Category Archives: Book

Quick Quip- Freedom from Love 7/11/21

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Have to do a quick one. Think of this as a part devotion, part something I wnat to explore more in the future…!

If we are free from the punishment of sin we are free to do His will and live for Him. We are also free to love each other in Christ’s love. As a church body works, we have much to do on our own but we must also love each other:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.

In my version of 1 Corinthians 13:4-5 it says in the last part love “thinks no evil.”

God loves us so much we are no longer accountable to our sin, which means we won’t get what we once deserved for it (hell). But that does not mean we are free to dabble in what we once were saved from. That is a dangerous thought!

It’s treachery to the Holy Spirit and there are always consequences to sin, especially if we are doing it recklessly or without thinking it as a big deal.

That is why we must stay focused on what Jesus wants in our lives. Here’s a final verse:

“For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.” Galatians 5:13

We must serve one another not get stuck in reckless sin. We must love and not guide each other towards evil and make each other fall.

We must keep our eyes on the One to guide us. The Holy Spirit and His word will let us know what we should do! This is freedom directly from the love of Jesus. By His death we live so let’s spend time helping and showing kindness towards one another as a group of believers.

We should do what we’re made to do (or do what we should be called to do if we have become a new creation!).

Devotions Life like Light 7/9/21

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Had a nice dream last night. At least that was good, haha. Seemed to do something to do with me being a servant of God.

Sometimes the hardest things to do are the very things that go against our nature, the things we are used to doing!

To live for goodness that is in God through His Son Jesus is like a struggle with our sin. At least I have many times felt this way, where we know now what we had done before was wrong but it just seems too tempting to not give in to it again.

Even if we avoid what we were once used to doing though we still sin! There is something about our nature since the fall of Adam that which we still have the sinner’s life but in the case of following Jesus we just won’t do the old stuff it seems anymore.

And that is a blessing to live in the holy Spirit of the Father. But life in Christ will also involve leading others towards the life of Christ.

And some of those things involve forgiving people who have done wrong to you.

Yes it is tough but it seems that though it is something we won’t want to do in our stubbornness while happening to be in the walk in Christ, it is an action we must do!

In the last part of Luke 6:37 it says “Forgive and you will be forgiven.”

While that verse mentions many things involved in the ones who want to follow God (I hope to reference this in more depth some other time hopefully!) I want to focus on this part.

It seems with people I know it is a huge carnal idea to not forgive.

People don’t like it. I used to struggle with it, especially with people I apparently thought were not as good as myself, which was wrong. “But they did that to me, why should I forgive them..?!”

But forgiveness is something God wants us to do. Maybe one day those people will see the change in us and want to follow Christ. Would you want to see people you think might never know the Lord to one day do that? That is my hope too!

Proverbs 3 also describes something that reflects something we must not do though we could be used to the latter: To trust in what we may not “see.”

Proverbs 3:5 states: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding”

That means putting complete and total trust in what we might not notice or see. We must trust and depend on what He wants us to do. Not only that, we must be sensitive to the holy spirit.

We must as we live and have fun in life think of what in our hearts is what we should do for Him. We must be “in tune” to God’s will and seek what He would want over what we might expect in life, say working endlessly to one day get a huge house and be extremely rich.

Do you follow God? I hope to live well but I don’t know or want to imagine having a ton of money like upper-class rich people. I bet I would do nothing but worry about how much I have every week for the rest of my life, haha!

Nope, I don’t think I’d want that. My opinion though.

It’s okay if you one day live well. But if you want to follow the Lord are you giving things and taking time for others to be a servant for Christ? Do you care about who you know over how much is left in your accounts at the bank?

Live for His goodness.

We must also tell of Christ and His impact in our lives. Proverbs continues on with a second sentence closely linked to the first by a semicolon. Proverbs 3:6:

In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.

So should we credit Him for the amazing things that have happened in our lives? Do you have an amazing story that only Jesus could have done within it all in your life?

We should acknowledge Him as He will be known and glorified and we will continue to seek out His will as others want to find out what this life is all about.

We need Christ to direct our way through life, otherwise there are some very bad ways, directions to go.

Jesus also told His first followers about the important aspects of life for God, His Father.

Jesus (told) his followers that they will be the ones to carry his light forth into the dark places of the world and the human heart. Source: connectusfund.org

(Sorry, I do a lot of internet searching. Usually though it’s not a full piece of the source, hope this one is part of something good!)

This is describing context to what Jesus was doing when He shared this which was told in the book of Matthew:

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Matthew 5:14

Do you see your life in all of these aspects of following Christ? You might not want to do all of this stuff right away but know that God does life-changing things in people who simply follow His commands.

And He will bless our lives in ways we might never see coming! All because of grace and living in tune to God’s will through His Son. Amen.

Devotion Matthew 7/8/21

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I can’t go to bed in a decent time. The hot weather doesn’t help either.

Could I accomplish things that seem impossible and make them possible?

I would imagine people like athletes would. They can make records that are surprising, pushing the limits that people assume the human body can only do but pass those expectations.

At the Olympics, they are impressive!

But what about doing things in God’s name? Are accomplishments in a career for an athlete like the impossible things that He can do?

It is good to have trophies and things to show off to other people. Many who get praised will sometimes even show a seeming Godly humility about it. “Oh it’s no big deal.”

But humility does not work for people in the world. One must humble themselves to make the One be glorified. People who humble themselves have no one to do so with. It’s kind of pointless for them to do so!

Wow I just looked at bible verses preceding this one. I must digress about it! Check this bible verse out:

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, “With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26

Out of context this is a verse about how God can do amazing things.

Within context it’s about salvation.

But anyway, to go on about the subject at hand, we must have drams and goals for Jesus. Other wise if we’re just looking for being famous and making money are we really living for God?

It’s okay to become rich when following the Lord (I don’t want to get that rich, in my opinion) but the heart can really change things especially if one’s goals get shifted or one thinks of what they can do with their riches if there are no more easier opportunities (that might be bad choices!).

I think one has to look to the Lord for all things and to do any and all they can for Him to be a real servant to God.

It’s okay to do things like have hobbies of listening to music that isn’t Christian music and stuff but it is good to at least have goals to press forward keeping focused.

“Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

That is in Philippians 3:13-14.

We must stay focused while we do our work here on earth. Look to the hills because that is where our help comes from. We must think of His goodness and His kingdom before Jesus builds it here.

Devotion Numbers 7/7/21

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I got a big dose of encouragement at work today! A song came on by NeedtoBreathe that they never played before. One I’ve been listening to almost constantly about being humbled about God’s love. Thank You, Lord…

Are we really the reflection of Jesus? Can we live for God even though we might stumble?

I sometimes will struggle constantly against my sin! In the worst of these “storms,” I get upset and wonder if I was ever a true believer.

But God sees us in ways we may not or will never understand.

To reflect godliness first takes the acceptance of the gift through Jesus Christ. If one doesn’t do that as an initial decision where they have come to the full realization to want to know the glory of God, nothing can happen.

The holy spirit needs to have the pull on a person’s heart before they can become a true believer.

Then the person goes through life. There will be struggles, there will be hardships, but all adds up to something that is worth living for, which is so tough but yet a possibly necessary life lesson!

We may have goals in life or things that we want to do in said lives but if you live for God, are those goals a reflection of the One who first loved you?

To have any job is okay. Living flipping burgers, having an office to work in, serving the public in some capacity is great. Other jobs are great. But if you are living in Christ and may have side hobbies or things you want to do, are your goals set along the lines of the straight and narrow?

To be in the truth means you must reflect the true heart of love for Him to be in your life. I pray that You find out the love in Christ may not be everything you might currently ask for.

Here’s a scripture from the Bible NKJV:

The LORD bless you and keep you; The LORD make His face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The LORD lift up His countenance upon you, And give you peace. Numbers 6:24-26

I am looking into what the book of Numbers is about (I’m new in examining the bible like this, bear with me, haha!) and a source says this:

“The book of Numbers was written to demonstrate that God’s covenant plan stays on track even when His people don’t. The instances of sinful complaining and rebellion and the resulting judgment are so pronounced and widespread that it seems like they will never make it (Num. 14:2-4, 26).” Source patsieler.com

People during that time had to follow rules only because as a result God would be reflected on and glorified.

People knew about God and yet sin was still rampant. To really show the heart and love of Jesus, we must not be like this “rampant” sin. We must also if we do or have given in know to ask for forgiveness and be genuine in that to continue on in the life of Jesus.

It is okay to “struggle against” your old sin, just don’t make it a habit where you end up no longer reflecting a true believer in Christ. Be strong but only in Whom you know is strong. You are weak but you need Him more and more so that you can reflect HIS goodness.

May the Lord bless you and keep you! And may He make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you.

Devotion- 7/3/21

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Doing well. Physically I still need to get stuff worked out but…

To believe in the One who has changed you brings amazing changes. Just like to know a friend and you might have certain qualities. Over time, those qualities are like mutual changes: you become like them, they become like you.

But this is a completely different kind of relationship: You change for the better and God stays the same. But you have every moment to be newer to be “better” than you were before.

And this “Friend” just wants the best for you.

The opening verse is from Romans, possibly my favorite writer in the bible:

Do not be conformed to this world… but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2

From ‘whichever version I use.’ No one could guess it, haha. Just kidding it’s from the NKJV, the New King James Version.

Note that I separated it a little. That was not a separation in the text but it is important.

We must not be like the people in this world. There are people so stuck in sin they might need someone to talk to at the very least, while this world it is hard sometimes to even fake interest!

There are many though in the opposite spectrum who do care, but is there anyone who can tell them just what changed their lives? More importantly is there a Godly Person who has completely turned them around, or might they equate their experience in life as “I just changed my attitude…” and that’s the end of their personal story?

I hate being stuck in my own sin. It’s no fun. I shared that before, how I was feeling like I was being dragged through my old life and it would not let me go..!

I don’t want anyone to not know there is a love in something that will be like the shackles of sin have been removed and a love moves the heart and will change their life in a way that they couldn’t have imagined!

Because by the grace of Jesus I was shown there was a life that was worth living for my own self.

We must also know that His yoke is easy His burden is light:

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. ‘For my yoke is easy and My burden is light.'” Matthew 11:28-30

Jesus had amazing words to share to the people He loved dearly who He wanted them just to have a close relationship with His Father.

He guided them and knew that what the Father wanted was what He grew up learning about and He knew they needed for their persnal lives too.

We need to remember that His way is perfect (Psalms 18:30). We must shine like stars in the sky (Philippians 2:15) if we want to really live for goodness. Sure if you “fall” there is mercy to speak to Christ and be picked back up, there is such wondrous grace in Jesus that it is worth telling in this awful disease-spotlighted world.

How worth it is to tell of this wonderful transforming grace? It’s worth everything!

Devotion 2 Corinthians and Faith 7/1/21

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This site has now reached 50 followers (or “follows”) now. Thank you so much everyone!

What does it mean to have faith? Is it okay to have a faith in some higher power or is it okay to have faith in yourself? Can a person who is a Christian who hopes to only live alone be in great faith in the Lord?

Can God make a way where a believer is a completely different person from what they were before, through Christ?

Hmm, I think most of these are great questions. One reflects more of the world in wondering but if you yourself are a believer you may know that there is a difference (hopefully).

Here is the key verse for today:

For we walk by faith not by sight.

II Corinthians 5:7 NKJV

What does this mean?

Is there an “I” in faith? Yes literally, haha, but in a rather expressive sense, the only thing a believer should do is depend on the Lord and not in self.

It might be hard but even those who claim to be strong (or who say they might be stronger than others) will have this “I” attitude. Even saying that only caring about what God wants and not giving a crap about being with other believers is like having an “I” attitude.

I myself used to think that the church wasn’t important to me. There was a time I thought a church was just a “place” to go to not a body of believers. But it is a time to fellowship to lean on each other and help each other be lifted up emotionally, depending on each other through the love of Jesus.

It’s sad many Christians today now see themselves important over people they should share the gospel to, a strange newer attitude like an “I” one where own goals own drawing from the word is the only thing they think that they themselves should focus on in life.

Though we have the tendency to focus on ourselves, one should not come into a church and think that way. People who do that will probably come in, not talk to people and leave as soon as the “credits” roll, err I mean, when the service has ended.

Are we to act like we are in a movie theater or a body of ones who have learned to be love to one another?

We must have genuine love and also through a unified faith in Christ, we can help guide each other in God-honoring love that is deeper than the world would ever understand.

Also we must know that if we want to live in and for Christ, God can do amazing things in our lives!

I can only boast of the power of and transforming grace of Jesus because He has done things in my life that were not my effort, these in my old life would be impossible.

To keep faith in Jesus and be close to His Word as one walks day to day they will experience change.

And that is because of something that is what Paul mentions later in Second Corinthians about being “new” because of Christ’s blood and revealed love, to be changed by His grace.

In verse 17 of chapter 5, the writer describes being a new creation. It says that if one is in Christ they are a “new creation” and the “old things” have gone as behold by the power of God all things have become new!

When Christ died on the cross the sin of the world was being paid for as He was the lamb of God the sacrifice for all sin.

When Jesus shed His blood it was for the alcoholics, ones with the heart of Saul, people recklessly and hopelessly stuck in sin, people who don’t know any better than what their family taught them, the thieves, the liars, the ones who struggle every day yet feel their sin is not “savable” or can be loved by God, all of the world’s so-called “life,” torn apart by the awful stink of sin.

So if you have wondered what the faith is all about, I hope you one day will know and experience this life yourself.

One can only tell you what the life in Christ is because you would one day have to believe to really understand. It will not be an easy journey but it will be worth it. I sincerely hope you do have it happen in your life, today or maybe soon but all I know is God knows the way your heart really is, believe in something! Maybe you’ll learn to believe in God sooner or later, just don’t let it be too late!

Devotions Light- 6/30/21

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I’m almost groaning as much as the other time. Rebelliousness is awful. God, may I remember what You’ve taught me because I cannot “live” in any other way…!

Do you prefer to live in seeming darkness? Have you ever been afraid of your deeds to be exposed by the “light?”

I know that no one likes their sin to be known to all, even if they might be proud of it. Or there at has been one time where they have this feeling of shame about it. At least one moment!

God does not like sin. He doesn’t even like anyone’s sin! He either will punish the ones who have not been redeemed or will give consequences to believers who continue to go in the way they act that they might claim they only know how.

But there is hope in the midst of people who feel they only know sin. We need a church to help guide us the right way. A real bible-believing church!

Whether we know that or not we need reassurance through fellowship and to seek His goodness.

We need to be inside of Christ’s words if we don’t read the bible. Also there is need to go out of our way to give time to Him to read His word also.

Speaking of His word:

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Psalm 27:1

Like a guiding light we should depend a little more every day on Him and also know and remember who saved us from that sin!

If we continue on in our old life, we might become seemingly hopeless. I have had such depth to my own sin I had terrible sad emotions after a while.

But if we know our strength is in the Lord then we can realize that we have hope. There is always a reason to move on and press on, even if a way through life even seems impossible!

Or maybe you haven’t learned about true life in Jesus.

From what I went through I experienced life from knowing Christ. He is real. I can only say that to you at the very least but I pray and hope that you get to experience Him too!

As we close out this time, this month that is well-known I want to share just how proud I am that Christ did so much to change me!

When I wasn’t listening to what He was telling me, I found a hope eventually that was a great comfort. And that was only by being as faithful as I could be.

In these trying times, I found a true path by looking for what else God had in store for me.

Thought the relationship didn’t work out at the time, I still prayed and tried to be faithful to Him in the midst of not knowing who God would send me.

I found that woman after waiting on the Lord. To see just how amazing living a life for Christ can be it is true we have to know that we have sin and cannot know God because of it.

We have sin. An example can be a man who has slept with alot of women. That is wrong, right?

If you think that is okay because he might be an adult it is bad because one day he will be accountable to God.

We all have sin. If we don’t know a good that can save us from it we could be lost and without Christ. And spend eternity in a place called hell.

If we have no hope from God’s Son we have no hope, no matter what the world may say!

It is a sad truth that this world has fallen to sin long ago. Adam choosing to sin was so great that the bible doesn’t even claim that Eve helped do it. It is said that Adam had a responsibility and because he instead of walking with and living for God in close intimacy he chose to eat that fruit in the garden of Eden the bible says, “sin entered the world through one man.” (part of Romans 5:12)

But surely if sin is so vast we can find a way to save ourselves right? Nope.

But God made a way because He sees something in you and wants you to know how much He loves you.

In the bible John 3:16 it says “For God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

You might not be going to heaven but God made a way so that would not be your destiny today.

God gave us Jesus not because He deserved to die but because He was perfect and without evil in his heart. He loved the Lord and we should at the very least want Him in our lives to be like Him.

He is described as the “Lamb of God” because He was without blemish (He was perfect!) and to stop sin from prevailing in the hearts of all people He had to die in their place.

Christ took the world’s sin. He perished for everyone’s sin. He also died for both your sin and mine!

He faced horrible punishment for your sin, was bled by whipping and was tortured on the cross because his blood needed to be spilled for man’s penalty.

The bible says, “without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22)

Then Christ passed away on the cross. His dead body was laid in a tomb. But then after three days, Jesus Christ rose again!

Like a light of the world He can live on in people’s hearts who want to live for Him but first they must want a relationship with the Lord of our lives.

We might want to live on in our sin but God made a way where no one would have to.

That is why to not be in “darkness” is an awful place to dwell in so it is better to see how God sees us and experience the truth of His great love.

We don’t deserve Jesus but yet here we are, finding out about Him!

If you feel led pray this prayer:

God I found out that I can have no hope without what I thought was you. I have sin and it is sin that is undoable by my own actions. I don’t want to end up in a bad place because I heard that you really did send Your Son Jesus Christ to die for my sin. I am grateful that He paid that penalty, I am also glad that He was able to show He had power over death. I want to live a life where I can live forever in Your Son Jesus. To live a relationship I want to start living for Him. Thank you for hearing me. You are my true love in this life. Change me as I follow Your ways.

Now one more verse:

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. Isaiah 60:1

May you live for a glory that will send you on a journey of life and through love that you are amazed by. Have a blessed day reader.

Devotions Joshua- 6/29/21

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Have you ever been afraid to say something even though you knew it would be right to say so? That had been most of my life!

I was a thinker but many times I thought my way out of witnessing too.

A person has many reasons to not witness I think that one of them is out of fear.

What will they think of me if I talk about Jesus?

What can we do but try to be a witness?

We should more than try. We need to remember the confidence we have had since our youth (Psalms 71:5).

Joshua had a lot on his plate it seemed in the book of Joshua Chapter 1.

Moses had a helper, a friend named Nun. When Moses passed away, the Lord spoke to Joshua- Nun’s child- to gather the ones of Israel to go over the Jordan River.

He was promised that the Lord would give over the land to the Israelites. This land was from the Euphrates River, the land of the Hittites, and all the land to the coast to the Mediterranean Sea.

He had to meditate on the law (which was important to believers at that time) day and night. (Source: Totally History – Joshua Chapter 1 Summary, Audio & Text (KJV) (totallyhistory.com) -)

Now how could this happen if men (and women) don’t normally hear from the Lord?

Joshua had a lot to accomplish! The hardest part was He had to trust in something that was not only greater than him, but avoid all of his human expectations and leave things in the Lord’s hands!

The verse to focus on will be Joshua a few verses in:

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV

Why did he have to mediate on the law? I believe it was for Joshua a way to focus entirely on the Lord.

If we should not keep our focus on our current or dangerous circumstances then what should (or who should) we keep our focus on to be “brave”?

Bravery. Courage.

It’s what every person needs today.

Have you ever been brave? We should stand for what we believe in. There’s a huge chance it will be against what the people within the world claim but it will still be the truth.

Bravery is going against what everything the world is saying. Is that true courage?

It is best to speak up about it.

Hope that has encouraged you to be a kind and gentle one in this chaotic world. Be the light in the darkness. Be “real” brave today.

Be Like an Angel- 6/26/21

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Last night could have gone a lot better… but it was humbling after coming in to work today…!

The heart whether it is within the will of God or fully in the world wants what it wants yet is often a form of peril. It is too easy to have the habit of straying away from what God wants and keep going back to what the old ways wanted. Those moments of spiritual weakness just slip back in so easily like an old torn up glove; sure it’s not a good idea to “wear” that old thing again but it doesn’t seem so bad, so hey, might as well do it again!

The sad part is if the person permits it they will have a heart like the world if one isn’t barring it from their daily life. That daily life can be something like a habit that a person is conscious of, a thing that they know is wrong but they just keep giving in to it.

Maybe ones have the heart that Paul once described to the church he was writing to while incarcerated with different churches, a church stuck in very immoral lives. A person who does that thinks, “Hey it’s okay to sin like this. God will keep forgiving me. So He will keep being good in my life!” Right?

Is that a way to live every day? Maybe? Well…

I know it’s the “obvious” answer here but no, it is not good to live like that.

It says in Romans 6 we might think it is a good idea to feel like that but it is not a means to help us out. It is like stoking a fire while trying to put it out. If we let something like that continue it will not be beneficial to our walk. There is no growth. There is especially no chance or the want to have opportunities to guide others in the Lord.

If we are so concerned about our so-called “needs,” will we want to tend to others’ needs? Will we decide to change our concern and look to others’ interests?

In a book of the bible (Second Timothy) Paul was writing to Timothy after he was serving in a church for about four years. Paul himself was alone in a terrible prison (one he would soon leave only not alive, as historians say). Paul and Timothy were like spiritual bondsmen. They shared a kinship that was holy but not physical. And here Paul was telling Timothy that he should continue to impact spiritually just as they had when the holy spirit had done great works in their individual journeys for Jesus.

I was going to focus on verse 7 but let me go one back to context what I was talking about which is actually from verse 6. He is reminding Timothy “to stir up the gift of God” reminding or maybe it’s just reinstating something for encouragement. It then continues to the next verse:

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. II Timothy 1:7 NKJV

So in Second Timothy in the first chapter, this verse he tells him that they do not have a spirt of “fear” but of good things!

My father said that what it means is we shouldn’t lose hope. Thanks Daddoo, hehe…

It is too easy to take “fear” the wrong way.

But what about the fear that we should take the right way?

I realize I was getting a little out of context with the first verse about what I wanted to get to, haha, sorry. I’m not very great at digging deep into the bible especially when I find a good deal of verses. This time there was some needed context but it will make more sense from here on out, I promise!

If we fear the Lord does that mean we will get struck dead by lightning the moment, say, a guy glances at a woman?

Is fear meaning we won’t get to have moments of weakness? Is being a believer like being a monk?

The world believes that actually. It’s not true. There might even be churches that do that too. If they follow things that are not from the bible, it’s more like man’s rules and it’s not from the Word of God..!

It’s funny how complicated us as people can make things. We think if we do things that are good and avoid all bad we get blessings from God. No. Not true.

You have to have a heart attitude. You go from believing that once you could get nothing but “good” stuff from the world to being fearful of knowing what is right and wrong. We battle sin every day, Christians. To struggle against it is better than claiming “I never do wrong” which is sin itself and a terrible way to be a representative of Christ.

To be one who never does wrong means there is denial to sin. That is like claiming they are God Himself.

Anyway I am tangenting, sorry haha….

We have to change our attitudes. We can think to only dwell in specific things because we “can’t” do wrong, we can live shallow lives because we think that a relationship we have is more important than say seeing how much more we can represent Christ Jesus.

Here’s one that hits close to home for me. We can live almost our entire lives as Christians but realize we haven’t totally given our heart to Christ!

We must question and search our own hearts individually if we want to really live for God. Take time to wonder about your life and then ask God “Am I really living a faithful life for You…?”

That’s where God’s word comes in to play.

I lived almost my entire life conformed to the world. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I read something that reflected something spiritual that moved my heart (and the Holy Spirit kind of said “Ta Da, I can do this for you too!”). I was floored. I didn’t know that God could change that in my life. He really could??

To serve God means to give everything to Him. Let it be remembered what the cross had done so you don’t feel you have to suffer so much about it or as much as you used to!

Verse below. The main gist of this writing:

For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. Galatians 5:13

If we let that be left behind we might not have to struggle like it’s the end of our worlds. Following Jesus again is like turning around and finding out with His mercy He is just one step away, no matter how far we have “wandered” from Him!

If you follow Him and you have struggled with sin be honest and genuine with Him! Say you are sorry (you better be sorry! Oh, I digress again, apologies, haha!) and ask forgiveness. Then say you repent and will follow again. Simple. Simple but powerful in the relationship with God.

Now you must know the wonderful life and love of a church. There is a lifeblood within it. We must be changing every day and live for His glory. We must have our lives more and more glorified so that we are closer to the reflection of Christ.

We might not be “angels” (Oh yeah by the way. I’ve seen an angel four times now! I will share that hopefully soon in a future article or blog note which might be multiple accounts though) but we can live a reflection close “enough” to what we hope Christ is like.

What we all need to get through while happening to walk in this world is a fellowship with other believers. That is by going to a church!

We all must lift each other up and guide each other either in love or in prayer. In prayers we get a special protection while we go about our daily lives.

We must learn to show love to each other within the church. Good, God-honoring love.

We also need to learn to see ourselves the way God does. I feel like if we did, we would have better attitudes about what we should do day to day.

An encouraging verse to end on below:

Let all that you do be done with love. I Corinthians 16:14 NKJV

Let’s be as good as we can be if we have a problem with attitudes or be too much “like” the world. We should be like ones who put on a new clothing, something that is different than what we once were. As ones who believe let’s live for the One who only wants to guide us, give us empathy to show toward others, and be ones who love the Lord with all our hearts! We can be like angels instead of little “devils” hehe.

Devotion Romans- 6/25/21

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Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus. Romans 15:5 NKJV

Have you ever been in a group that was divided in opinions? Did anyone agree on anything? Maybe it would feel like a place where no thought was “safe” and was easy to be shut out by the others after it was criticized.

Sometimes at church meetings a member will feel so angry about things they will shout their opinion. What he may say might be wrong, so is it good to yell at the pastor or whoever is leading the discussion? No I don’t think so. But sometimes people will feel strongly about a subject and will want to “attack” with their thoughts and maybe divide the other people in the room.

In the bible we as people should be in a group setting (in this case, a church) and have many things in agreeance. Not all of our current thoughts should be completely on one side (personal views might be just a little different) but on most important things there should be like one accord, if one belongs within a church.

What I brought up above is not a problem at the church I currently attend. Yet it becomes apparent at churches where it is time to speak up about certain topics and there seem to be strong “passions” about the way things are being done.

But all in all if you or if anyone you know who is looking for a church to attend the important thing is that they follow the bible and not man’s ideas or things that do not have the bible based on them.

May the One who gives patience and comfort give you the ability to discern the truth versus man’s ways and you learn to be like-minded in a church that is like Jesus. Amen!