Tag Archives: spirituality

Sin Undone-6/5/16

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I have too much of a busy schedule, it feels like to me. I am grateful to work but sometimes I can’t even rest. I’ve got work on the weekends and plus at church I couldn’t even stay because of duties so I had to up and exit the sanctuary. I hope this all doesn’t overwhelm me! Sigh*~

 

Hello. I hope you have had a relaxing Memorial Day of reflection as well as just time off to have fun and enjoy life.

You know sometimes we take it for granted this thing called life. We think we have all the time in the world so we turn to back things that we were rescued from and get ourselves stuck into the “pit” again and again.

What is the “pit” you wonder? It is the trap that we sometimes ensnare for ourselves. At first it is temptation leading to giving in to the sin. But if we are not serious about repentance, the telling to God that we are sorry and we turn away and will go back to Him, we get ourselves led back into falling again.

Falling and getting out. Repeat.

That struggle can be so discouraging. A person I know unfortunately has turned that way and ended up not in this world anymore. It’s sad to see someone that knew the truth be in a situation that they did not want to leave.

But our sin sometimes gets us in a loop.

I’ve been in that “loop” many times. Saying “I’m sorry God, forgive me…” then doing that deed again.

Sometimes we may get deeper, knowing that we shouldn’t but that want to turn from God is just too good, like a piece of your favorite dessert.

Then you partake and realize you are not satisfied. You can never be satisfied.

Yet it is so seemingly enjoyable to get into again… we’ll think maybe this time we will get it right and it will be so “good”!

But it never is. Why is that?

Because we live in a fallen world and we desire something but the thing that was our first want was to sin. After the fall of the world through one man who had the responsibility to say no there was sin that entered the world.

And sin is evil!

It is the world: it is all bad, it is fallen, the reason we have death and so much bad in this place here on earth.

But if you know Christ, should you keep heading down this path? As in getting into tons of stuff you shouldn’t?

Paul has said something about that. Should we keep sinning harshly just because we have a savior to turn to that will have God forgive us?

Yes or no?

What do you think?

I think that we are free to do what we want but if we want to serve God we have to realize we should make more decisions for the Lord.

That means though our sin nature fights it at times, we have to look to God in all circumstances if we want to serve Him.

A servant of Jesus should not be turning to ways of the world as a daily ritual. That makes our hearts unclean when they should be filled by the Holy Spirit.

That makes us less like a lover of Christ and more like a person of solitude because of sins.

Or a person that just wants to neglect all that God’s will has for them and will be provided to them.

That means not looking to other ways for truth and instead keeping your eyes on the mount and our feet firmly on solid ground. The ground of the Rock, the solid place of Jesus Christ.

We can continue on and live with prospering lives if we deny ourselves and seek His will. But God still does want us to make our own choices.

We don’t have to do that because God wants us to follow Him. There is no way but Jesus. God’s word says: Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.”

And Jesus made that way, did the penalty for us and our sin. He died on the cross, rose again, and lives in Heaven one day coming to do the final things this earth has yet to see.

Would you want your friends to fall into those days? I don’t think so. We should live as pure hearts of Jesus’ love, sacrifice our time, give our lives so that people would learn of the truth, and just be love to them.

Just showing love is the first step. How do you want to do it?

That is the one step where there is the undoing of sin. If your heart is clean because of forgiveness or because you show His love to others around you, what does that say to your life?

You are a new creation in Christ. Your old self died with Him on the cross. That person is now no longer a part of you… isn’t that exciting???

To have no more sin to account against you and make you dead to the world and to go to hell… because of Christ that is no longer a part of you.

Amen! We should share this news and love and mercy to others because He makes all things possible. And He will undo so much bad stuff in others lives as a result. It is His power. We must know that love can sweep it all away, move and change hearts, and give people a brand new purpose!

How sweet is that news?

Let’s as Christians (or if you are a new Christian or interested, message me on comments) see God undo the chains we sometimes let ourselves get shackled with and serve with lives pleasing to Him…

🙂

 

 

 

Freedom that Stands-5/30/16

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This Memorial Day should be a time of remembering sacrifice but I also want to share some extra thoughts as well.

We should be grateful of the ones who fight for our country, the ones who lay down their lives everyday so that we could have freedom.

You know there is a television show that came out some decades ago and one of the stories touched my heart. On the show MASH there was a sequence where Radar and another person were observing women possibly slaves scanning a field for mines.

They didn’t like knowing that someone had ordered people who were human beings to go outside and use sticks to touch possible explosives that were hidden in the high grass.

Suddenly without warning a mine goes off and a woman drops. Radar, thinking and caring for her safety and not thinking of his own charges into the field as the other person shouts for him not to go out there.

He grabs her and carries her to where the other soldier is possibly going to get her medical treatment.

Now just typing that now I got really emotional again. I don’t get that way because I think a tv show is real (it’s just a dern piece of media, hehe!)… what gently moves my heart is that it is representative of the soldier.

They go far to help fellow brothers, or fellow soldiers even if their own safety is at stake. They’d drop onto the mine and let it detonate themselves just so their friends would be safe. They’d make the sacrifice that many of us today either take for granted or think of our own troubles which are small and petty sometimes versus what they still go through to this day.

We, wherever we come from, have a military that is fighting for freedom in your place, your country, your continent that you live in.

“Fighting for freedom in your place” I hadn’t meant to say that. Now that reminds me of something else__:

God made a way by sending his son Jesus Christ to day in your place. Do you think this is just religion? No, sometimes we do things in a religious way but that is doing so in the wrong heart. Religion is false but a relationship with Jesus is true. It starts with our realization that God loves us, He wants us to know that He could save us because of what He had done and what His son had done which was die bodily on the cross and then in three days, rise again, bodily and wholly, and go to Heaven, ensuring us He is one day coming again.

Did you know that God loves you so much? You may be hurting but no matter what you are going through He still loves you. He makes you know that all He wants is for you to know Him. He wants a relationship with you. If you do, you will be blessed in ways this world will not understand but you will know in your heart what He has done.

There is mercy by what was done through the cross. His son took all of your and the world’s sin. He also bled on the cross which is why we needed our sins paid for and forgiven. Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

He was like a lamb to be sacrificed but He was THE lamb, the ultimate and only sacrifice that would cover all sin.

 

God has made His people and they need to be saved because of sin. We all sinned and not one is innocent except Jesus who was and is man and God.

He redeemed the people who are willing to hear, would you want to know of Christ’s sacrifice?

Again drawing attention on Memorial day I have posted a pic on social media that has made me want to cry. I first saw it in high school, it is a painting, a portrait of a man standing at the Vietnam Memorial. His head is bowed and he is crying as he puts his hand on the wall full of the names of the people who died during that war.

In the reflection is a hand touching his. It is his younger self… and he and his fellow fallen troop are staring back at him.

It makes me cry and I know one person who served this country. He doesn’t seem to understand that I am moved by what the soldier has done for this country.

It seems he feels that a person has to serve the country to appreciate it. I myself have never served but I get emotional at their ultimate sacrifice.

I also was moved reading a book about C. S. Lewis. He has served his country and when he struggled with if God existed or not became bitter to the world. He later was changed by Christ and became one of the biggest defender and apologetics in the faith.

He also was used in sad situations, almost like men and women willing to be sacrificed in time as they’d know Jesus.

He was told to give a sermon to a huge team of pilots. As they explained the real reason he was surprised (he probably was going to cry at the thought). They were concerned for these pilots’ souls. They were more than likely about to head to their deaths (it was like a 90% chance of fatality for them) as they would head toward enemy territory, protecting their land at home. They would probably get hit by antagonistic warfare fighting for their side.

C. S. Lewis preached to these people. And God’s Word was not returned void.

So do you want to know of the Ultimate Sacrifice of Christ? He lived in a holy land and because of sin was ordered by the people (no different than us) to die on the cross for blaspheming that He was the King, the I Am. He was the king of the Jews but the Lord can also be lord of our hearts and our lives.

God would not want you to perish from sin and be separated from Him for all eternity. This life may not be our only one but it is critical if you have thoughts that are not right to what God wants for you.

God wants you to know He loves you. He provided the way and He can through His Son and provide the way in your life today.

Accept Christ. It is the best gift you could receive today.

Your sin can only get you one way, but Christ died for it so that you wouldn’t end up in that place called hell.

His death was for your life; his payment gave you the chance to be accepted into His kingdom. Pray and know the Lord today.

If you know the Lord then God says you are one of His people and He is your God. He loves you and I hope you experience His amazing grace, something He gives us that we do not deserve.

How exciting it is that He is your God?? You can stand in true spiritual freedom if it is so.

God bless you and meditate on the Lord this Memorial Day.

“These things I have spoken to you so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation but take courage; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

 

 

 

 

Justice and Mercy- 5/15/16

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Am doing fairly well. Got a big dose of God’s leading and now there is the trust and giving to Him! 🙂

One of my favorite songs by Brian Wilson is “Love and Mercy.” It tells of how violence is in our culture, there is scary things going on in the news, and also people are isolating themselves and feeling alone.

It moves my heart to hear a song like this: to have love and even compassion. To reflect that kind of attitude and it happens to be from a great musical artist.

While I am not going to praise Brian I am only reflecting the fact that it is true that we sometimes we see awful things going on: there is homelessness, losing of jobs, violence, and even people who hurt. There are many in fact, all of us that yearn for something more in their lives.

Is how we feel towards them reflective of our hearts? How about if we yearn to live for God?

I got a dose of changing attitude this morning. At times I have felt like doing things for the Lord is like being holy or doing it for some kind of approval from God. Or something like that–

Sometimes I don’t know what I feel like, haha!

All I know is that to serve God with love and compassion toward others is done to only glorify God.

We as believers serve a righteous God but that does not make us righteous!

We as lovers in Christ only show love in Him because our sin was paid for by His blood.

We should only reflect His love but also show justice and mercy. I had wondered what that phrase meant too. Going home today I looked it up.

Justice and mercy. In Psalms 89:14, it says “Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Christ’s throne.”

“…Lovingkindness and truth go before Him.” (found this online by looking up the phrase “justice and mercy” from Bible) This is all in God’s Word, the Holy Bible Amen.

The church is not too late in telling others about God’s love and truth. To share of His love should not come with the wrong heart or attitude but in knowing the ultimate love of what Christ has done, has revived and changed your personal life, and you want to share of His love and mercy.

What justice He has shown us! We were sinners and Christ sent us His Son so that we would come to the truth that eternal life is found in Him and to live and trust in Him, keep us going in the way we can live.

Sure we will still fall down but God has endless mercy through His Son.

There are times where I’ve fallen apart and felt hopeless. There were times where I thought I didn’t want to be on this earth.

I’ve even (ashamedly) doubted God’s existence before… but I know now that my redeemer lives!

Through His just love we can turn from ways we have thought were the way or habits that were not right and in His strength we can come into place, emotionally but be restored spiritually by His love and tender mercy. We might become hopeless or that we have no reason in life, or are unsure of God.

I thought that way because that was a part of my sin nature. But I am heartbroken that there are people who think that everyday and don’t yet know God.

There is love and mercy to you and your friends you know today! There is seemingly endless joy you can experience here on earth and it is not found in the world but in Jesus Christ. Is that comforting? Amen!

God made right our relationship with Him by giving His Son Jesus for our penalty. He died and rose again bodily and lives today!

None of us deserve His love because none of us are righteous and have been tainted by our sin. But Jesus made a way so that we could find that place one day in Heaven and it is only in believing and trusting in what He did for You (and your friends).

It is so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him as His word. Follow Him. Simple loving words. God blesses any moment you spend with Him (reading the bible for even five to ten minutes, just an example) because He loves you. How comforting is that?

We deserved swift justice but God made a way so we can live for Him.

How righteous and amazing He is! Love and mercy to all who will hear Amen.

 

 

 

 

Tight and Secure- 5/11/16

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It is nearly late, almost 5/12 so this might be inaccurate in a moment. Lately I have been going through tough stuff due to my disability. I was having tough things go on like  flashbacks and I nearly let fear and anxiety almost overwhelm me. I am getting better praise God and as long I look to Him in all ways, I can no longer feel discouraged. Praise God for Him and all the things He has taught me and so many others. Thank you Jesus.

Isn’t it tough to trust in God?

Let me rephrase that: isn’t it tough to trust in God because of our sin nature?

Sometimes doubt, being unhappy about our current state, depression, and loneliness get to us…. but none of those things are ideas the Lord gives us.

We can get wrapped in our own world, forgetting about the things that He has told us through His Word and from His people: that He’s always there, He knows the future, and He can meet us where we struggle. And we can trust in Him.

We can do that by holding fast as it says in the book of Philippians.

We are ensured the ability to be blessed by whatever we do for Him. God can do amazing things right now if you want to live for Jesus.

If one wants to live for Jesus what does one do? Well first of all, we have to remember that Christ died for our sin, that we cannot do anything in our power to be in Heaven because it was God that paid for it, not us.

It is God who shows us the way and we just simply need to accept His son into our hearts and we can believe and trust in Him. If we believe then we can be in Heaven because of God’s gift to us.

It was His great love that sent Him to the cross for our punishment. Jesus then rose again and is one day coming back.

There is hope and that is found in Jesus.

Amen?

So the words “hold fast”… I had wondered what that meant.

In the book of Philippians Paul addresses a church that has been disagreeing on certain things. He was wrote letters to the church of “Philippi” to tell them to be of one mind, a body of believers because they make up the body of Christ.

This group of people is united because of God’s love and Christ’s intercession for their sin. The church was fighting over differences in beliefs but what does God say? His word is true. We should know that always because sometimes our hearts even want to change what God says is true.

This kind of thing has been happening everywhere and even in the church today. It’s unfortunate but that is why defending what God says is important when talking to others about Him.

We live in a day and age that is vastly drifting from God and His love. Why are people doing this? Because their hearts are turning from Him.

We must not feel afraid if we want to share God’s Word with others but we must also do it with the right heart. We must stay grounded on God’s Word which is true, not take in the world’s values just to increase member numbers and just simply show the love of Jesus to each other.

Church love is great, I gotta tell ya. When I first came to a new church I wondered why people were so loving toward one another. I was eight and around then just accepted Christ. But as I grew more spiritually and saw that the lifeblood of the church was the “people” and not the “building” I couldn’t get enough of learning about Jesus. I have experienced times of great frustration, things that were going on in my life, and realized I could just give it up to God. I would go through so much some days but I would learn to be more like Christ every day.

A lot of this was because of a wonderful church of people holding onto the Word of truth and living in Christ.

We as a church must hold fast the word of life… but what does that mean?

“Hold fast” means to remain tightly secured.

I thought about a board and a drill fastens a screw into it. The board which is sturdy strong, built well (thank you God, hehe), and keeps that screw held on well.

That strong piece of wood ain’t going to let that screw go anywhere, as long as it doesn’t get removed by the drill for whatever reason. It is fastened there: firm, strong, and can’t be undone.

But sometimes we think “But what if God can’t impact my life?” or “What if these things happening right now are going on because there is no God?”

I say quench that thought from your mind and realize that He is in your heart today!

Sometimes Satan gets us into a corner. But sometimes it is us that makes us doubt and our hearts stray. Sometimes we do this by depending on what we feel (“I’m depressed… can I ever love?) and we crowd our minds with nonsense.

Circumstances also have us feel we should disregard God’s truths. But don’t be discouraged, you have a wonderful God by your side, and Jesus who can help you see a future in Him. Just trust obey, live it out and seek His truth.

Also share the Word with others, and don’t let discouraging words or verbal abuse get you down. Did you know you are blessed when that happens? Because you are like a screw fixed in a firm piece of wood, holding on to His truth.

Once you have Jesus in your life you are secure in Him and nothing you do can separate you from Him. God gave us Jesus to open the door to a relationship to Him.

His Word helps us and talking to Him can do wonderful things you might not see at the moment but, baby, if you’ve done it in the right heart God answers prayer you may not right now believe!

Remain tightly secure in what God says, what you want to do for Him and He can secure you a future. Amen.

 

 

Happy Harvest Day!

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Hope Christians everywhere will want to or encourage this type of wonderful new tradition in any way they can. It is a spiritual alternative to the Satanic traditions that happen the 31st of every normal October.

———-

 

Happy Harvest Day

seek some time to know your Jesus

then go out and tell the Word

…or with loved ones go and play

 

Happy loving day

Tell the ones you know of Jesus

Pray as God will go and change

or just simply smile and wave

 

Happy growing day

Everyone that comes’ a challenge

so Prepare for the big Harvest

and wait expectantly in the day.

 

Happy going day

try to make all moments special

Jesus loves you and your friends

Let the Lord just lead the way….!

 

~* Before the Lord comes let’s prepare and lead others toward His good. In His “goodness” I say Happy Harvest to you! *~

 

Something to Share-Part 2

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Blog note: I have been excited about some new projects lately that are of the writing kind. Thanks to a place that delivers encouragement and criticism alike I feel that there has been some shape-up in the skill that is the art and love of writing. And I might give a sneak peek or the whole story and debut it on this blog for the first time.

We were in Ephesians right? The book where Paul was addressing a church or a body of believers about Christ and how to live the life for God. This book is one of my favorites (I like Paul also so that makes this great as well).

He states from a prison he was kept in for sharing his faith how the people he can’t see or communicate with visually how to live for Christ

He says that they (but we should see that “we” must as well) speak the truth in love, grow spiritually mature in all things into Him who is the head.

It is so encouraging that God’s Word has been encouraging me about growth during a time things have been a little hard. Sometimes situations turn out in terrible ways not because we are bad or are being punished by Him but because of spiritual attack or that God is just trying to make us aware we should live for others and care for them.

Do you belong or used to go to a church? Now no church is perfect if you ever had a negative experience but that is part of the wonder of it. We all are not perfect but the Lord still loves us. We are being put through a process called “glorification” but we will never be complete until we are with the Lord in Heaven. For that reason I feel so blessed and humbled. I have sin and troubles but the Lord loves me and as long as I keep following His ways I can be more like Him everyday.

And this growth by the Holy Spirit is where we can learn to be more loving and tell of His wonders everyday. So encouraging that we have God’s Word and His love always by our side and we can lean on each other and help each other in the purest of the way by Jesus Christ. If you struggle with something, the church is there. If you are hurting and need spiritual council about a tough matter, a leader is there. If you feel you have lost your way, Jesus is there!

Jesus’ love is there. If it is not accessible to you at a church know that by Christ in me I know that His love is there for you. I hope that you will experience His love because it is wonderful. And if you are hurting, guess what? God is the god of all comfort!

He wants us to have a relationship with Him so that we cannot fall into the traps that we get ourselves into and be lead astray.

If you don’t know Christ know that God does not want you to be alone in your sin. He is there and that if you are seeking Jesus you will find Him because it says so in God’s Word.

If you are struggling with habitual sin (getting into situations again and again and don’t feel like there is a way out or your guilt is binding you) know that His way is great. His forgiveness from sin is available always and like a mutual relationship we should be doing things for Him because He has done so much for us.

God has unending mercy. Think about that.

From the moment you were born and wanted nothing but to fend or treat yourself to when you were a child to now, you were loved by God. Before we even knew about God’s love He first loved us.

I definitely heard of God’s love a lot but I just didn’t want to listen. Sure I was going to church a lot (my dad brought me and my brother to church when we were babies!) but that didn’t save me.

Sitting in a pew does not save anyone. It does not cause Jesus’ blood to come and wash away sin.

But guess what Christ did pay for your sin and He died on the cross as payment for it. Wow. Did he really?

Could he really know me but had to die for me? Yes.

And what He did when He was punished and hurt, bruised for iniquities and bled for our terrible sin he was paying for our sin.

Without the shedding of blood there was no forgiveness.

And then He took the ultimate sacrifice and died. Then three days later, he rose again! God had authority over death and when He gave His son He was able to rescue us all from sin.

We must believe this. And you will see how much he cares for you. You must know this and in faith you will be saved.

Now with Paul’s people in Ephesus, they had a lot of people that made up the church. They had Jewish and non-Jewish people (and the “Gentiles” in the text mean non-believers but I will get to that).

They had to tell others about the Lord testify in Him, making up the whole “body” of Christ and do what they should in His name in their individual walks. They should no longer walk as the rest of them would. That meant they were having troubles with sin that they knew was not right or honorable (it says in the text that apparently they were committing theft, lying, and being probably unreasonably angry about certain things). But then in Paul’s words for God he was telling them not to be like the world but be not like the rest of the Gentiles that walk apart from Him.

Being without God is useless. It may seem good and there is supposed “freedom” but where does it lead? If a person lived and died extremely rich and not knowing God did it matter what they had versus where they would end up? It would not be good, would it?

It talks of the world as people who walk in the “futility” of their mind. We should not be walking conformed or like the world. The understanding of the world is a dark place, blindness of the heart where people choose not to get what they are doing or what they say about the life is wrong.

Be there to tell the goodness of Christ; like a light stand out in love and shine His truth to all the world.

This text in Ephesians tells how the people should live guided by the Holy Spirit:

But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind…

That is a great chunk of verses! From 20 to 23 of the book in chapter 4 it says great truth.

Did you know if you follow Him simply He reveals knowledge to you? Yes, you can easily find it in His word and it is so encouraging the supernatural power of His will and love. I will guarantee following Him is, while sometimes trying and a little tough, both great and a wonderful journey.

In that phrase of verses he is saying that they have not learned Christ, if they have heard Him and was taught by Him as they needed to know a part that was important we should know.

He said put off the former self. The “old man,” the one you don’t want others to know about, the sin you want to shrug off with your own power but it keeps coming back again.

Yes I am talking about that one! We must in order to live for him grow in His way fully in His Spirit because living with sinful influence can be bad (and will not lead to good things).

 

I have said once that living with sin on your heart can be like a flower that is growing out of a pot of soil with a stone on top of it. Will it grow right? Will it reach its height and full potential? Will it be able to grow at all…?

 

That is why we must depend on God to search our hearts and minds and make it surrendered fully to Him.

It is sad to think how prevalent sin can be once we let it come our way at times. Sometimes we invite it, want to encourage it, or provide no way to let God guard our hearts against it. I am talking about sin that we commit purposely. The “bad” stuff.

We must be refreshed in our hearts to Christ by giving up our sins, admitting them to Him and then confessing by wanting to not come back to it again.

That takes sacrifice, that takes Godly strength that can come if we ask Him for it.

The “old man” in your life may or will come back time and time again but that is where mercy comes in again. God has endless mercy on us. What does that show with how much mercy we should have on others?

We should be renewed in the spirit of the mind by His life and put on a new one that is because of His mercy and love He has shown to us. We must let go of the old self and sing a new song!

Such wonderment of the endless mercies of the God of our lives! Be all glory to Him in yours, may you shine in His countenance, your face be shining in His love. Amen.

(Wow, I might do a third part or just a new article altogether. Such wonders to explore in His Word!)

The Best For You

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I had to have a serious talk with someone today. I know that even Christians feel discouraged and they just want to have a real chat with people sometimes.

 

Did you know that it is good if God’s Word affects you whatever way it does? Sometimes it makes us realize our life is not honoring the One who loves us or encourages us to make decisions for Him. We have got to know that it is good to not be “comfortable” in this world.

If you know Christ and you know all He has done for you, you have to make your life and decide things to live for Him (sorry I am trying to think of a Chronicle of Narnia movie where Lucy said it was time for them to “prove themselves to Him” meaning Aslan. It is a fairly good example. Aslan is symbolic of Jesus).

Some people think to follow Jesus or to accept Him they may have a gigantic commitment as a result. They might think they right away have a burden or that they have to lose everything they like to follow Him.

Some might be saying “What? I can’t have fun?” You can always find happiness in things like friends and making relationships. But to really live you must realize the joy that Christ has given you and know that all He wants is for you to live for Him in His good ways.

There are many who disagree with the Gospel of Christ (I don’t want to give examples). And there are many who think “God shouldn’t care about whether I ______ or not!” We have got to know that we are in a world of sin. This is a world that has turned itself upside down. Whether we think what people do is wrong or not we should at least acknowledge that some acts are at least at some degree “wrong.”

There are struggles that we can experience every day. To give up doing sins and asking for forgiveness after confessing (admitting to God) sins is good. We can do that and know that God’s mercy is available always during those moments.

But in this world people will even say to talk about certain things within the church is wrong (the “hate” law is practiced in huge states like New York where they will not allow churches who were once free to talk about the Gospel to not talk at all about certain lifestyles. So much for the freedom of religion). What people in this world must realize that God wants the best for us.

God cares for us. God cares for all people. He only says in His word some things that some may think is surprising (I can’t think of a good word) is because His word will set us on a path we can only get on through His Son Jesus Christ.

It is good to follow the path of the straight and narrow which is walking with Jesus.

Sometimes to be stuck in sin you may feel that you do not want to come to the light or goodness that is God. You may think that “if I keep doing what I like to do than I am comfortable in not thinking of the truth.” God’s Word whether it hits us hard or makes us feel comforted is truth. God is the God of all Comfort and He is just in what He wants for us.

People in this world think that “God should not care about things in this life” that Christians think is “wrong” or against His Word which is the bible. Well if that is true then Jesus came into this world to do nothing. We all have sin! Whether you think what people say about the sin it is sin. People who live in relationships that are not appropriate (I am saying any kinds of sexuality. Including heterosexual) should at least know that there is more to this life than that. There is the love of God who wants us to just follow Him and seek His ways.

Okay. I lived in that type of world! The world is not a great place to be. I know that God would not want people to get into acts and things that could break His heart. There is no way that I can find a future in that and I want Jesus to guide the way in my life. God wants us to treat our bodies like temples to not hurt it in any physical way and to be ones who can have the One in our hearts. I have experienced a miracle in my life that only God can explain!

I seek the Lord Jesus to find a future to my life. Maybe even have a wife one day! I know that through Him there are amazing mysteries that Christ can reveal to people things that are impossible apart from Him that can let people know He is there for them.

 

He gives wisdom through His word when people need it (try it! It really happens). God gives grace and things that are good because He wants you to want to know Him more. He wants there to be a relationship with Him. One where you are free to tell Him all of your pains, take your burdens, and just love you and help you through things of life.

He wants the Best for You (for He knows the ways that He thinks toward your life. He has thoughts of peace and does not have plans of evil to give you a future and a hope). He loves you… Just because you feel that God is not true does not mean His love is not really there.

His love is there. You just have to believe it!

 

–(What Jesus did on the cross was not in vain. Jesus died and had all sin on Him laid so that we would not go to hell. He died and rose again because He has conquered death so that you may live forever in Heaven with Him!).–

 

If Jesus came into a world that did not have sin than He had no reason to do what had been planned.

 

Poetry

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(I hope to post something new soon. I did not know what to put down so I scooped up some poems that were written a few months back and hope you like ’em.)

Poem 1 (3/16/12)

The love of Christ is great enough to save

I can never measure it

The mercy depths as big and deep as oceans

I can only match it with my sin.

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Poem 2 (3/20/12)

O to dwell in peace I cannot understand

It is a gift I know given freely from Your hand

To rest…then see what You will do

It makes me joyous and wonder my life with You.

I will be still and know who You are.. .my God.

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Poem 3 (around 3/21/12)

I want to live justly

love mercy for You.

I want to give always

show that I just want You (God).

This world shows darkness . . .

but I will shine light- Your

righteousness shown. Yes.

That is what I live for

The Bright Morning Star

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(I wish I had a beautiful picture to put as the front for this article. I can just imagine the morning sun as it rises and gives life to the sky. Oh well . . .).

There is a popular song by a group called Linkin Park about the sun. It seems to be about the world but what I want to draw attention to is the lyric “The sun it sets for you.”

Now thinking about how the sun gives us life and helps things grow and is needed every moment of our lives (it even makes the moon glow!) is the sun “setting” a good image concerning God’s love for us?

I think ironically it is a good image of the world’s selfishness and what the world thinks is right. I feel it is symbolic of what the world thinks is good while the one we may know of rings true in light.

As a matter of fact, the sun rising is something that has always moved me. There is something so beautiful about being up in the morning and seeing the day “waking up” for the first time.

As Jesus comes closer, we must realize that the He, son of God is the bright and morning star. . .

In church I and the congregation have been exploring the book of The Revelation of Jesus Christ (that is what my bible calls the book of “Revelations.”). We have been going over verses in chapter 19 and the things we learned struck a chord with me.

In this book John has future events revealed to Him through God. He is given the task of telling people the things to come like God’s wrath and the end of days including the great tribulation.

It says in Revelation Chapter 19, verse 11-13:

Now I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse. And He who sat on him WAS called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and makes war. His eyes WERE like a flame of fire, and on His head WERE many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

This section of verses is very intriguing. I liked how the pastor made a point about the last section (verse 13) and said the blood in this verse is NOT talking about redemptive blood. It is not in this case about the blood that Christ gave to forgive our sins, rather it is for God’s wrath. It is basically the opposite, in a way.

Jesus has always been the ruler of authority. This though is the case where He will come back to earth and rule earth for a long time. His power and majesty demonstrate His authority (it said in one of my pastor’s notes).

Jesus is right to judge this world. By this time it will be that Jesus will have sovereign judgment on a wicked world.

Now. . . one reason I felt to post these things on here is that I have seen God’s moving in my life. I kind of fear that the reason there is so much out pouring of God in my life with things He has shown me through His Word and by the Holy Spirit is because these really are the last days. I only fear this because there are so many people I want to share Jesus with and I hope they will know Him before this time comes.

If these are the final days (or minutes if He comes before I do anything after this post) I hope you, reader, come to know Him.

I hope that God will rule your life and that He will shine upon your face. It says in part of Revelation 22:16 that Jesus calls Himself the “Bright and Morning Star.”

May you, if you do not know of Him the knowledge of God, hear the word of God. I hope that you will not know too late of what Jesus has done for you.

Did you know that you have sin? I know that we all do. Even if you do not know that you sin I hope you realize what sin is and that you do have it. It says in Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

Sin is the things that we do, say, or think that do not please God. Thinking of examples of each action will make it clear for you.

Do you curse or have you ever cursed? Do you ever have thoughts about other people that you are ashamed of? They are examples of sin.

Well sin keeps us from being with God in Heaven and He does not like that we are separated from Him. That means that we are bound to go to hell if we do not know a crucial fact.

Well God, because He loved us and wants us to know Him, sent His Son Jesus who was the perfect sacrifice. He was perfect and that was why He died and bled on the cross so that we would have our sins forgiven. He took the punishment we deserved and died so that we would not have to go to hell. He died and rose again. That means that Jesus lives! He lives and He wants us to know Him so that we would trust in Him and be with His Father one day.

Now if you never did that you should turn your heart to Jesus. You must know that this world can never save you; only Jesus can and that if you confess to God you are a sinner, you believe what Jesus did on the cross, and if you choose to trust in His son Jesus Christ you might become saved. If you meant it with all your heart then you will be saved and the angels are celebrating in Heaven! Welcome to the Godly flock, brother or sister!

Know that this world is not good to depend on or live by its ways but that Christ wants you to live the righteous way. He wants us to live the only good way to live because He is love and He gave us life. Like the sun is to the trees we must nourish the Son’s ways like they are life itself.

We must know what is good because if we don’t . . . the world quickly tries to let us believe it itself is good.

Live like God and shine His light today!

 

Give more to God. You cannot “outgive” Him.

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I have been seeing things in my life lately that I think are evidence of spiritual growth. I am amazed at what God has been doing in my life and it amazes me to know that He is doing this (and I don’t deserve it)!

But one thing has made me challenge my faith in God lately. . . and that is if I give enough of my life to Him.

I have been feeling like I have been unfair to God that when I go out and serve God in this special teaching thing with children (that is NOW over!) before I leave I read His Word. I have made it that it is the only chance that I read the Bible.  I noticed that during the other days of the week I would find it seemingly impossible to read His word or just merely have time set aside to do it!

But there is a twist to that! I CAN afford to make the time. . . it is just that I made myself believe that television shows and other activities get in the way.

I realized that and prayed to the Lord about it. I said that I know that the amount of time I do spend with Him He does appreciate. . . but I feel I haven’t appreciated Him to bring more of Him into my life.

I need to give God more time by reading His Word and praying more. Plus I need to have Him use me more. . . because these chances I got to serve Him were not going to last forever!

I still need to while I had that “territory” to proclaim the word of God to head to my own territory. . . to my own house, to my neighbors, and to others and shine God’s light to show them that He loves them so.

One saying that a church member said about serving God has stuck with me for a few years. She made a point about telling people about the Bible and said how much God uses it. She said how we are free to share as much as we want.

And she said: You can’t “outgive” God.

What did she mean about this?

That God’s faithfulness and love is available today and always! That He loves us so much and that He wants us who know Him to let other people know that.

It says in God’s Word: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

Does that mean some of the world? Does that mean only church members? Yes right!!—–

Well maybe you have been unintentionally feeling that way but that is not true! We live in a world (especially us in America) that when things go well and it is up to us to tell people the Gospel we may think our way out of it. Or we think, “People will think I am silly if I tell them about Jesus.”

Well guess what? If we do not speak about the One to the world it is like we are in the world.

I think we should be thought of as “silly” in a way. Hey. Normal is not a good thing. 😛

But if we get rejected by the world and persecuted maybe it could bring people to see that “light” in your heart because you are not like everyone else. Maybe someone could see you as an example for someone who follows God.

Be an example tonight. Give out for God. Let Him know how much you appreciate Him. Tell your children a bible story before they go to bed. Pray to God and ask Him to be glorified in your life. Love the Lord!

And maybe God will one day thank you that you gave so much for Him. . .