relationships. Codependency may also be characterized by denial, low self-esteem, excessive compliance, or control patterns. Narcissists are considered to be natural magnets for the codependent.

Codependency describes behaviors, thoughts and feelings that go beyond normal kinds of self-sacrifice or care-taking. People who are codependent often take on the role as a martyr; they constantly put others’ needs before their own and in doing so forget to take care of themselves. Codependent people are constantly in search of acceptance. When it comes to arguments, codependent people also tend to set themselves up as the “victim”. When they do stand up for themselves, they feel guilty. Codependency does not refer to all caring behavior or feelings, but only those that are excessive to an unhealthy degree.


Denial patterns:

I have difficulty identifying what I am feeling.I minimize, alter or deny how I truly feel.I perceive myself as completely unselfish and dedicated to the well-being of others.I lack empathy for the feelings and needs of others.I label others with my negative traits.I can take care of myself without any help from others.I mask my pain in various ways such as anger, humor, or isolation.I express negativity or aggression in indirect and passive ways.I do not recognize the unavailability of those people to whom I am attracted.Low self-esteem patterns:

I have difficulty making decisions.I judge everything I think, say or do harshly, as never “good enough.”I am embarrassed to receive recognition and praise or gifts.I do not ask others to meet my needs or desires.I value others’ approval of my thinking, feelings and behavior over my own.I do not perceive myself as a lovable or worthwhile person.I constantly seek recognition that I think I deserve.I am jealous of the relationships between others I would like to have as my own.I have difficulty admitting that I made a mistake.I need to appear to be right in the eyes of others and will even lie to look good.I perceive myself as superior to others.I look to others to provide my sense of safety.I have difficulty getting started, meeting deadlines, and completing projects.I have trouble setting healthy priorities.Avoidance patterns:

I act in ways that invite others to reject, shame, or express anger toward me.I judge harshly what others think, say, or do.I avoid emotional, physical, or sexual intimacy as a means of maintaining distance.I allow my addictions to people, places, and things to distract me from achieving intimacy in relationships.I use indirect and evasive communication to avoid conflict or confrontation.I diminish my capacity to have healthy relationships by declining to use all the tools of recovery.I suppress my feelings or needs to avoid feeling vulnerable.I pull people toward me, but when they get close, I push them away.I refuse to give up my self-will to avoid surrendering to a power that is greater than myself.I believe displays of emotion are a sign of weakness.I withhold expressions of appreciation.Compliance patterns:

I compromise my own values and integrity to avoid rejection or others’ anger.I am very sensitive to how others are feeling and feel the same.I am extremely loyal, remaining in harmful situations too long.I value others’ opinions and feelings more than my own and am afraid to express differing opinions and feelings of my own.I put aside my own interests and hobbies in order to do what others want.I accept sex and/or sexual attention when I want love.I am afraid to express my beliefs, opinions, and feelings when they differ from those of others.I make decisions without regard to the consequences.I give up my truth to gain the approval of others or to avoid change.Control patterns:

I believe most other people are incapable of taking care of themselves.I attempt to convince others of what they “should” think and how they “truly” feel.I become resentful when others will not let me help them.I freely offer others advice and directions without being asked.I lavish gifts and favors on those I care about.I use sex to gain approval and acceptance.I have to be “needed” in order to have a relationship with others.I demand that my needs be met by others.I use charm and charisma to convince others of my capacity to be caring and compassionate.I use blame and shame to emotionally exploit others.I refuse to cooperate, compromise, or negotiate.I adopt an attitude of indifference, helplessness, authority, or rage to manipulate outcomes.I have obsessive, compulsive thinking patterns and cannot focus on daily activities.I use terms of recovery in an attempt to control the behavior of others.I pretend to agree with others to get what I want.

Sunlight...

Beautiful... Yet as the bright and shining sun, I'm unable to gaze upon her.

Indirectly, yet directly into her eyes are mine intertwined

Not looking within from without, yet intrigued by her mind.

What lies beneath the lengthy locks and curls stemming from her roots?

May my fingertips massage her scalp, and stimulate her mood...

It's best I spend the night in her mind, and not inside her womb.... for now.

I'm lost in the softness of her skin, still smooth in it's imperfectness,

The structure of her nose, her cheeks, her lips I'm apt to kiss,

Leading down to her neck... What lies beyond, is among the stars,

That which I'd dare not disrespect, for she was formed by God.

Sunlight...

"I made a covenant with my eyes not to look with lust at a young woman. For what has God above chosen for us? What is our inheritance from the Almighty on high? Isn't it calamity for the wicked and misfortune for those who do evil? Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take? “Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone? Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted. “If my heart has been seduced by a woman, or if I have lusted for my neighbor’s wife, then let my wife serve another man; let other men sleep with her. For lust is a shameful sin, a crime that should be punished. It is a fire that burns all the way to hell. It would wipe out everything I own. “If I have been unfair to my male or female servants when they brought their complaints to me, how could I face God? What could I say when he questioned me? For God created both me and my servants. He created us both in the womb. “Have I refused to help the poor, or crushed the hopes of widows? Have I been stingy with my food and refused to share it with orphans? No, from childhood I have cared for orphans like a father, and all my life I have cared for widows....... “Have I looked at the sun shining in the skies, or the moon walking down its silver pathway, and been secretly enticed in my heart to throw kisses at them in worship? If so, I should be punished by the judges, for it would mean I had denied the God of heaven. “Have I ever rejoiced when disaster struck my enemies, or become excited when harm came their way? No, I have never sinned by cursing anyone or by asking for revenge." - Job 31:1-18, 26-30 (NLT)

Your Worth...

A vessel... She conceptually conceives, carries, nurtures and brings life into this world.

A woman... She's developed, learned, grown, matured, and left behind being a girl.

A daughter... She abides and delights in her Father's instruction, precious in His eyes.

As a mother... She guides with the wisdom of the most High God, casting all other things aside.

Her strength... Frame becoming a carriage, hips a cradle, her abdomen expanding into an incubator.

Her resilience... Repetitious heartache, misuse, abuse and abandonment, yet they still underestimate her.

Her support role... It's amazing that God commands we men to lead, yet deems we not be alone.

Her design... He took from us what strengthened us, beautifully crafting flesh from just a bone.

She's a gift... Taken from man, and given back to him, to help him fulfill his assignment.

Her freedom... She's to cared for, appreciated, protected, provided for, not controlled or jealously kept in confinement.

She demands respect, for she respects herself... She's worth waiting, working and even suffering for.

She's to be covered in prayer and loved, as God heals and delivers her from the yokes and bondage she's been under... Precious Ribs.

The attributes of a rib : SURROUND the chest, ENABLING the lungs to expand and thus FACILITATE breathing by EXPANDING the chest cavity. They PROVIDE SUPPORT, and serve to PROTECT the LUNGS, HEART, and other internal organs.

The Help Meet... She SURROUNDS her husband, encompassing him with love. She ENABLES him, FACILITATING his EXPANSION, SUPPORTING him as God enlarges their territory. She PROTECTS the LUNGS which God has allowed the precious breath of life to flow through, and the HEART, which is filled with His love.

- Erron R. Johnson

Don't Just Talk It... Walk It. Live It.

"Behold, I give unto you POWER to tread on serpents and scorpions, and OVER ALL THE POWER OF THE ENEMY: and NOTHING shall by any means hurt you. Notwithstanding IN THIS REJOICE NOT, that the spirits ARE subject UNTO YOU; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven." - Luke 10:19-20 (KJV)

I don't think a translation's necessary. Seems pretty clear to me, we must live & walk in it, remind the enemy of it, yet not boast, remaining humble, yet full of power, through Him. Should we talk about sex, or making love (there IS a difference), people get excited. We talk about the power God gave us, through Christ, they feel offended at the scripture, cuz they don't see or understand it the way you do. We attempt to encourage & empower them, just as everyone else, for it's not about us, it's ALL about Him. We can fast, pray, plead & cry all we want, yet without claiming the authority & power, without speaking it into & over our lives, & exercising the faith to walk in, & live it, we CANNOT please Him. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." - Hebrews 11:6 (KJV) But we must also extend ourselves doing ALL that we can do...

"Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works." - James 2:18 (KJV)

"But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?" - James 2:20 (KJV)

"For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also." - James 2:26 (KJV)

1 Cor. 9:14-19 (KJV) - "Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void. For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto men. What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more."

2 Timothy 3:1-7 (KJV) - "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

Our troubles have been over. Should we choose to revel in them, wallow in self-induced weakness, refusing & denying the power God's given us through Christ... It's our choice. Just know that we aren't pleasing Him, and that's the Word of God, not of man.

Make It Plain...

To ALL Pastors, Ministers, Leaders and Believers... When we present, or even preach the gospel, it's VITAL that we make the message understandable, and relative to those that hear it. We may study, and become quite fluent in Hebrew, Greek or even Latin, but when relaying the gospel to those who aren't learned, or well-versed in those languages, we lose their attentiveness for their trying to figure out the meaning of what we're saying. I tend to see & hear much Hebrew posted and preached, yet it's not that effective in relaying message of the Good News of the gospel to the readers & hearers. For the mature believer, this is acceptable in "some" cases, namely among teachers, but the gospel, or even the sharing of our visions/messages from God, with others, MUST be simple enough for a child to understand and receive. Take heed... God spake to Habakkuk, “Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others." - (Hab. 2:2 NLT)... Write it plain; speak it plain; people's souls are at stake, and many are being left confused. So keep it simple; preach it simple... Preach the gospel, the UNCOMPROMISED Word of God.

Paul's Message of Wisdom... "When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan. For I decided that while I was with you I would forget everything except Jesus Christ, the one who was crucified. I came to you in weakness - timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. Rather than using clever and persuasive speeches, I relied only on the power of the Holy Spirit. I did this so you would trust not in human wisdom but in the power of God. Yet when I am among mature believers, I do speak with words of wisdom, but not the kind of wisdom that belongs to this world or to the rulers of this world, who are soon forgotten. No, the wisdom we speak of is the mystery of God - his plan that was previously hidden, even though he made it for our ultimate glory before the world began. But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord. That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.” But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God’s deep secrets." - 1 Corinthians 1:1-10 (NLT)

A Little Background On Women...

The year is two-thousand fifteen... We often hear of women who've accomplished much and/or have made remarkable contributions to this world and to modern society. We're told of women who've made history, who've "paved the way," or "broke the mold" in various occupations or even genres of entertainment. We've heard of Marilyn Monroe, Dorothy Dandridge, Madame C.J. Walker, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple, women who've risen to the pinnacle in business and authority from Alice Walton to Queen Elizabeth, but are we truly aware of the lineage from whence not only these, but all women stem?

Ladies... You possess the beauty of Bathsheba, causing men to delight in the distraction of your design, such as Samson was with Delilah, yet you take your position as Queen Esther, reigning in authority and dominion as Adam & Eve were instructed to do from the beginning.

I urge you to do as Hannah and make your vows to the Lord to claim your rightful places, unlike the ruthless wife of Ahab, Queen Jezebel, be more of a loving mother of sons like Leah, or even Miriam, a leader of women.

Share your love story like Rachel, but not your stories of love with men, for some of you have been in the shoes of Maacah II and have unfortunately been married to fools... Such as those men that treat their women as though they were Rahab, pimping them into the promiscuity of prostitution, not realizing their worth.

But like Ruth, remain obedient to God's guidance, diligently working, minding your own business and let your Boaz find, comfort, care for & lead you as the men God created us to be.

As Mary, the mother of Jesus, give yourselves fully unto God, presenting your bodies as a living sacrifice to be used by Him; serving like Mary Magdalene, loyal to the end. Take hold of the boldness of the Woman With the Issue of Blood, who pressed her way through the crowd, just to touch the hem of His garment that she may be made whole.

These were fifteen women who's contributions to the Lord formed everything that you have within you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made, "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue that rises against you in judgment shall be condemned. This is the heritage of the saints, and their righteousness is of me," Thus said the Lord." (Isaiah 54:17) You are more than a conqueror. You are Highly favored, and blessed among women...

You're strong. You're beautiful. You're unique. And without you, there'd have to be another vessel to usher life into this world... God Bless You All... YOU ARE LOVED

"Now the Lord God said, It is not good (sufficient, satisfactory) that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper meet (suitable, adapted, complementary) for him." - Genesis 2:18 (AMP)

Calling...

Last month, I was asked a question that I hadn't been asked since I was a child... "If you could have any job in the world that you wanted, what would it be, what would bring you the most satisfaction?" (I paused; I sighed...) I immediately thought of things I'd previously said, even from when I was a child; a clown, a garbage man, a teacher, a neurosurgeon, a psychologist, an actor, then it hit me... I retained the tears that began to well up in my eyes, just as they are while I'm typing this, and I replied, "I'd preach the gospel."

That would bring me joy. That would bring me satisfaction and fulfillment. I may not be all the way "right," but I delight in serving the Lord. I consider it an honor and a pleasure to share the good news of the gospel of Christ, to preach the message of the cross, for it has the power to save souls; to win souls for the Kingdom. To introduce a deliverer to those headed for destruction, a comforter to those in the midst of chaos, a healer to the heavy hearted and a savior to the sinner. I've been in school, I've been called, anointed, getting ready, equipped. Yet within these past trials, something changed me, and I've never been more sure of anything in my entire life, than this yearning to lay down ALL of my former life for the Lord, and tell the world how His love lifted me; to take up my cross, and follow Him... I'm Yours Lord; let Your will be done. #Pruning #Preparation #Power #Purpose