I read a post this morning and re-shared it, the nine words on it were so true and touched my heart so deep that I very nearly cried as I read them. It read 'God gives me the love that the world cannot,' as someone who has lived their whole life feeling rejected by their peers and worlds away from the rest of their family I know those words, I could have written them. I never felt secure in love before God's love covered me and I began to finally understand real love. Before that I had doubts and fears and walls to protect myself in all my relationships, including my parents and husband. My experiences and disappointments taught me that nothing and no one was to be trusted and I had to protect myself, protect my heart.
This is a really hard thing for me to admit, but it's true. I doubted and questioned every relationship in my life and because of that I was kept from fully experiencing just how wonderful love could really be. But after I started an intimate, time consuming, thought consuming, heart consuming relationship with Jesus this changed. In the last 2 1/2 years and especially this past year as I worked on this blog and God used it to teach me about Him, and my own shortcomings, I have learned a lot about what love really is, and what it takes to experience love to it's fullest.
I learned first that I had these same walls in my relationship with God, and God broke me down until I accepted that it was all or none. He brought me to a point where I finally confessed everything and begged to be free from it for good. When I was finally fully vulnerable and open to Him I was filled up with a peace and a security that I never known before. I finally felt safe and loved so deeply that I knew nothing could ever shake it, and I knew in that moment that I could never live without it in my life again. I realized suddenly that there truly was no life outside of God, and pleasing Him was much more important than pleasing man. Man had rejected me, man had made me feel worthless and afraid to trust anyone even myself, but God's love covered all of that.
I have learned that real love is honest, and vulnerable, it is giving and forgiving, and has nothing to do with fairness. Real love is jealously protected and more interested in the other's happiness than your own. Real love is sacrifice, just as Jesus self-lessly sacrificed for us. To love there must be vulnerability, there must be trust and honesty, there must be forgiveness without expectations of fairness, and you must be humble, pride has no place in love and will bring only tension and distance. God has taught me all of this, some of it many times over until I understood. God gives me the love that the world cannot, because there is no love outside of God, because God is love, you must know God to understand the fullness of love, otherwise what we experience is only a shadow of what could be.
Psalm 62:8
Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah
Jeremiah 31:3
The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.
1 John 4:8
Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
1 John 4:16
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
1 John 4:19
We love because he first loved us.
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Comfort and Refuge
When I'm searching for comfort because my heart is aching or the world has just been too much for me I often find myself reading Psalms. I can always find something that David, Solomon or the other Psalmist wrote so long ago that speaks to what I am experiencing or how I am feeling at that time. One Psalm that I woke up thinking about today was Psalm 61; it's only 8 verses long but it's verses 1-5 that were playing in my head this morning. It describes someone going through a seemingly terrible time and begging to be safe in the presence of the Lord.
While I am thankfully not going through anything major right now, I can relate to how David felt, I have often been down on my knees in times of struggle begging God to feel His presence, to let me know that He was close by holding me through the storm. I love David's words in this Psalm, I love that he refers to God as his refuge and strong tower. And I really love that David doesn't ask to be removed from the struggle, just for the comfort of the Lord.
Some people have this misconception that nothing bad will happen to good Christians, that their life is easy because they are blessed, or that if they become a Christian all of their problems will suddenly stop. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Being a Christian doesn't make life easier, in fact Jesus warns us that we will be hated, and persecuted for following him. Nowhere in the Bible does it say abiding in God's will, will make life easy and trouble free. But what we do have as Christians is the opportunity to do what David did, we have the opportunity to go before the Father and ask for His comfort and protection. That doesn't mean the struggle will end, because God often allows us to struggle and be frustrated so that we can mature in our spirit, but it means we have hope and peace in our hearts during struggles because we know and believe that God uses everything for the good of those who love Him.
Psalm 61:1-5
While I am thankfully not going through anything major right now, I can relate to how David felt, I have often been down on my knees in times of struggle begging God to feel His presence, to let me know that He was close by holding me through the storm. I love David's words in this Psalm, I love that he refers to God as his refuge and strong tower. And I really love that David doesn't ask to be removed from the struggle, just for the comfort of the Lord.
Some people have this misconception that nothing bad will happen to good Christians, that their life is easy because they are blessed, or that if they become a Christian all of their problems will suddenly stop. But nothing could be farther from the truth. Being a Christian doesn't make life easier, in fact Jesus warns us that we will be hated, and persecuted for following him. Nowhere in the Bible does it say abiding in God's will, will make life easy and trouble free. But what we do have as Christians is the opportunity to do what David did, we have the opportunity to go before the Father and ask for His comfort and protection. That doesn't mean the struggle will end, because God often allows us to struggle and be frustrated so that we can mature in our spirit, but it means we have hope and peace in our hearts during struggles because we know and believe that God uses everything for the good of those who love Him.
Psalm 61:1-5
1Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
2From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
3For you have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
4I long to dwell in your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
5For you, God, have heard my vows;
you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.
Romans 8:28
Monday, November 24, 2014
Invitation to Gratitude
This week here in the States it is Thanksgiving, and for me it also marks one year that I have been writing on this blog and started pursuing my dream of being a published writer. I have been really blessed this past year, not only because my blog has done better than I expected, but because my relationship with the Lord has grown so much.
I have seen my character grow and change this past year as I made pursuing God and sharing what I am learning with others a priority in my life. I have seen how you can intend for something to go a certain way but if placed in the hands of God it can become something different, something better and unexpected! I have learned to endure storms by seeking shelter in the presence of the Father, I have learned the power of the name of Jesus in times of fear and I have learned to praise Him in my pain and heartache. I have much to be grateful for this year at Thanksgiving, and everyday.
I want to invite you to be grateful too, I want to invite you to turn to the Father today with a heart that is truly seeking Him and see what He can change in you in a year. Make a commitment to spend time with Him everyday and see where He moves you! If you are willing to surrender in obedience to the Almighty I can promise you that you will not be disappointed, you will be up lifted! God never fails to provide for those who seek Him, God never fails at all.
I ask you today to look into your heart, spend some time in quiet solitude thinking of all that you to be grateful for, and all that you overcome, this was all done by God's grace. Give thanks to the Father in heaven, seek Him diligently, and recognize that He loves you.
Psalm 100:1-5
A Psalm for giving thanks.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
1 Chronicles 29:12-14
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
I have seen my character grow and change this past year as I made pursuing God and sharing what I am learning with others a priority in my life. I have seen how you can intend for something to go a certain way but if placed in the hands of God it can become something different, something better and unexpected! I have learned to endure storms by seeking shelter in the presence of the Father, I have learned the power of the name of Jesus in times of fear and I have learned to praise Him in my pain and heartache. I have much to be grateful for this year at Thanksgiving, and everyday.
I want to invite you to be grateful too, I want to invite you to turn to the Father today with a heart that is truly seeking Him and see what He can change in you in a year. Make a commitment to spend time with Him everyday and see where He moves you! If you are willing to surrender in obedience to the Almighty I can promise you that you will not be disappointed, you will be up lifted! God never fails to provide for those who seek Him, God never fails at all.
I ask you today to look into your heart, spend some time in quiet solitude thinking of all that you to be grateful for, and all that you overcome, this was all done by God's grace. Give thanks to the Father in heaven, seek Him diligently, and recognize that He loves you.
Psalm 100:1-5
A Psalm for giving thanks.
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
1 Chronicles 29:12-14
Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name. “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able thus to offer willingly? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you.
Friday, November 21, 2014
Revelation or Deception?
How do you protect yourself against false teachings? How do you know if it's the Holy Spirit revealing truth to you or if it's your own heart, mind, or a deceptive spirit speaking these things to you? Can you know for sure?
Early in my walk with Jesus I fell prey to deceptive spirits, or thoughts. I believed in Jesus and would confess him as Lord and Savior, but I didn't have much knowledge or understanding of the scripture and spent very little time familiarizing myself with them. This makes a believer extremely vulnerable. I soon started to believe whatever I heard about God that made sense to how I perceived His character to be. I started to rationalize in my mind about God, things like a loving God would never send good people to hell just for not believing in Jesus, or it's okay to lie to protect someone's feelings because God wouldn't want me to hurt people, or its okay to not change my ways after accepting Jesus because I'm saved now and He loves me just as I am. These among others were all really comfortable thoughts, but not truth.
Repeatedly we warned by Jesus and his apostles to beware false teachers and prophets who claim revelation that is contradictory to the gospel, to the word of God, but how do you know, how do you recognize? First, you must be reading His word for yourself, you have to know the word to know when someone isn't telling you the truth of what's in it or if they are abusing and misquoting it. Second, realize that God is unchanging (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) if He said it, it is truth, and it is an unchanging truth from an unchanging God. This means that when God says things like He did in Jeremiah 29:11; or in John 14:23-24 He means those things.
I paired those two verses together because of this, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans and it's for our good not evil; that is easy enough to accept and very comforting especially when you going through a struggle! But here's the trickier part, believing in the truth of the gospel means believing in the whole thing and not just the easy, comforting parts. John 14:23-24 reads 'Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.' I bolded parts of this verse because I want you to really read and understand the verse and not just skim over it. Jesus is saying we must keep his word, that means we must be obedient to it, we must be obedient to God who sent the word among us. That means we have to do what the word says, which means we have to know what it says.
So, to summarize so far, we can protect ourselves from false teachings by reading the Bible, understanding it and accepting it as truth, even the uncomfortable parts. This way when our hearts, minds, or someone else tells us something that is contradictory to it we know. We are also told to test the spirits to know if they are of God, and to look at the fruits of the teachers (1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-20). Now, when the Bible tells us to look at a teacher's fruit it isn't talking about how blessed the person is financially, or how gifted a speaker they are, but He wants us to look at how well they are representing Christ, do they genuinely display the fruits of the spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23; and as for those pesky deceiving spirits they may know Jesus is the son of God, but they won't accept him as the Savior, as the only way to heaven because of their rebellion.
I could honestly write on this topic all day, giving you tons of scriptures and examples from my life, and other people I know, but I am going to stop here. I hope this has helped anyone who may be questioning what to believe because of things they are hearing or reading. I hope this helps anyone who had been questioning things in their own hearts too. Always check things against the word, and take your questions to God, through the teacher He left with us, the Holy Spirit(John 14:26), your answers will be revealed. Shalom!
Jeremiah 5:30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
2 Peter 2:1-3
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 John 1:7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Early in my walk with Jesus I fell prey to deceptive spirits, or thoughts. I believed in Jesus and would confess him as Lord and Savior, but I didn't have much knowledge or understanding of the scripture and spent very little time familiarizing myself with them. This makes a believer extremely vulnerable. I soon started to believe whatever I heard about God that made sense to how I perceived His character to be. I started to rationalize in my mind about God, things like a loving God would never send good people to hell just for not believing in Jesus, or it's okay to lie to protect someone's feelings because God wouldn't want me to hurt people, or its okay to not change my ways after accepting Jesus because I'm saved now and He loves me just as I am. These among others were all really comfortable thoughts, but not truth.
Repeatedly we warned by Jesus and his apostles to beware false teachers and prophets who claim revelation that is contradictory to the gospel, to the word of God, but how do you know, how do you recognize? First, you must be reading His word for yourself, you have to know the word to know when someone isn't telling you the truth of what's in it or if they are abusing and misquoting it. Second, realize that God is unchanging (Numbers 23:19; Malachi 3:6; Hebrews 13:8) if He said it, it is truth, and it is an unchanging truth from an unchanging God. This means that when God says things like He did in Jeremiah 29:11; or in John 14:23-24 He means those things.
I paired those two verses together because of this, Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that God has plans and it's for our good not evil; that is easy enough to accept and very comforting especially when you going through a struggle! But here's the trickier part, believing in the truth of the gospel means believing in the whole thing and not just the easy, comforting parts. John 14:23-24 reads 'Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father's who sent me.' I bolded parts of this verse because I want you to really read and understand the verse and not just skim over it. Jesus is saying we must keep his word, that means we must be obedient to it, we must be obedient to God who sent the word among us. That means we have to do what the word says, which means we have to know what it says.
So, to summarize so far, we can protect ourselves from false teachings by reading the Bible, understanding it and accepting it as truth, even the uncomfortable parts. This way when our hearts, minds, or someone else tells us something that is contradictory to it we know. We are also told to test the spirits to know if they are of God, and to look at the fruits of the teachers (1 John 4:1; Matthew 7:15-20). Now, when the Bible tells us to look at a teacher's fruit it isn't talking about how blessed the person is financially, or how gifted a speaker they are, but He wants us to look at how well they are representing Christ, do they genuinely display the fruits of the spirit, found in Galatians 5:22-23; and as for those pesky deceiving spirits they may know Jesus is the son of God, but they won't accept him as the Savior, as the only way to heaven because of their rebellion.
I could honestly write on this topic all day, giving you tons of scriptures and examples from my life, and other people I know, but I am going to stop here. I hope this has helped anyone who may be questioning what to believe because of things they are hearing or reading. I hope this helps anyone who had been questioning things in their own hearts too. Always check things against the word, and take your questions to God, through the teacher He left with us, the Holy Spirit(John 14:26), your answers will be revealed. Shalom!
Jeremiah 5:30-31
An appalling and horrible thing has happened in the land: the prophets prophesy falsely, and the priests rule at their direction; my people love to have it so, but what will you do when the end comes?
2 Peter 2:1-3
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.
2 John 1:7-11
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
Galatians 1:8
But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Rocks Cry Out
A couple days ago when I was driving into work they played a sound bite on the morning radio show I usually listen to, the sound bite was of a comet, something that had just been released by NASA. The audio was crackling but among that you heard these clicking sounds, which they said was coming from the comet. It was completely fantastic! I thought it was so neat that God created these comets to make a sound that we, without technology, would never be able to hear, but I didn't put much more thought into than that.
Then, yesterday a woman called into the radio show to tell the morning show people how much of an impact it had on her, because of something her 11 year old son said. Since than I have been thinking a lot about the sound of the comet, and why God would have created it in a way to make a sound when we would never hear it, and the woman's thoughts on this.
The woman, whose name escapes my memory, said that she and her son had been listening when they played that comet sound, and thought it was really cool. She, like myself didn't give it too much thought other than praising God about the sound because it was so neat. But her son put more thought into it. He said to her, later that day I believe but I am not certain, that there must not be enough people worshipping God if the comets are doing it. He asked her 'didn't Jesus say that if we were silent the stones would cry out, isn't the comet a stone?' She said at first she was stunned by her sons words, then she prayed to the Father that she never be so silent with her praise and worship that she be replaced by a stone.
What her son reminded her of is Luke 19:40 ' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ' Jesus spoke those words to the Pharisees who wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples who were worshipping him as he rode into Jerusalem, and I've been thinking about this, especially after reading the verse in the complete context this morning.
Here are my thoughts, and I am quite happy to read and discuss others as well. I used to read that verse as just part of the story, I never honestly gave it much thought before, and when I did I imagined cartoony rocks in my head singing Psalms if the people that day hadn't worshipped. But now I feel like that 11 year old may have a better understanding of that verse than I did. One thing I have realized about all that red print in the Bible and statements that were made by God in the Old Testament, is that they tend to not only deal with what is going on in the particular story they are found in, but are timeless statements from a God that is outside our understanding of time. Jesus wasn't speaking about just in that moment but of now and in the future as well as more fall away, the rocks in the skies are crying out now, just as Jesus said would happen if his disciples were quiet.
The woman prayed that her praise and worship never be so quiet that she be replaced by a stone, and I totally get where she's coming from, and I understand now why God created rocks in the sky to make noise that no man would hear, because it was never meant for us, only because of us. We are failing to offer the praise and worship that Jesus is deserving of and because of that the rocks are supplying it. This breaks my heart to think about, because it shows the lack of the faithful in the world. I never want to be replaced by a stone, I want to sing and dance before my God, I want to praise Him always, as I hope you do too. I hope this story today made you think, and I hope you bring praise and glory to the Father today and everyday. God bless you.
Luke 19:37-40
Psalm 96:11-13
Then, yesterday a woman called into the radio show to tell the morning show people how much of an impact it had on her, because of something her 11 year old son said. Since than I have been thinking a lot about the sound of the comet, and why God would have created it in a way to make a sound when we would never hear it, and the woman's thoughts on this.
The woman, whose name escapes my memory, said that she and her son had been listening when they played that comet sound, and thought it was really cool. She, like myself didn't give it too much thought other than praising God about the sound because it was so neat. But her son put more thought into it. He said to her, later that day I believe but I am not certain, that there must not be enough people worshipping God if the comets are doing it. He asked her 'didn't Jesus say that if we were silent the stones would cry out, isn't the comet a stone?' She said at first she was stunned by her sons words, then she prayed to the Father that she never be so silent with her praise and worship that she be replaced by a stone.
What her son reminded her of is Luke 19:40 ' “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” ' Jesus spoke those words to the Pharisees who wanted Jesus to rebuke his disciples who were worshipping him as he rode into Jerusalem, and I've been thinking about this, especially after reading the verse in the complete context this morning.
Here are my thoughts, and I am quite happy to read and discuss others as well. I used to read that verse as just part of the story, I never honestly gave it much thought before, and when I did I imagined cartoony rocks in my head singing Psalms if the people that day hadn't worshipped. But now I feel like that 11 year old may have a better understanding of that verse than I did. One thing I have realized about all that red print in the Bible and statements that were made by God in the Old Testament, is that they tend to not only deal with what is going on in the particular story they are found in, but are timeless statements from a God that is outside our understanding of time. Jesus wasn't speaking about just in that moment but of now and in the future as well as more fall away, the rocks in the skies are crying out now, just as Jesus said would happen if his disciples were quiet.
The woman prayed that her praise and worship never be so quiet that she be replaced by a stone, and I totally get where she's coming from, and I understand now why God created rocks in the sky to make noise that no man would hear, because it was never meant for us, only because of us. We are failing to offer the praise and worship that Jesus is deserving of and because of that the rocks are supplying it. This breaks my heart to think about, because it shows the lack of the faithful in the world. I never want to be replaced by a stone, I want to sing and dance before my God, I want to praise Him always, as I hope you do too. I hope this story today made you think, and I hope you bring praise and glory to the Father today and everyday. God bless you.
Luke 19:37-40
37When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
38“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”
39Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”
40“I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”
Psalm 96:11-13
11Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Joshua 24:27
"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
"See!" he said to all the people. "This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the LORD has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God."
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Grateful for my Pain
Yesterday I visited my parents and grandparents before taking my little sister for some girl time together, this is a usual practice for me, something I do just about every week. While we were visiting we got onto the topic of school, home-schooling, and bullying. Bullying is a big issue today in schools and truly seems to be getting worse to me, I can't remember now what brought this topic up, but as we discussed it I realized for the first time yesterday that there is a part of me that is actually grateful that I was bullied in school.
Yes, you read that right, I said there is a part of me that is actually grateful I was bullied. Looking back I will be blunt, school was absolutely hell on earth for me. I used to beg to be home schooled, or sent away to some boarding school to escape my tormentors. Neither of which ever happened. I went everyday and had to face the fat jokes, the laughter, the mooing when I walked through the hallways, the terrible rumors, fakeness from peers who wanted to use me, name calling, and feeling like I was a total outsider, completely rejected. I was hated, and to this day I still don't really understand why they hated me, but I am glad now that they did, I am glad that I endured through that pain and was made stronger by it.
I know that seems really strange to say but as I spoke with my dad and grandparents yesterday I realized that enduring the bullying had been like walking through the refiners fire for me. Now, at 26 I am not afraid of the opinion of my peers, the opinion of other people because I have already endured and overcome it. People can say nasty things about me, but it wouldn't be anything new, o I'm able to let it roll right off my back. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus now, because I don't fear what others think about me. I have worked for secular and Christian businesses and been laughed at behind my back by my co-workers, but it doesn't bother me the way it used to, because I have accepted that the world will never accept me, but Jesus does. Because of what I endured then, I can now let go of the things people say.
Today I am grateful for being bullied in school and well, I guess technically at one of my previous jobs too. I am grateful that I learned to withstand the opinions of others without conforming to who the world wanted me to be. I am grateful that Father has used something that the world tried to use my destruction for His glory by allowing me to write about Him and His word. I see now that He allowed me to endure all that pain and heartache because it would make me strong against the world's opinion. This is just one of the things that amazes me about God, there is always purpose for the pain, beauty for the ashes.
Please know that whatever pain you have endured, whatever suffering has happened in your life, it happened for a reason. If you surrender yourself to God and give Him your pain He will heal it and use for His glory, the suffering will make sense in hindsight when you realize it has brought out strength, or patience, or love or one of the many other wonderful attributes that He choses to build in you. No suffering is without its reward when you trust yourself to God and allow Him to use it. Be blessed.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Yes, you read that right, I said there is a part of me that is actually grateful I was bullied. Looking back I will be blunt, school was absolutely hell on earth for me. I used to beg to be home schooled, or sent away to some boarding school to escape my tormentors. Neither of which ever happened. I went everyday and had to face the fat jokes, the laughter, the mooing when I walked through the hallways, the terrible rumors, fakeness from peers who wanted to use me, name calling, and feeling like I was a total outsider, completely rejected. I was hated, and to this day I still don't really understand why they hated me, but I am glad now that they did, I am glad that I endured through that pain and was made stronger by it.
I know that seems really strange to say but as I spoke with my dad and grandparents yesterday I realized that enduring the bullying had been like walking through the refiners fire for me. Now, at 26 I am not afraid of the opinion of my peers, the opinion of other people because I have already endured and overcome it. People can say nasty things about me, but it wouldn't be anything new, o I'm able to let it roll right off my back. I am not ashamed to talk about Jesus now, because I don't fear what others think about me. I have worked for secular and Christian businesses and been laughed at behind my back by my co-workers, but it doesn't bother me the way it used to, because I have accepted that the world will never accept me, but Jesus does. Because of what I endured then, I can now let go of the things people say.
Today I am grateful for being bullied in school and well, I guess technically at one of my previous jobs too. I am grateful that I learned to withstand the opinions of others without conforming to who the world wanted me to be. I am grateful that Father has used something that the world tried to use my destruction for His glory by allowing me to write about Him and His word. I see now that He allowed me to endure all that pain and heartache because it would make me strong against the world's opinion. This is just one of the things that amazes me about God, there is always purpose for the pain, beauty for the ashes.
Please know that whatever pain you have endured, whatever suffering has happened in your life, it happened for a reason. If you surrender yourself to God and give Him your pain He will heal it and use for His glory, the suffering will make sense in hindsight when you realize it has brought out strength, or patience, or love or one of the many other wonderful attributes that He choses to build in you. No suffering is without its reward when you trust yourself to God and allow Him to use it. Be blessed.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.
Romans 5:3-5
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.
1 Peter 5:10
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.
Monday, November 17, 2014
A New Heart
Sometimes I used to pray for a heart like king David's, a heart that loved the Lord so much he was called a man after God's own heart, and right now thinking about that prayer I am disappointed in myself. I should not have been coveting David's love for God, but pursuing a relationship whole heartedly in that example. I should have been praying for a heart like Jesus! I should be praying for a heart filled with obedience and agape love! I should be praying for more of Him, and less of me.
I can't say for sure what brought me to this thought this morning but as I re-read what I wrote above I believe it may have been the Holy Spirit leading me. Leading me to see my error and correct my course, God is amazing like that! If we pray for a new heart in Jesus's name it should be His, we should be asking to have a heart like His so we can be more like Him and learn to love like Him, and this is scriptural, John 3:30 says 'He must increase, but I must decrease' and 1 John 2:6 reads 'Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.' And we see it again in Galatians 2:20 where it says 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' Each one of those verses say the same thing, we must walk in the ways of Christ by decreasing ourselves and increasing Him.
This is not a suggestion, this is a repeated command. We must repent and walk in the righteousness of the Lord and it is impossible for us to do that without Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:12 makes that clear as we read what it says, 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.' It's not talking about our earthly temporary life here, but everlasting life, Jesus is the source of life that life, of all life really, (see John 1:1-18).
This morning as I read scripture and pray while I writing this I am very aware of the words I am sharing with you, and I hope you feel the weight of them. This is important, following Jesus, being a Christian, it isn't about going to church every week, or singing worship music, it's not about learning the words of the Bible, but about learning God's character by the reading of the word and prayer, it's about exemplifying Jesus by our character and bringing Him glory. We aren't going to be perfect at this, as Paul wrote 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' and God knows this, that is why He gave us the perfect sacrificial lamb in Jesus Christ and why we have His Holy Spirit, the helper. By acceptance of Jesus's sacrifice we are able to be cleansed and enter into the kingdom of God. I pray that today and everyday there be more Jesus in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, and especially our hearts, more of Him, and less of us. Let us go forward each day more God-centered than the day before, in Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
I can't say for sure what brought me to this thought this morning but as I re-read what I wrote above I believe it may have been the Holy Spirit leading me. Leading me to see my error and correct my course, God is amazing like that! If we pray for a new heart in Jesus's name it should be His, we should be asking to have a heart like His so we can be more like Him and learn to love like Him, and this is scriptural, John 3:30 says 'He must increase, but I must decrease' and 1 John 2:6 reads 'Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.' And we see it again in Galatians 2:20 where it says 'I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.' Each one of those verses say the same thing, we must walk in the ways of Christ by decreasing ourselves and increasing Him.
This is not a suggestion, this is a repeated command. We must repent and walk in the righteousness of the Lord and it is impossible for us to do that without Jesus Christ. 1 John 5:12 makes that clear as we read what it says, 'Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.' It's not talking about our earthly temporary life here, but everlasting life, Jesus is the source of life that life, of all life really, (see John 1:1-18).
This morning as I read scripture and pray while I writing this I am very aware of the words I am sharing with you, and I hope you feel the weight of them. This is important, following Jesus, being a Christian, it isn't about going to church every week, or singing worship music, it's not about learning the words of the Bible, but about learning God's character by the reading of the word and prayer, it's about exemplifying Jesus by our character and bringing Him glory. We aren't going to be perfect at this, as Paul wrote 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak,' and God knows this, that is why He gave us the perfect sacrificial lamb in Jesus Christ and why we have His Holy Spirit, the helper. By acceptance of Jesus's sacrifice we are able to be cleansed and enter into the kingdom of God. I pray that today and everyday there be more Jesus in our lives, in our words, in our deeds, and especially our hearts, more of Him, and less of us. Let us go forward each day more God-centered than the day before, in Jesus name, Amen.
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.
1 John 3:9
No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
Ephesians 4:22-24
To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
Friday, November 14, 2014
Grateful For The Lesson
A while back I shared a quote that someone else had originally shared, it said 'Don't ask God why He's allowing something to happen. Ask Him what He wants you to learn and do in the midst of it.' Well, today I think I understand why it moved me the way it did. For a while a certain, very angering, situation has been repeating it self, every time I think I am doing well and getting ahead, and being careful about it suddenly I will be set back again. This has been happening for years now. My typical response to this situation is to get angry at myself and take it out on whoever has the misfortune to speak to me, I know it's wrong and always feel bad about it afterwards, but until today I was never able to stop myself and think my behavior through before reacting.
Today when I found out that the situation had happened again I started to get angry, started to lose my temper, and got mad at God, asking Him through tears 'Why does this keep happening? What else can I do! God why do keep allowing this to happen! Why do I have to keep going through this despite all my prayers and my efforts to be careful and obedient?' Then that quote popped into my head, and a story someone had shared on Klove months ago. I realized instead of questioning God, getting angry, and seriously throwing a fit like a three year child I should be asking God what it is He wants me to learn.
When I realized this I was able to let go of my anger, in seconds I was completely calm, cool, and collected again. I prayed about it and now I realize that at least part of what He was trying to teach me by allowing this to happen over and over again is that I needed to respond better to the situation in the moment. I realize now that I needed to let go of my frustration and anger and think things through with a heart that was trusting the Lord instead of pouting that things didn't go my way. I realize now that from the start I should have responded calmly asking God what I needed to learn, do or change, instead of lashing out.
Now, looking back on things I am grateful. I know that probably sounds weird, but truly I am actually grateful for the lesson that I learned today and I wish I had learned it sooner so I didn't have to repeat it so many times. I am sincerely praising God that He is so good to correct me, that He loves me enough to teach me how He wants me to be and how He wants me to respond! This is one of the many beautiful things about our Lord!
I hope you that if you have been feeling like I did today that you don't make the same mistake I did, I hope you will ask the Father for forgiveness because of your behavior and ask for the lesson in the situation instead of lashing out and having to repeat it so many times. I hope you can respond in love and trust, rather than anger like I did. I hope you will understand and remember that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and that God never allows things to happen to us that won't build us into better more Christ like people. When bad things happen give praise for the lesson and trust that God will use it to make you better and stronger I faith.
Psalm 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 118:28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Today when I found out that the situation had happened again I started to get angry, started to lose my temper, and got mad at God, asking Him through tears 'Why does this keep happening? What else can I do! God why do keep allowing this to happen! Why do I have to keep going through this despite all my prayers and my efforts to be careful and obedient?' Then that quote popped into my head, and a story someone had shared on Klove months ago. I realized instead of questioning God, getting angry, and seriously throwing a fit like a three year child I should be asking God what it is He wants me to learn.
When I realized this I was able to let go of my anger, in seconds I was completely calm, cool, and collected again. I prayed about it and now I realize that at least part of what He was trying to teach me by allowing this to happen over and over again is that I needed to respond better to the situation in the moment. I realize now that I needed to let go of my frustration and anger and think things through with a heart that was trusting the Lord instead of pouting that things didn't go my way. I realize now that from the start I should have responded calmly asking God what I needed to learn, do or change, instead of lashing out.
Now, looking back on things I am grateful. I know that probably sounds weird, but truly I am actually grateful for the lesson that I learned today and I wish I had learned it sooner so I didn't have to repeat it so many times. I am sincerely praising God that He is so good to correct me, that He loves me enough to teach me how He wants me to be and how He wants me to respond! This is one of the many beautiful things about our Lord!
I hope you that if you have been feeling like I did today that you don't make the same mistake I did, I hope you will ask the Father for forgiveness because of your behavior and ask for the lesson in the situation instead of lashing out and having to repeat it so many times. I hope you can respond in love and trust, rather than anger like I did. I hope you will understand and remember that everything that happens, happens for a reason, and that God never allows things to happen to us that won't build us into better more Christ like people. When bad things happen give praise for the lesson and trust that God will use it to make you better and stronger I faith.
Psalm 7:17
I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness, and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.
Psalm 118:28
You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
James 1:2-5
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you
Thursday, November 13, 2014
With All Your Heart and With All Your Soul.
Yesterday I wrote about how I had prayed for over two years about a situation and how suddenly things are moving rapidly in a better direction, I did my best to encourage you to stay in prayer and to seek God through the struggle, while sharing my experience so that you could see and understand that God is STILL a God of miracles who answers prayers, He is a God who loves you and will fulfill any promises He makes to you in His perfect timing. I didn't write that to brag on my relationship but to encourage you in yours, to encourage you to seek God, because if you are not looking to God and are instead relying on man you are doomed.
I feel like I need to say this again, do not rely on me or anyone else to teach you who God is, seek Him, He wants a personal relationship with you. Reading devotional blogs, books, and listening to sermons are all good ways to gain understanding, but if you are not reading the word yourself you are missing a vital part of a relationship with God. I know I go back to this every couple of days but it is extremely important! I really feel in my spirit too many are relying on writers and preachers to tell them or teach them who God is, and He is telling you 'Seek me, and I will provide you with the answers you need!'
I just can't get rid of this feeling that I need to keep repeating this, you have to seek God for yourself, you have to be reading His word for yourself, there are many wolves out there and if you are not in God's word reading it and praying over it yourself you will not be able to recognize them when they come. If you are not spending time with Him everyday you are leaving yourself vulnerable to any lie someone may hand you. To know the truth you must get it from a source that doesn't lie, people lie, thankfully God does not and is your best source for learning who He is through the Holy Spirit upon genuine acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
I want everyone who reads these post to seek to honor, glorify, and personally know God. I pray everyday before, during, and after the writing of these post that people will turn to Him. It is His desire that not one of His children should perish, but that we all receive eternal life with Him in heaven, but we can not enter into the gates if we do not know Him! Being a good person without a life centered on God is like drying your hair before you get in the shower, pointless because it accomplishes nothing. You must have a relationship with God and have accepted Jesus Christ not only in words but in spirit.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
I feel like I need to say this again, do not rely on me or anyone else to teach you who God is, seek Him, He wants a personal relationship with you. Reading devotional blogs, books, and listening to sermons are all good ways to gain understanding, but if you are not reading the word yourself you are missing a vital part of a relationship with God. I know I go back to this every couple of days but it is extremely important! I really feel in my spirit too many are relying on writers and preachers to tell them or teach them who God is, and He is telling you 'Seek me, and I will provide you with the answers you need!'
I just can't get rid of this feeling that I need to keep repeating this, you have to seek God for yourself, you have to be reading His word for yourself, there are many wolves out there and if you are not in God's word reading it and praying over it yourself you will not be able to recognize them when they come. If you are not spending time with Him everyday you are leaving yourself vulnerable to any lie someone may hand you. To know the truth you must get it from a source that doesn't lie, people lie, thankfully God does not and is your best source for learning who He is through the Holy Spirit upon genuine acceptance of Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.
I want everyone who reads these post to seek to honor, glorify, and personally know God. I pray everyday before, during, and after the writing of these post that people will turn to Him. It is His desire that not one of His children should perish, but that we all receive eternal life with Him in heaven, but we can not enter into the gates if we do not know Him! Being a good person without a life centered on God is like drying your hair before you get in the shower, pointless because it accomplishes nothing. You must have a relationship with God and have accepted Jesus Christ not only in words but in spirit.
Deuteronomy 4:29
But from there you will seek the Lord your God and you will find him, if you search after him with all your heart and with all your soul.
Proverbs 8:17
I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently find me.
Jeremiah 29:12-14
Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you. You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, declares the Lord, and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you, declares the Lord, and I will bring you back to the place from which I sent you into exile.
Matthew 6:33
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 7:7-8
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
John 15:5-8
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Never Stop Praying
Prayer is extremely powerful, it may not work the exact minute you pray but trust me it works! I have been praying for a situation for about two maybe two and half years now, and there were times when it seemed hopeless, like my prayers would never be answered, and when I did get a flicker of hope the rug would be pulled out from underneath me again leaving me looking up to God and wondering why. Now though, after all that time the battle is ending and my prayers are being answered, things are moving rapidly in a positive direction and my heart is filled with joy and praise for my heavenly Father!
I shared that short praise report with you about what God has done for me because I want you to be encouraged. I know first hand how hard it can be to stay in prayer for something when in the natural it looks like you are taking two steps forward only to take one step back again, but even that is progress; as painfully slow as it is! And trust me, there were many times where this situation felt like it was so painfully slow that I would cry uncontrollably and beg God for comfort, beg Him for a reason to hope. But I never gave up praying and that's the important part.
No matter what happened, no matter how hard or unfair things felt I kept praying and kept believing for restoration, I kept in the word. I kept telling myself and saying often out loud to God that I knew this struggle had purpose, and I knew my prayers would be answered in His perfect timing. I had no doubt that it would happen and persisted and pushed myself in faith to stay in prayer. I sought Him more each day in His word, and thanked Him for answering my prayer without proof or reason to. This was all part of the process, and an important lesson in the power of prayer, God's timing, and His ability to completely flip a situation when the time is right, which is exactly what happened in my situation.
If you have been praying for something and are struggling to hold onto hope that your prayer will be answered I urge you to keep praying, keep believing and dig even deeper into the word. Give thanks without evidence, and reassure yourself through time alone with God in prayer and reading the Bible that God will answer in His perfect timing or open up an opportunity that's even better! Push your faith beyond the limits of what you imagined you could handle and you will find God supplying you with more than you expected, I am not talking physical things here but spiritual, you will find more faith than you thought you had, more patience than you expected, and more strength and grace to face the struggle than you could have imagined. This is just one way how God exposes His divine glory to you and through you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 107:28-31
I shared that short praise report with you about what God has done for me because I want you to be encouraged. I know first hand how hard it can be to stay in prayer for something when in the natural it looks like you are taking two steps forward only to take one step back again, but even that is progress; as painfully slow as it is! And trust me, there were many times where this situation felt like it was so painfully slow that I would cry uncontrollably and beg God for comfort, beg Him for a reason to hope. But I never gave up praying and that's the important part.
No matter what happened, no matter how hard or unfair things felt I kept praying and kept believing for restoration, I kept in the word. I kept telling myself and saying often out loud to God that I knew this struggle had purpose, and I knew my prayers would be answered in His perfect timing. I had no doubt that it would happen and persisted and pushed myself in faith to stay in prayer. I sought Him more each day in His word, and thanked Him for answering my prayer without proof or reason to. This was all part of the process, and an important lesson in the power of prayer, God's timing, and His ability to completely flip a situation when the time is right, which is exactly what happened in my situation.
If you have been praying for something and are struggling to hold onto hope that your prayer will be answered I urge you to keep praying, keep believing and dig even deeper into the word. Give thanks without evidence, and reassure yourself through time alone with God in prayer and reading the Bible that God will answer in His perfect timing or open up an opportunity that's even better! Push your faith beyond the limits of what you imagined you could handle and you will find God supplying you with more than you expected, I am not talking physical things here but spiritual, you will find more faith than you thought you had, more patience than you expected, and more strength and grace to face the struggle than you could have imagined. This is just one way how God exposes His divine glory to you and through you.
Psalm 55:22
Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.
Psalm 107:28-31
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
Philippines 4:4-7
Philippines 4:4-7
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus
Monday, November 10, 2014
Miracle Monday
If I had to title this post as something other than Miracle Monday, I think I would quote the sharer, my dear friend +Alexandra Kalashnikova and say 'Sometimes just a little faith is enough.' I hope you are blessed by her testimony of healing, physical and spiritual. I pray that it encourages you in your walk with Christ and keeps you believing in God's miracles.
The thing that comes to mind is when my sister Katya was 18 she came to my apartment in Moscow with a friend whose face was swollen from tears. The friend's name was Nadia. She told me that her mom was scheduled for a brain surgery due to a brain tumor the next day. She just saw her mom before coming over and her mom was very weak, Nadia was afraid that she would die during surgery.
My sister is unsaved and I had prayed for her before when she was ill and she was healed. She said that she brought her friend to me because she believed that if I would pray for her mom she would be healed. I must mention that I was sick in the bed at this time. But I saw some faith in my sisters eyes, she had brought the girl by bus from the other side of town,and I did not tell them that I kind of had little faith at the time because I couldn't get well myself. But I got out of the bed anyway and got down on my knees and prayed.
They called me the next day and shouted hallelujah into the phone I thought they were playing a joke! But they said that another x-ray had been done tat morning and the tumor was gone! And Nadia's mom was discharged that day and she is still alive today! Nadia is now expecting a baby soon, God is so good!! Sometimes just a little faith is enough, I was healed too. It didn't happen all in one day but God did it!
Mark 11:20-25
My sister is unsaved and I had prayed for her before when she was ill and she was healed. She said that she brought her friend to me because she believed that if I would pray for her mom she would be healed. I must mention that I was sick in the bed at this time. But I saw some faith in my sisters eyes, she had brought the girl by bus from the other side of town,and I did not tell them that I kind of had little faith at the time because I couldn't get well myself. But I got out of the bed anyway and got down on my knees and prayed.
They called me the next day and shouted hallelujah into the phone I thought they were playing a joke! But they said that another x-ray had been done tat morning and the tumor was gone! And Nadia's mom was discharged that day and she is still alive today! Nadia is now expecting a baby soon, God is so good!! Sometimes just a little faith is enough, I was healed too. It didn't happen all in one day but God did it!
Mark 11:20-25
20 In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!”
22 “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. 23 “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”
Rules, Meant to Be Broken
From the time I was a child I heard the phrase, quote whatever you want to call it 'rules are meant to broken,' in fact the first time I heard it was in a cartoon, 'Batman' I think. Having heard that lie over and over again since we were kids here in the United States it's no wonder so many turn away from God, there's too many rules that can't be broken and it still be okay. Many people in my age group here find it difficult to accept Jesus Christ and his sacrifice because they have been taught since childhood to have a rebellious spirit, but in Christ you must sacrifice that rebellious nature for His and submit in obedience.
We break rules without a second thought to its purpose or if our actions will adversely affect anyone else. This attitude of it's okay to break the rules has crept into how the churches today teach Christianity, how people drive, the way our schools and government runs. We disregard our Constitution and create new laws to condone our actions, we intentionally disobey God and His laws then justify it in our hearts and minds. And this is all acceptable because we all have heard and come to accept that it's okay to break the rules so long as you get what you want and don't get caught.
Well, today I am telling you rules are not meant to broken. This rebellious attitude we so covet and glorify in our nation is sin, and it angers God. His rules were not meant to broken, they are meant to protect us, to keep us from death, they are meant to give us a clear understanding of His expectations for us, and if you can follow them to the best of your ability they provide a joy and peace to your life. God knows that this hard for us, and Jesus came to bare the burden of our sins, of our failings, but we can not continue on in a rebellious state, we must submit to our Master. I know many cling to the belief that it is okay to break rules if they're aren't hurting anyone, but truly you are, you are hurting yourself and grieving God. Do some rules need changing from time to time, yes obviously slavery is wrong and needed to be abolished all those years ago, and as we have gone from carriages to cars we had to change and create laws as well, but most rules are for our protection, just as God's laws are for our protection from death because to disobey is to sin, and sin leads to death. (Romans 6:23; James 4:17).
We must get rid of our rebellious spirits, submission to God's will and law is part of walking a life of faith. It is something that should be laid on our hearts after our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, because we are to reflect him, He is to be living in us and we are to follow His example of obedience. Which, honestly, if you have Jesus in your heart it is not a chore to keep God's laws it is a pleasure, and when you stumble, because you will, you know that forgiveness is only a prayer away, strength to do better is only a prayer away.
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Proverbs 17:11
An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Ezekiel 20:21
But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
Romans 8:7
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
1 John 3:24
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
We break rules without a second thought to its purpose or if our actions will adversely affect anyone else. This attitude of it's okay to break the rules has crept into how the churches today teach Christianity, how people drive, the way our schools and government runs. We disregard our Constitution and create new laws to condone our actions, we intentionally disobey God and His laws then justify it in our hearts and minds. And this is all acceptable because we all have heard and come to accept that it's okay to break the rules so long as you get what you want and don't get caught.
Well, today I am telling you rules are not meant to broken. This rebellious attitude we so covet and glorify in our nation is sin, and it angers God. His rules were not meant to broken, they are meant to protect us, to keep us from death, they are meant to give us a clear understanding of His expectations for us, and if you can follow them to the best of your ability they provide a joy and peace to your life. God knows that this hard for us, and Jesus came to bare the burden of our sins, of our failings, but we can not continue on in a rebellious state, we must submit to our Master. I know many cling to the belief that it is okay to break rules if they're aren't hurting anyone, but truly you are, you are hurting yourself and grieving God. Do some rules need changing from time to time, yes obviously slavery is wrong and needed to be abolished all those years ago, and as we have gone from carriages to cars we had to change and create laws as well, but most rules are for our protection, just as God's laws are for our protection from death because to disobey is to sin, and sin leads to death. (Romans 6:23; James 4:17).
We must get rid of our rebellious spirits, submission to God's will and law is part of walking a life of faith. It is something that should be laid on our hearts after our acceptance of Jesus Christ as our Lord and savior, because we are to reflect him, He is to be living in us and we are to follow His example of obedience. Which, honestly, if you have Jesus in your heart it is not a chore to keep God's laws it is a pleasure, and when you stumble, because you will, you know that forgiveness is only a prayer away, strength to do better is only a prayer away.
1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king.”
Proverbs 17:11
An evil man seeks only rebellion, and a cruel messenger will be sent against him.
Ezekiel 20:21
But the children rebelled against me. They did not walk in my statutes and were not careful to obey my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live; they profaned my Sabbaths. “Then I said I would pour out my wrath upon them and spend my anger against them in the wilderness.
Romans 8:7
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.
1 John 3:24
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Don't Get Distracted
Yesterday I wrote about how I have had a pretty difficult week but I was choosing to praise God anyway, that I was choosing to trust Him. After announcing that, my day went really well, last night turned out to be like a long a waited answer to one of my prayers, and then I got confirmation that my other prayer request were going to be answered through a dream. As I thought about all of this I was grateful, and I realized that all of that bad stuff that happened earlier this week may have been used to cause more problems and distractions had I not chosen to trust God.
See, I could have easily allowed fear, shame, and pride to win out when I treated my husband badly, but instead I went to him and asked for his forgiveness. I could have spent the whole week beating myself up over wrecking my car and screwing up the front fender, but instead my husband said he would show me how to do the body work to fix it and I was and still am grateful for the opportunity to fix the problem I caused. I could have, but surprisingly didn't, get angry, honk my horn and curse at the vehicle that almost caused the accident Wednesday, but instead I chose to believe that it was an accident on that person's part and let go of it.
Any one of those situations could have been used to cause me to stumble from walking with the Father, but the more stressful the week became the more I kept repeating Jeremiah 29:11 which says 'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' and also James 1:17 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' I stubbornly held onto trust in God; the worse this week seemed the more I believed and said that God would use these situations for good. And now it seems that I was right!
I wanted to share this today because I feel like often we let one, or two, or three bad incidents or more, that all happen together make us lose sight of God's word and promises. We start to get focused on the problems building up and take on a 'woe is me' attitude, allowing the circumstances to steal our joy. But really that kind of attitude accomplishes nothing, it leaves you stuck with these feelings of being overwhelmed and upset. But if you can look past those situations and trust that as bad, or uncomfortable as they are that they will bring good things then you are able to look at things in a more positive light and feel confident despite what circumstances may appear like.
Psalm 85:12
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Lamentations 3:25-26
See, I could have easily allowed fear, shame, and pride to win out when I treated my husband badly, but instead I went to him and asked for his forgiveness. I could have spent the whole week beating myself up over wrecking my car and screwing up the front fender, but instead my husband said he would show me how to do the body work to fix it and I was and still am grateful for the opportunity to fix the problem I caused. I could have, but surprisingly didn't, get angry, honk my horn and curse at the vehicle that almost caused the accident Wednesday, but instead I chose to believe that it was an accident on that person's part and let go of it.
Any one of those situations could have been used to cause me to stumble from walking with the Father, but the more stressful the week became the more I kept repeating Jeremiah 29:11 which says 'For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.' and also James 1:17 'Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.' I stubbornly held onto trust in God; the worse this week seemed the more I believed and said that God would use these situations for good. And now it seems that I was right!
I wanted to share this today because I feel like often we let one, or two, or three bad incidents or more, that all happen together make us lose sight of God's word and promises. We start to get focused on the problems building up and take on a 'woe is me' attitude, allowing the circumstances to steal our joy. But really that kind of attitude accomplishes nothing, it leaves you stuck with these feelings of being overwhelmed and upset. But if you can look past those situations and trust that as bad, or uncomfortable as they are that they will bring good things then you are able to look at things in a more positive light and feel confident despite what circumstances may appear like.
Psalm 85:12
12 The LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.
Proverbs 3:5
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.
Lamentations 3:25-26
25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; 26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.
Romans 8:28
28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Blessed Despite Stress.
This has been an extremely trying week! It's been one of those weeks where everyday something bad has happened, not little bad things but issues, things that need addressed but aren't necessarily comfortable to deal with or just a bad thing that happened like hitting my car Monday, and almost getting hit on my drive home from work yesterday because for one reason or another they didn't or weren't able to stop at their stop sign. Everyday there has been something to get me upset or stressed out, but I am praising God anyway!
See, Monday could have been worse, I hit my car because I avoided hitting a person. Tuesday was stressful too, and I didn't handle the day as well as I should have, but I was still able to thank God for the little things and people who helped to make the day brighter for me as I struggled through in prayer, and yesterday I was almost hit again, but wasn't and that certainly is a blessing! I have always had a fear of being hit by another car while driving so I am very aware of the other vehicles and was able to react in time to avoid the accident.
I count all of the above as blessings. I am grateful for all the ways I have been blessed despite my stress. I see and understand that while it has been a stressful week, it has also been a blessed one, and when I look at these experiences as a whole I see it all as one big learning experience and opportunity to grow in my relationship with God. It is all a chance to say 'God, I don't like these things, but I trust that whatever happens you will use it for your glory! I trust that these things have happened to grow me and for my good, not harm.'
Psalm 69:29-30
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 12:12
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
See, Monday could have been worse, I hit my car because I avoided hitting a person. Tuesday was stressful too, and I didn't handle the day as well as I should have, but I was still able to thank God for the little things and people who helped to make the day brighter for me as I struggled through in prayer, and yesterday I was almost hit again, but wasn't and that certainly is a blessing! I have always had a fear of being hit by another car while driving so I am very aware of the other vehicles and was able to react in time to avoid the accident.
I count all of the above as blessings. I am grateful for all the ways I have been blessed despite my stress. I see and understand that while it has been a stressful week, it has also been a blessed one, and when I look at these experiences as a whole I see it all as one big learning experience and opportunity to grow in my relationship with God. It is all a chance to say 'God, I don't like these things, but I trust that whatever happens you will use it for your glory! I trust that these things have happened to grow me and for my good, not harm.'
Psalm 69:29-30
29 But as for me, afflicted and in pain—
may your salvation, God, protect me.
30 I will praise God’s name in song
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
James 1:2-4
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Romans 12:12
12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Don't Compare
Have you ever compared your walk with Christ to someone else's? Likely it ended in one of two ways; either you felt pride over how 'good' you were and unrighteous they were, or it broke your pride and probably caused you to be jealous of that person, maybe without you even realizing it. Both really are dangerous to your walk with Jesus, one will fill you with pride, the other will crush your spirit as you despair over not being as 'good.' Both open doors to allow sin into your life. Over the weekend I spoke to someone who has been experiencing the latter.
I have been doing my best the last two days to find scripture about this situation, but I haven't found any yet that exactly match up to what this person is struggling with. They confessed to me recently that part of the reason they have been struggling lately in their faith was that for a long time they had been the most God-centered person they knew, but then someone else in their life started serving God with a lot of zealous energy and as they saw this and all the blessings that were following this person, they started to feel like less. This second person doesn't look down on them or say demeaning things about the first person's relationship with God, but it is that this second person has evident spiritual gifts and that is why the first person feels envious. The first person has not yet discerned or had it revealed what their spiritual gift is and they have been upset by seeing the blessing of the Lord on the second person.
This definitely seems to me to be an issue of jealousy and maybe a little pride too. I wanted to share this person's experience with you today as a reminder of what can happen when we stop looking at Jesus for our worth, and start comparing ourselves to others. We need to stay focused on pleasing God, we should not worry about whether we are as blessed or 'good' as the person sitting next to us. Our relationship with God is ours, it is personal, and while it is quite alright to lovingly and gently correct a backslider, we should never look at someone's gifts or walk and feel jealousy.
Galatians 5:19-26
I have been doing my best the last two days to find scripture about this situation, but I haven't found any yet that exactly match up to what this person is struggling with. They confessed to me recently that part of the reason they have been struggling lately in their faith was that for a long time they had been the most God-centered person they knew, but then someone else in their life started serving God with a lot of zealous energy and as they saw this and all the blessings that were following this person, they started to feel like less. This second person doesn't look down on them or say demeaning things about the first person's relationship with God, but it is that this second person has evident spiritual gifts and that is why the first person feels envious. The first person has not yet discerned or had it revealed what their spiritual gift is and they have been upset by seeing the blessing of the Lord on the second person.
This definitely seems to me to be an issue of jealousy and maybe a little pride too. I wanted to share this person's experience with you today as a reminder of what can happen when we stop looking at Jesus for our worth, and start comparing ourselves to others. We need to stay focused on pleasing God, we should not worry about whether we are as blessed or 'good' as the person sitting next to us. Our relationship with God is ours, it is personal, and while it is quite alright to lovingly and gently correct a backslider, we should never look at someone's gifts or walk and feel jealousy.
Galatians 5:19-26
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Monday, November 3, 2014
Golden Ticket
Just a moment ago I was looking through my small pink notebook that I use to take notes on the sermons each week and found a line that really stood out to me. I can't remember now if it was something the pastor came up with or a quote he shared that he enjoyed, but it was 'preach the gospel at all times; use words if necessary.' I read that line a couple of times and actually giggled when I read the second part 'use words if necessary,' my first thought about it was how else can you preach the gospel but then I thought of another quote I have read in the past, 'be careful of your walk, you may be the only Bible some people ever read.' This thought (and reading further in my notes) clarified the first statement for me, both are all about your walk.
This lead me to another thought, both of these statements stress that our walk is important that we should be representing Jesus Christ in what we do, but there are professing Christians who believe that the prayer of salvation was their 'golden ticket into Heaven,' to quote someone who said that to me recently. This person really believed that because they said the prayer of salvation that it didn't matter whether or not they followed God's laws, they told me in all sincerity that it didn't matter how they lived because they had accepted and professed Christ as their savior and they were going to Heaven no matter what. Obviously this person's statements are at odds with the two quotes that I shared previously that stressed that our walk is important. So I went into the word to find what God says.
John 14:15-21 reads like this, '5 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”'
This meant to me, that it is important to God that we keep his commands, He says that doing that is an act of love, and He will send the Holy Spirit or 'helper' to help us keep those commands. So, how does the Holy Spirit help us keep those commands? We see this in Isaiah 30:20-22, where it reads '20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”' The Holy Spirit corrects us, it's the voice we call a conscious, and this thought led me to another thought; are those Christians I mentioned earlier, the ones who don't think they have to keep God's laws truly saved? So, again I went into the word and found in James 2:14-25 where James sums it up as "faith without deeds is dead." The two work together. Faith in Christ should lead you by love and correction to do good deeds or works, you should be led by your faith to be obedient to God, if you are not or never have been convicted (corrected in your heart) by the Holy Spirit to change did you really give God your heart or just your lip service?
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
James 2:14-25
This lead me to another thought, both of these statements stress that our walk is important that we should be representing Jesus Christ in what we do, but there are professing Christians who believe that the prayer of salvation was their 'golden ticket into Heaven,' to quote someone who said that to me recently. This person really believed that because they said the prayer of salvation that it didn't matter whether or not they followed God's laws, they told me in all sincerity that it didn't matter how they lived because they had accepted and professed Christ as their savior and they were going to Heaven no matter what. Obviously this person's statements are at odds with the two quotes that I shared previously that stressed that our walk is important. So I went into the word to find what God says.
John 14:15-21 reads like this, '5 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”'
This meant to me, that it is important to God that we keep his commands, He says that doing that is an act of love, and He will send the Holy Spirit or 'helper' to help us keep those commands. So, how does the Holy Spirit help us keep those commands? We see this in Isaiah 30:20-22, where it reads '20 Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. 21Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” 22 Then you will desecrate your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you!”' The Holy Spirit corrects us, it's the voice we call a conscious, and this thought led me to another thought; are those Christians I mentioned earlier, the ones who don't think they have to keep God's laws truly saved? So, again I went into the word and found in James 2:14-25 where James sums it up as "faith without deeds is dead." The two work together. Faith in Christ should lead you by love and correction to do good deeds or works, you should be led by your faith to be obedient to God, if you are not or never have been convicted (corrected in your heart) by the Holy Spirit to change did you really give God your heart or just your lip service?
Psalm 1:1-6
Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
James 2:14-25
What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”
Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.
You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.
In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.
Miracle Monday
First, please let me apologize to my followers who look forward to these Miracle Monday post each week, and second please allow me to explain why I was not able to post one last week. I am truly saddened that I was not able to encourage anyone last week with a story of God at work but I had not received any testimonies to share, so what this means is, if I am to continue to do these post I need those reading to help with this outreach of encouragement. All of the testimonies I have shared with you are things real people have shared with me. These are real people who have been blessed, witnessed a blessing, or with Jesus Christ overcame the struggle they were experiencing. I am hoping that if you do enjoy these post or have been blessed by them that you will be willing to share that with others.
Now, I am very excited to share with all of you an act of love that I witnessed yesterday at church. There is a single mother in our church congregation who has several children. Recently, one of her children was diagnosed with a very serious illness that requires them to go into Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh on weekly basis. Because of this, the mother was forced to decide between working or caring for her sick child, no surprise to any parent she choose her child.
During service yesterday, our Pastor made an announcement asking for donations for this mother, because her car battery went bad, and as everyone who has a car knows that's a pretty important part. Almost immediately after explaining her situation to the congregation he got a text message from her saying that she hadn't made it to that morning church because her car wouldn't start again. At this time the deacons had started coming around to collect our tithes, offerings, or donations for this woman, and a man got up from the back of the church and went up front to talk to the pastor.
When the deacons came forward with the collection plates Pastor paused before praying over them and giving the benediction, he announced that the gentleman who had come up and talked to him was a visitor to the church, and he had decided to buy that woman her battery and pay for the installation. Pastor then asked the congregation if the money we had donated to her for the battery could be used towards other repairs on her car or whatever else she may need, To my knowledge no one opposed that.
I don't believe any of this happened by accident, this mom needed help and more than we at the church probably realize. But God knows, and put someone in the right place to be able to provide the battery for her free of charge, and not only that but she was supplied for beyond that need and now has money given to her to provide in other ways because He touched the hearts of people in the congregation to give to her as well. This is God at work, be blessed and encouraged today and always!
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Now, I am very excited to share with all of you an act of love that I witnessed yesterday at church. There is a single mother in our church congregation who has several children. Recently, one of her children was diagnosed with a very serious illness that requires them to go into Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh on weekly basis. Because of this, the mother was forced to decide between working or caring for her sick child, no surprise to any parent she choose her child.
During service yesterday, our Pastor made an announcement asking for donations for this mother, because her car battery went bad, and as everyone who has a car knows that's a pretty important part. Almost immediately after explaining her situation to the congregation he got a text message from her saying that she hadn't made it to that morning church because her car wouldn't start again. At this time the deacons had started coming around to collect our tithes, offerings, or donations for this woman, and a man got up from the back of the church and went up front to talk to the pastor.
When the deacons came forward with the collection plates Pastor paused before praying over them and giving the benediction, he announced that the gentleman who had come up and talked to him was a visitor to the church, and he had decided to buy that woman her battery and pay for the installation. Pastor then asked the congregation if the money we had donated to her for the battery could be used towards other repairs on her car or whatever else she may need, To my knowledge no one opposed that.
I don't believe any of this happened by accident, this mom needed help and more than we at the church probably realize. But God knows, and put someone in the right place to be able to provide the battery for her free of charge, and not only that but she was supplied for beyond that need and now has money given to her to provide in other ways because He touched the hearts of people in the congregation to give to her as well. This is God at work, be blessed and encouraged today and always!
Proverbs 19:17
Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed.
Colossians 3:12-14
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
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