Author Archives: expressyourself4him

As a former teacher, I recognize class management is essential to developing an environment for learning.  Starting off strong, on the right foot and sending a message to students that you won’t tolerate attitude is crucial to maximizing the beginning of a new school year.  However, like a curious child exploring boundaries, if you display weak classroom management skills, students will wear you down until you break, change or fold like a deck of cards.

In Revelation 2:20, it appears that the church of Thyatira began to tolerate the spirit of Jezebel.  When a church allows false teaching to go unnoticed, it becomes like a bacteria, slowly eating away the truth of God’s Word.  By overlooking this distraction, this one woman became a cancer in the church, deceiving many by her ungodly practices.  Therefore, if you tolerate one unwholesome thing in your life, a trail of deception can lead you down the wrong path, Matthew 7:13.

While trying to place my finger on what I am doing wrong to not locate a find time position, I discovered I have been tolerating mediocrity in my family, prayer life and study of God’s Word.  According to Psalm 24:4-5, until I rid my life of mediocrity, I will continue to miss out on God’s blessings.  Follow in the ways of Deuteronomy 30:16 and refuse to tolerate unwholesome things so that you will begin to see the fruits of your daily labor.

by Jay Mankus

Once upon a time in America, people worked 6 days a week, 7 if you worked on a farm.  Cities, buildings and canals were built faster, better and with a sense of pride, made in America.  Unfortunately, today political correctness, labor unions and pensions companies can no longer afford have added to the down turn in our economy.

As people who work on salary enjoy a 3 day weekend, those who are work hourly have to wait until Tuesday to earn bread for their family if their business if closed today.  After creating the heavens and earth, God called mankind to rest on Sundays, Genesis 2:2-3.  If we are suppose to rest on Sunday, how can we celebrate labor by resting 2 days in a row?

While rest is good, I thought vacations were man’s way of resting, relaxing and rejuvenating yourself to labor for the next month, season or year.  Like retirement, which is not mentioned in the Bible, God has prepared each day for us to do work, Ephesians 2:10.  Therefore, if you enjoy a day off, search for opportunities to do good works and be ready to finish the year strong!

by Jay Mankus

The Greek word for agreement is sumphonea.  This is where the English language gets the word symphony.  If musicians are not paying close attention to their conductor, they can quickly become out of sync with the rest of the orchestra.

Lately, I have been feeling out of sync with my conductor, the Lord Jesus Christ.  My excitement for life has dimmed, passion for worship faded and vision for the future blurred.  Like a cross country runner not ready for the beginning of the season, I am spiritually out of shape, gasping for air as I try to get back into the swing of things.

The Hebrew word for intercession is paga.  When translated directly into English, paga means to strike the mark.  As I turn the page on August to a new month, I need to keep my eyes fixed on my conductor’s wand, Hebrews 12:2.  My prayer is that I can let go of my disappointments so that I can become in sync again with the Holy Spirit in September.

by Jay Mankus

This is my 200 post since starting my blog in early February.  Out of nostalgia, I began to ponder, “where are these topics coming from?”  Are these words simply coming from deep inside of me?  Is my mind reacting to God’s still small voice, whispering thoughts which eventually take the shape of 3 paragraphs?  Or have the last 7 months been a waste of time, allowing Satan to distract me from securing a full time position?

Skeptics claim that God no longer talks directly to people anymore, gone with the days of the Old Testament.  Reformed theologians believe the supernatural period ended after the apostle Paul’s life.  Thereby, limiting the spiritual gifts mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 today as well as preventing Christians from experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit displayed in Acts.  Meanwhile, atheists and agnostics proclaim that God is dead which explains the decay of the public education system since God, the Bible and prayer were removed, kicked to the curb in the 1960’s.

I will never know for sure until heaven exactly where my topics come from, but I am certain of one thing.  Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever, Hebrews 13:8.  People change, theology which means the science of God fluctuates , yet God remains the same.  Therefore, as I attempt to keep in step with the Holy Spirit daily, I believe it is possible to hear God’s still small voice, 1 Kings 19:12-13.  Other ideas ooze from within my soul and several other topics I have neglected because I don’t think my audience is quite ready for now.

Anyway, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to read my blog!  I will press on to reach 365 posts and onward if the Lord continues to put topics on my heart, Philippians 3:12-14.  Have a blessed day in the Lord, Psalm 118:24.

by Jay Mankus

Maybe it was the police chasing a white Ford Bronco on national television back in the 1990’s?  Or was it the endless hours of cable news coverage of school shootings like Columbine?  Regardless of when or where this started, it appears that our culture has become co-dependent on drama.

According to 2 Timothy 2:4, people will lack self-control in the last days.  Once the television is on, people are unable to turn it off or turn away from content that is inappropriate.  Like a drug, people are powerless, comfortably numb, glued to the drama playing on the boob tube.

Philippians 4:6-7 unveils a peace that surpasses all understanding.  According to verse 7,  this peace guards your hearts and minds.  The only way to snap people out of this co-dependency on drama is with a spiritual infusion.  This transformation involves living water, John 4:13-15, a rebirth, John 3:3, washing away the old co-dependency into a new creation, Galatians 2:20.  According to Hebrews 10:26-27, its never too late to change!

by Jay Mankus

Some people have vivid dreams, others only remember details after something triggers their memory and a few claim they don’t dream at all.  As I was sleeping last night, all I remember were 3 words, ministry and maintenance.   Like a tape recorder repeating itself, over and over again, ministry and maintenance kept racing through my mind causing me to wake up at 2:46 am.

While some people rarely take time out of their busy schedules to contemplate their dreams, I tend to become analytical.  I believe everything happens for a reason so I begin to meditate, ponder and try to forgive out my dreams.  I am not 100% certain, but I think I know why I heard the words ministry and maintenance last night.

As the U.S. economy continues to sputter, it requires a tentmaker, like the apostle Paul, working to provide for the expenses of their ministry.  Paul didn’t believe the church should pay for his mission trips so he used his skill in making tents to cover his food and transportation costs.  Paul wasn’t co-dependent on the church to come and go on mission trips and wasn’t obligated to be politically correct when he spoke, speaking the truth in love.

Although most people are able to maintain their physical appearance, many neglect the spiritual side of life.  Thus, individuals are vulnerable to 3 invisible forces: ungodly beliefs, soul-spirit hurts and demonic influences.  False beliefs limits your access to God, soul-spirit hurts hinder the ability to love and demonic influences distract you from maintaining your relationship with Jesus.  I believe God is calling me to expose these hidden elements so that Christians can learn to maintain their own lives, Matthew 9:12.  A ministry about maintenance, teaching the healthy to take care of their own spiritual needs.

by Jay Mankus

Today was like any other day.  I got up to go to work, arrived a few minutes ahead of schedule and began a grueling day in the heat and humidity.  Yet, one compliment mid way through the day lifted my spirits, motivating me to finish the day strong.

My mood was completely transformed just because of a few kind words.  Galatians 6:9 reminds people not to become weary in doing good.  Sometimes I even catch myself with a thought, “what’s the use if I do this or that?”  Although, the second part of Galatians 6:9 includes a promise, “you will reap a harvest if you don’t give up!”  Therefore, the next time you think twice about complimenting someone, say an affirming word.

One of the greatest Christmas present I ever received was a letter.  A letter from a friend I met on a missionary trip in college.  Before email, we wrote each other each summer and occasionally during the school year.  Not hearing from her in months, I almost gave up hope I would ever hear from her, thinking twice about writing one more time.  Begrudgingly, I wrote a letter to her at the beginning of December before finals began.  One week later, I received the promise of Galatians 6:9.

According to her, my letter was like a sign from God, sending light into her dark world.  Her boyfriend and best friend had just died in a car accident, causing her to consider dropping out of college.  I was thinking about myself, but God knew a compliment goes a long way.  You never know how your words will impact another life.  Therefore, don’t forget waste the opportunity to bless someone today, James 3:9.

by Jay Mankus

The Bible is filled with amazing facts and lessons from history.  Few passages tell more about a person than Deuteronomy 34:10.  “Since then, no prophet has risen in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face.”

Unfortunately, our culture today has become infatuated with entertainment, causing people to lose their ability to concentrate, including looking someone in the eyes, face to face.  Instead, people are distracted by texting, talking on their cell phone cell or listening to their I-pods.  The consequence of these distractions have resulted in a lack intimacy, with eyes turned down toward the pavement, not face to face.

One thing I have learned in my 28 years as a Christian, there isn’t a substitute for God.  If you stop spending time reading, studying and meditating upon God’s word, it won’t be long until your mind turns from God to yourself.  The same can be said about prayer and worship, as you enter into God’s presence, a close bond, a special connection draws you toward the Lord.  When you experience an Acts 13:2-3 moment, you will begin to know what it feels like to be face to face with God.

by Jay Mankus