Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the songs of men. They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things; who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?" "Because of the devastation of the afflicted, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise," says the Lord; "I will set him in the safety for which he longs." -Psalm 12:1-5
When I read these verses, it soon began to remind me of the feeling in this world today. "The godly man ceases to be" is something many of us find ourselves saying as we see the world around us falling lower and further from God. People speak false things to one another and say one thing but think another in their hearts. They try to flatter their way out of a situation to get friends or keep things smooth.
Believe me, it's not just the unsaved who do this. It's not the man who hasn't received the gift of God. I will be the first to admit my faults; I have been this person. Many times in my life people could look at the way I was living or acting and say that the godly cease to be. I fail time and time again to show true godliness and a Christ like attitude. I have often had a double heart, saying two different things; I haven't loved those who hurt me; I haven't forgiven as I should.
Psalm 13:4-5 says,
"And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken. BUT I have trusted in Your lovingkindness; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation."
It's like the hymn "I shall not be moved". I have the curse of sin upon me, but through my faith in the One and only Savior I have the gift of being washed clean every day. Because of my faith I will have people try to fight me, I will have people mock and dislike me, I will not have an easy life, nor will everyone I meet love me. I will fail every single day. But the promise of God is true and even when people come against me, even when I fail, my God will never leave me.
Each day when I make a mistake or fail as a Christian example, God washes the slate clean; no longer does He see my sin, but the precious, spotless blood of the Lamb. Without my faith in Jesus my sins would be the end of me and every mistake I make would haunt me.
----
Those who know the law of God and not His love, the bible says, don't really know Him. His word tells us that we are to follow God's laws, that He is the righteous judge, but it also tells us that God is love. He says that if we do not love one another then we do not know God, for God is love. (1 John 4:8 "The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.)
Wow. This one cuts deep.
You've heard people say "don't judge a book by it's cover, but by what's written on the pages." God judges the heart; when we see people who claim to be Christians but have no love, the bible says they don't know Him. This could cut the "estimated number" of professed Christians down by quite a bit.
1 John 4:16 says,
"We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us, Gos is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him."
(I know I've mentioned these a lot, but they're the perfect example for true love!)
When you read about Stephens stoning you see nothing but the love of God. You see all God in his heart. These men he was speaking to are told the wrong doings they and their fathers had done, but knowing it was true they couldn't bare to hear him say it aloud, so they began to murder him (Stephen). I've noticed God often uses people we don't care for to say something that hurts us deeply, only to bring out an impurity in our life that we otherwise wouldn't have noticed.
Acts 7:51-58 says,
"You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. Which one of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? They killed those who had previously announced the coming of the Righteous One, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become; you who received the law as ordained by angels, and yet did not keep it." Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." But they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse. When they had driven him out of the city, they began stoning him; and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul."
59-60 "They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Then falling to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them!" Having said this, he fell asleep."
Even as he was being stoned he had faith so strong, love so powerful that it shone forth like a brilliant ray of sunshine. THIS is the example I should think of when I dare not to love or forgive.
My other favorite passages go back to the crucifixion. Some might say this part of the bible is desperately sad, and though I agree it has the blunt truth of the pain Christ endured, it is also one of the most influential passages in the bible. This was the day my sins, YOUR sins, were washed away for eternity. This was the final example of Christs life here on earth of true love and forgiveness. He didn't just preach it, He practiced it as He died. Even as He was being mocked, His muscles were being drained of oxygen and He was unable to breath...He was still able to utter the words "forgive them." He asked the Father of heaven and earth to forgive the very ones who were putting Him to death. "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) THAT is the love we are to have. No matter what is done to us, no matter how terribly we're treated or talked about, God commands that we must love and forgive.
I can sit and tell a person about God's law until He comes back but in the end, until they know of His love, it won't do any good. If you're going to choose to follow God's law, you cannot leave out love and forgiveness. They are the glue, the binding that holds everything together. The base of all the commandments, for without love for God, we wouldn't have any desire to follow His laws.
Everything I do in my life should reflect Christ. If I can't see Jesus doing or saying something I can know for a fact it's wrong. No excuse; I am simply wrong. Believe me, I have been wrong more times in the past few years of my life than I can count. I have been the last one people need to point to for an example of Christs love. I use the law, or more I make my own sound as if they're from God, and judge people from the outside, not knowing at all what's in their heart.
If you truly have faith, are a true follower of Christ then you will follow what He says even if it means pain and discomfort in your own life. Sometimes, things just have to get worse before they can get better. God might remove His presence from our life for a time to help us check our life. To see if we are putting anything above Him. He then might take away everything we value, to help us see that we aren't putting Him first in all that we do. God will never "leave or forsake" us, ever, but He will put us through trials if He knows it can grow us stronger. The times when I was at my lowest were the best learning experiences in my life. God will see when I am drifting from Him and bring me to rock bottom to a point when I have nothing left but Him. God can and will take everything away if I put Him last. Whether it be earthly goods, relationships, family, friends, activities, hobbies or wealth. He is to be first. He is to be the example. He is to be followed and obeyed.
He loves us enough to do things, even if it causes pain, if the end result will make us stronger as a person and a believer.
Faith is real. Love is real. Both must go hand in hand.
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
The Vine
If you've been raised in a Christian home or even around Christian people, you might have heard that Jesus is the giver of life, that He is the "vine" and we are the "branches". This can be quite confusing. It won't really make sense until you've learned the meaning behind these well used phrases.
Think about it like this; when you go out and cut a branch off of a tree you've cut it from it's source of life. Without the tree trunk the branch can't get water or food and will therefore die. It might stay green for a short time, but as the days go by it will only turn brown and dry up. Same with flowers. If you cut a flower from it's plant base, even if you put it in a vase with water, it will die because it doesn't have the life of the plant connected to it. Similar to the vine. You take branches from the vine and they will die. It's almost as if it has been poisoned, slowly dying a little each day.
Maybe it's making more sense now? Well, here's a little more.
Jesus, being the vine, is the giver of life. He gives us the "water" and "food" we need to survive this life...He is the base of any life given. He doesn't just give life away, though, only His branches can receive true life; the ones who have put their faith in Him. Those will also have the gift of eternal life. But anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Just as the branches and flower will soon die if they don't have their base to give them life, so are we dead in our sins without Christ. We cut ourselves from Him and we might seem to stay alive, but it is only for a short time. As we separate ourselves from life, we will wilt away to nothing.
Whenever I start pushing my way and my ideas into my daily life and leave God out, I start to see so many messes and mistakes happen. I then try to fix all of my mistakes and everything goes into upside down overdrive. Nothing works and my life starts falling apart. On the control freak scale for fixing my own problems, on 1-10 I would probably be an 11. It's pretty bad. I try so hard to fix things myself, to not bother God with my problems, worries or fears. But as I do that, I start "dying" on the inside and my life starts falling apart. When I separate myself from the One who gives me life, I no longer have life. It's that simple.
Every day God reminds me of my dependency on Him, how weak I am without Him. I try to prove to everyone how strong I am, that I'm not broken or weak...but the truth is that I am just putting on a fake identity. I am only human. I have been broken since the minute I was born. But the minute I gave my life to Christ, He took my broken pieces and put them back together piece by piece and made me a new creation. It's a very hard thing to understand. I am broken, but I'm not. My life will always be in pieces of some sort, but I am made new because of Christ.
Because of sin I will always show scars. Just as trees show a scar when you trim a branch off, when the human race first cut itself from God it marked each of us with a scar; sin. Each and every time I push God from my life, even for a short time, it causes another scar. It will be healed, but it will still be visible. I will always have memories of my scars where I made mistakes, but God heals the pain from each of them. Like Josh Wilson says, "I am new".
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." -2 Corinthians 5:17
Think about it like this; when you go out and cut a branch off of a tree you've cut it from it's source of life. Without the tree trunk the branch can't get water or food and will therefore die. It might stay green for a short time, but as the days go by it will only turn brown and dry up. Same with flowers. If you cut a flower from it's plant base, even if you put it in a vase with water, it will die because it doesn't have the life of the plant connected to it. Similar to the vine. You take branches from the vine and they will die. It's almost as if it has been poisoned, slowly dying a little each day.
Maybe it's making more sense now? Well, here's a little more.
Jesus, being the vine, is the giver of life. He gives us the "water" and "food" we need to survive this life...He is the base of any life given. He doesn't just give life away, though, only His branches can receive true life; the ones who have put their faith in Him. Those will also have the gift of eternal life. But anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself.
Just as the branches and flower will soon die if they don't have their base to give them life, so are we dead in our sins without Christ. We cut ourselves from Him and we might seem to stay alive, but it is only for a short time. As we separate ourselves from life, we will wilt away to nothing.
Whenever I start pushing my way and my ideas into my daily life and leave God out, I start to see so many messes and mistakes happen. I then try to fix all of my mistakes and everything goes into upside down overdrive. Nothing works and my life starts falling apart. On the control freak scale for fixing my own problems, on 1-10 I would probably be an 11. It's pretty bad. I try so hard to fix things myself, to not bother God with my problems, worries or fears. But as I do that, I start "dying" on the inside and my life starts falling apart. When I separate myself from the One who gives me life, I no longer have life. It's that simple.
Every day God reminds me of my dependency on Him, how weak I am without Him. I try to prove to everyone how strong I am, that I'm not broken or weak...but the truth is that I am just putting on a fake identity. I am only human. I have been broken since the minute I was born. But the minute I gave my life to Christ, He took my broken pieces and put them back together piece by piece and made me a new creation. It's a very hard thing to understand. I am broken, but I'm not. My life will always be in pieces of some sort, but I am made new because of Christ.
Because of sin I will always show scars. Just as trees show a scar when you trim a branch off, when the human race first cut itself from God it marked each of us with a scar; sin. Each and every time I push God from my life, even for a short time, it causes another scar. It will be healed, but it will still be visible. I will always have memories of my scars where I made mistakes, but God heals the pain from each of them. Like Josh Wilson says, "I am new".
"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things are passed away; behold, new things have come." -2 Corinthians 5:17
Monday, August 22, 2011
A rotten heart being made new
As I've read through Proverbs there are a few bold points that God repeats, trying to get a point across boldly.
I was born into sin and have sinned my whole life, therefore I give in to anger. When I feel I've been treated unfairly I tend to get angry. Instead of counting my trials as blessings in disguise, I complain and get upset. I went through Proverbs and found quite a few verses that have just struck me really hard. To see my actions written down and called "foolish" hits my spot of pride like a rock.
"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." -Proverbs 14:29
Slow to wrath. Just thinking about it is a little hard. I tend to let out whatever feelings I have, whether it be bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness. I don't think about the end result or consequences of my actions. "Great understanding" can only be given by Christ, therefore to be slow to wrath, I must constantly seek God and through His strength I can overcome the wrong feelings I have in my life.
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the fools pours out foolishness." -Proverbs 15:1-2
Soft answers. That is one I have a very hard problem with. I get very defensive and spout out things harshly, knowing full well that it is wrong. But God says harsh words stir up anger, probably more so in both people than just one.
Just because I think I'm right or know a better answer doesn't mean I have to tell someone my opinion. There's a time to speak, and a time for silence.
"The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." -Proverbs 16:1-3
The things I let into my heart and keep there are my own choice. God doesn't keep our hearts clean for us, we have to ask Him to cleanse and wash them clean. Then we can speak with the love of God because our heart isn't full of junk. My actions may look right in my eyes, but deep in my heart, many times, there's bitterness. God looks deeper than what I say and looks at my motives. But if I do everything for the Lord, He will help my mind stay clean.
"He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil." -Proverbs 17:19-20
A lover of strife? I've always told people I can't stand arguing or any kind of disagreements...which is true, but I do tend to cause strife between people frequently. It says if my heart is deceitful, then it won't find any good and my tongue that does contrary to that which is good will fall into evil things. So if I speak evil things, I know my heart is deceitful and I have love for strife. Go backwards and find the root: my heart is not clean.
"He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." -Proverbs 17:27-28
Just because I know something doesn't mean I have to speak it to other people. I can have a spirit of peace because I don't exalt myself or my knowledge of anything.
I can read all the books in the world, know anything about every topic, but if all I do is spout off my knowledge, it doesn't do anything for the cause of Christ, because I am lifting myself up, instead of Him.
"It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel." -Proverbs 20:3
This one really hits home. It's "honorable" to stop striving because even fools can start fights. Ouch. This puts me in the "fool" category. My heart can be filled with so much strife and turmoil that it will simply come out of my mouth and stop peace from being a part of my life. When I go to the Lord, though, and ask Him to cleanse my heart of anything that is not of Him, to prune and chisel away anything not of Him, then my heart will not longer be in a battle.
"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" -Proverbs 20:6
I don't know about you, but I like to be noticed when I do something good. It's just a desire to be noticed...but it is not of God. A faithful servant of Christ does the work of Christ without any thought of praise of notice from other people. I don't need to tell people how good I am, or the good I've done. If God wants people to know, He will make it be so. I just need to rest in Him and know I am pleasing Him by my works.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." -Proverbs 21:2
It doesn't matter how much I think my actions are pure; God looks inside of my heart and finds my motives behind why I am doing/saying something and will judge me for my hidden intentions. Kind of scary to know, but reassuring at the same time. I would get away with so many prideful things if God didn't constantly check my heart and bring my wrongful doings to my attention. It takes awhile, because I try to tell Him "That wasn't my intentions...that wasn't what I meant at all!" But when I finally give in, I am honest to myself and Him and beg Him to cleanse that dirty part of my heart.
"Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate. He who plots to do evil will be called a schemer. The devising of the foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men." -Proverbs 24:7-9
The definition of "wisdom" is this: "The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight." Wow. I can see why it is too lofty for a fool! That's pretty deep stuff. So many things I've done in my life haven't been wise. I've made poor decisions, even as God sat and told me the right thing to do. It's brought shame on my heart so many times. The only encouragement I have is that God has already forgiven every mistake I'll ever make. This doesn't give me any excuse to sin more, though, it simply means when I give in to the flesh I know my God loves me enough to forgive everything I do that is unwise.
"Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, for would you deceive with your lips? DO not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work." " -Proverbs 24:28-29
Our lips can cause more damage than physical harm. Weird, but true. The saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is one of the the worst things a child can be taught. The bible says "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips." (Psalm 140:3)
To take action against someone and give tit for tat is not of the Lord. We don't do evil to people just to get them back for what they have done to us. "Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law" (Matthew 7:12). It doesn't say "Therefore all things whatever you have been treated as, do you even unto them"; no. You do to those around you as you would WANT to be treated, not as you HAVE been treated. God will punish those who reward evil for evil.
"He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered." -Proverbs 28:25-26
Pride is one of the hardest things in life to get past. I should know. My pride gets in the way of SO many things it's overwhelming. If I put my trust in the Lord, it says I will prosper (definition: to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; thrive; flourish.)
Trusting in my heart will do nothing for my life. My flesh and heart are weak to the lies and darts Satan throw at me, He can get my heart bitter towards people by telling me how much better I feel, when in reality it will rot my heart away.
"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." -James 3:14-16
"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." -Proverbs 29:11
I have a very bad habit of venting all my feelings, whether they be bitter, anger or frustration with someone. But here it says it's wise to hold them back. Now, holding all of my feelings inside isn't good or healthy. It would be like poison inside of me, and instead of taking medicine to get better, I just sit there and let it eat me away. The best way to "vent" or get unholy emotions out is to give them all over to the Lord. I should go to Him in prayer and have Him peel them away from my life and hands, however painful it is to let them go.
"An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor." -Proverbs 29:22-23
Again, anger and fury. To be truly humble, one doesn't just constantly admit to being wrong, to go before the Lord and humble yourself before Him, admitting wrong doings or wrongness of the heart; that is truly being humble. He can then take away anger and the feelings of fury...however hard it is to imagine, even those who have dealt with anger their whole life, who others say there is no hope for, our hope doesn't lie in the goodness of man, because there is none; our hope is in the Lord, our joy and life comes from Him. He can work miracles still to this day, no matter how impossible it seems in our eyes. I have seen anger that is to the point of nightmarish. Anger that has been grown in hearts from the time of birth in some people. But I still have hope in the Lord that He will work in the lives of these many people, give them peace and joy in their heart and the love that only the Father can give. When I let anger start to rule my heart, it pushes God out pretty quickly and soon He will be hidden in a dusty corner, being smashed by my anger and pride. I pray I constantly give up my anger to the Lord so He can keep my heart clean.
"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." -Proverbs 21:23
I must watch everything that comes out of my mouth. Like I mentioned before, the tongue can be so harsh and hurtful. It can cause so much damage and pain to those around me, as it has many times before. "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;" (James 1:19) My soul is troubled when I have let loose words of hurt. It's part of having a conscious, knowing when you have done wrong. It's the law God placed in every mans heart since he was born. We know when we have done something wrong because it doesn't sit well in our hearts, it makes us miserable, sick, depressed and sad. I need to listen to my heart more, block out the lies of Satan when he tells me "it wont' hurt anyone" and listen to God's soft voice saying "hold your tongue".
"Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin"? " -Proverbs 20:9
God is the only one who can clean my heart; I cannot do it of my own will. To say I have cleansed my own heart by my own actions is a lie from the devil; to have a clean heart I must seek God to do it for me, to wash away all of the dirt and filth that is stuck to it.
"Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; wait for the Lord, and He will save you." -Proverbs 20:22
Lastly...when evil or wrong is done against me, the total wrong thing to do is do the same back to the person. Everything is the Lords; everything is in His hands, and He will deal with those who do wrong either here on earth, or one day at judgement. It isn't my place to deal with those people. I am to show the love of God in all of my actions, and though I fail so many times at this, I pray I won't ever stop trying.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," -Matthew 5:44
I was born into sin and have sinned my whole life, therefore I give in to anger. When I feel I've been treated unfairly I tend to get angry. Instead of counting my trials as blessings in disguise, I complain and get upset. I went through Proverbs and found quite a few verses that have just struck me really hard. To see my actions written down and called "foolish" hits my spot of pride like a rock.
"He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, but he who is impulsive exalts folly." -Proverbs 14:29
Slow to wrath. Just thinking about it is a little hard. I tend to let out whatever feelings I have, whether it be bitterness, anger, or unforgiveness. I don't think about the end result or consequences of my actions. "Great understanding" can only be given by Christ, therefore to be slow to wrath, I must constantly seek God and through His strength I can overcome the wrong feelings I have in my life.
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of the fools pours out foolishness." -Proverbs 15:1-2
Soft answers. That is one I have a very hard problem with. I get very defensive and spout out things harshly, knowing full well that it is wrong. But God says harsh words stir up anger, probably more so in both people than just one.
Just because I think I'm right or know a better answer doesn't mean I have to tell someone my opinion. There's a time to speak, and a time for silence.
"The preparations of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirits. Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established." -Proverbs 16:1-3
The things I let into my heart and keep there are my own choice. God doesn't keep our hearts clean for us, we have to ask Him to cleanse and wash them clean. Then we can speak with the love of God because our heart isn't full of junk. My actions may look right in my eyes, but deep in my heart, many times, there's bitterness. God looks deeper than what I say and looks at my motives. But if I do everything for the Lord, He will help my mind stay clean.
"He who loves transgression loves strife, and he who exalts his gate seeks destruction. He who has a deceitful heart finds no good, and he who has a perverse tongue falls into evil." -Proverbs 17:19-20
A lover of strife? I've always told people I can't stand arguing or any kind of disagreements...which is true, but I do tend to cause strife between people frequently. It says if my heart is deceitful, then it won't find any good and my tongue that does contrary to that which is good will fall into evil things. So if I speak evil things, I know my heart is deceitful and I have love for strife. Go backwards and find the root: my heart is not clean.
"He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." -Proverbs 17:27-28
Just because I know something doesn't mean I have to speak it to other people. I can have a spirit of peace because I don't exalt myself or my knowledge of anything.
I can read all the books in the world, know anything about every topic, but if all I do is spout off my knowledge, it doesn't do anything for the cause of Christ, because I am lifting myself up, instead of Him.
"It is honorable for a man to stop striving, since any fool can start a quarrel." -Proverbs 20:3
This one really hits home. It's "honorable" to stop striving because even fools can start fights. Ouch. This puts me in the "fool" category. My heart can be filled with so much strife and turmoil that it will simply come out of my mouth and stop peace from being a part of my life. When I go to the Lord, though, and ask Him to cleanse my heart of anything that is not of Him, to prune and chisel away anything not of Him, then my heart will not longer be in a battle.
"Most men will proclaim each his own goodness, but who can find a faithful man?" -Proverbs 20:6
I don't know about you, but I like to be noticed when I do something good. It's just a desire to be noticed...but it is not of God. A faithful servant of Christ does the work of Christ without any thought of praise of notice from other people. I don't need to tell people how good I am, or the good I've done. If God wants people to know, He will make it be so. I just need to rest in Him and know I am pleasing Him by my works.
"Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the heart." -Proverbs 21:2
It doesn't matter how much I think my actions are pure; God looks inside of my heart and finds my motives behind why I am doing/saying something and will judge me for my hidden intentions. Kind of scary to know, but reassuring at the same time. I would get away with so many prideful things if God didn't constantly check my heart and bring my wrongful doings to my attention. It takes awhile, because I try to tell Him "That wasn't my intentions...that wasn't what I meant at all!" But when I finally give in, I am honest to myself and Him and beg Him to cleanse that dirty part of my heart.
"Wisdom is too lofty for a fool; he does not open his mouth in the gate. He who plots to do evil will be called a schemer. The devising of the foolishness is sin, and the scoffer is an abomination to men." -Proverbs 24:7-9
The definition of "wisdom" is this: "The quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; discernment, or insight." Wow. I can see why it is too lofty for a fool! That's pretty deep stuff. So many things I've done in my life haven't been wise. I've made poor decisions, even as God sat and told me the right thing to do. It's brought shame on my heart so many times. The only encouragement I have is that God has already forgiven every mistake I'll ever make. This doesn't give me any excuse to sin more, though, it simply means when I give in to the flesh I know my God loves me enough to forgive everything I do that is unwise.
"Do not be a witness against your neighbor without cause, for would you deceive with your lips? DO not say, "I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work." " -Proverbs 24:28-29
Our lips can cause more damage than physical harm. Weird, but true. The saying "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me" is one of the the worst things a child can be taught. The bible says "They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips." (Psalm 140:3)
To take action against someone and give tit for tat is not of the Lord. We don't do evil to people just to get them back for what they have done to us. "Therefore all things whatever you would that men should do to you, do you even so to them: for this is the law" (Matthew 7:12). It doesn't say "Therefore all things whatever you have been treated as, do you even unto them"; no. You do to those around you as you would WANT to be treated, not as you HAVE been treated. God will punish those who reward evil for evil.
"He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts the Lord will be prospered. He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but whoever walks wisely will be delivered." -Proverbs 28:25-26
Pride is one of the hardest things in life to get past. I should know. My pride gets in the way of SO many things it's overwhelming. If I put my trust in the Lord, it says I will prosper (definition: to be successful or fortunate, especially in financial respects; thrive; flourish.)
Trusting in my heart will do nothing for my life. My flesh and heart are weak to the lies and darts Satan throw at me, He can get my heart bitter towards people by telling me how much better I feel, when in reality it will rot my heart away.
"But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." -James 3:14-16
"A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back." -Proverbs 29:11
I have a very bad habit of venting all my feelings, whether they be bitter, anger or frustration with someone. But here it says it's wise to hold them back. Now, holding all of my feelings inside isn't good or healthy. It would be like poison inside of me, and instead of taking medicine to get better, I just sit there and let it eat me away. The best way to "vent" or get unholy emotions out is to give them all over to the Lord. I should go to Him in prayer and have Him peel them away from my life and hands, however painful it is to let them go.
"An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression. A man's pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor." -Proverbs 29:22-23
Again, anger and fury. To be truly humble, one doesn't just constantly admit to being wrong, to go before the Lord and humble yourself before Him, admitting wrong doings or wrongness of the heart; that is truly being humble. He can then take away anger and the feelings of fury...however hard it is to imagine, even those who have dealt with anger their whole life, who others say there is no hope for, our hope doesn't lie in the goodness of man, because there is none; our hope is in the Lord, our joy and life comes from Him. He can work miracles still to this day, no matter how impossible it seems in our eyes. I have seen anger that is to the point of nightmarish. Anger that has been grown in hearts from the time of birth in some people. But I still have hope in the Lord that He will work in the lives of these many people, give them peace and joy in their heart and the love that only the Father can give. When I let anger start to rule my heart, it pushes God out pretty quickly and soon He will be hidden in a dusty corner, being smashed by my anger and pride. I pray I constantly give up my anger to the Lord so He can keep my heart clean.
"Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." -Proverbs 21:23
I must watch everything that comes out of my mouth. Like I mentioned before, the tongue can be so harsh and hurtful. It can cause so much damage and pain to those around me, as it has many times before. "But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger;" (James 1:19) My soul is troubled when I have let loose words of hurt. It's part of having a conscious, knowing when you have done wrong. It's the law God placed in every mans heart since he was born. We know when we have done something wrong because it doesn't sit well in our hearts, it makes us miserable, sick, depressed and sad. I need to listen to my heart more, block out the lies of Satan when he tells me "it wont' hurt anyone" and listen to God's soft voice saying "hold your tongue".
"Who can say, "I have made my heart clean, I am pure from sin"? " -Proverbs 20:9
God is the only one who can clean my heart; I cannot do it of my own will. To say I have cleansed my own heart by my own actions is a lie from the devil; to have a clean heart I must seek God to do it for me, to wash away all of the dirt and filth that is stuck to it.
"Do not say, "I will recompense evil"; wait for the Lord, and He will save you." -Proverbs 20:22
Lastly...when evil or wrong is done against me, the total wrong thing to do is do the same back to the person. Everything is the Lords; everything is in His hands, and He will deal with those who do wrong either here on earth, or one day at judgement. It isn't my place to deal with those people. I am to show the love of God in all of my actions, and though I fail so many times at this, I pray I won't ever stop trying.
"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you," -Matthew 5:44
Saturday, August 20, 2011
It took death to get life
I often have random thoughts as I sit and read through my bible. I skip through verses and run to another book to see what other verses have to say about certain topics.
Reading through Isaiah I see one major point. God is powerful. It's just amazing when you think about it. It talks of God's punishment, wrath and strength. But even with all the things He had to destroy or people He had to punish to show them their wrong, it also talks of God's love and mercy toward His children. Because of sin many, many people have died.
God isn't all judgement and wrath. Yes, He brings us through things to bring us back to Him but it's because He is overflowing with love for us. At the end of chapter 27 it says "and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem." It says they will "worship the Lord".
With as often as the bible talks of God's wrath on those who fled from His laws and commands, it talks even more of His worthiness to be praised. No matter what comes our way, what we have done or will do, it has already been washed away in the eyes of God towards His children. His love will never end. By sending His son to die on the cross all who come to Him are cleansed of their sins and every wrong thing, ever bad decision and mistake we make in life, it has all already been forgiven because of Christ's death.
The perfect Lamb of God, MY God, is worthy to be praised,; He is powerful, merciful, loving, forgiving and He judges righteously. Because He died, I can now live! Praise the Lord!
Judgement, mercy and love actually go together quite well. But the only one who can do them purely and righteously is God.
"Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power." -Isaiah 40:26-29
Reading through Isaiah I see one major point. God is powerful. It's just amazing when you think about it. It talks of God's punishment, wrath and strength. But even with all the things He had to destroy or people He had to punish to show them their wrong, it also talks of God's love and mercy toward His children. Because of sin many, many people have died.
God isn't all judgement and wrath. Yes, He brings us through things to bring us back to Him but it's because He is overflowing with love for us. At the end of chapter 27 it says "and those who were perishing in the land of Assyria and who were scattered in the land of Egypt will come and worship the LORD in the holy mountain at Jerusalem." It says they will "worship the Lord".
With as often as the bible talks of God's wrath on those who fled from His laws and commands, it talks even more of His worthiness to be praised. No matter what comes our way, what we have done or will do, it has already been washed away in the eyes of God towards His children. His love will never end. By sending His son to die on the cross all who come to Him are cleansed of their sins and every wrong thing, ever bad decision and mistake we make in life, it has all already been forgiven because of Christ's death.
The perfect Lamb of God, MY God, is worthy to be praised,; He is powerful, merciful, loving, forgiving and He judges righteously. Because He died, I can now live! Praise the Lord!
Judgement, mercy and love actually go together quite well. But the only one who can do them purely and righteously is God.
"Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power, not one of them is missing.
Why do you say, O Jacob, and assert, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the LORD, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my God”? Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power." -Isaiah 40:26-29
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Deserving of nothing; grateful for everything
"I deserve better."
This statement is widely used. We tell ourselves and other people:
- I "deserve" friends
- I "deserve" to be liked
- I "deserve" to be treated good
- I "deserve" to be loved
The list can go on forever, can't it? In our minds we deserve so much. I am constantly telling myself I deserve this or that, or that life hasn't been fair to me.
You know what I've learned? I don't even deserve the air I breathe. I don't deserve friends, to be liked or loved, I don't even deserve to be treated decently.
The very meaning of a Christian is to be Christ-like, meaning we are to be like Christ, have His love, behavior, forgiveness, mercy, etc. But we can't be like Christ. We are sinners and are unworthy of anything "good" in our lives.
It is not humanly possible for us to do anything good with our own power. We are sinful and the only thing we "deserve" is an eternity in hell.
Life sounds very depressing when knowing those things. Some say "well that's not fair, I deserve better than that. I've done some good things in my life." But the honest truth is that nothing is truly good without God being in the middle of it.
Because of the sin on this earth, the only way to wash it all away was to have a blood sacrifice. That's why people used to sacrifice animals on alters. Sacrificing animals for eternity wouldn't have really done much, though. There had to be a life given for a blood sacrifice. We should have been the ones who gave our lives, since we are the ones who have sinned.
" For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
If you're breathing, this is you. You have sinned, I have sinned, the man in prison and the preacher at the front of your church...we have all sinned.
Here's the good news: We are told that God's love is endless and that He gave up His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins so we could have a cleansing of our sins and have life everlasting.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." -John 3:16
Some say He came to condemn people and simply judge them. No, He came to save us all from our own sin.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." -John 3:17
This is a great gift! It clears us of our sins if we accept this sacrifice.
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
-John 3:18
So this last verse is good news and bad news. His gift means our sins will be washed away and when God looks at us He no longer sees sin, but the perfect Lamb of God and His blood covering us and we will not be banished to hell one day. His gift is open to all who will believe; that means adulterers, liars, thieves, murderers, those who have places other gods before the One and only God, druggies and drunkards...anyone can come and receive His gift.
However, those who reject that gift will suffer greatly. They will spend eternity in a lake of fire, hotter than the human mind can imagine, and there they will burn, and burn, and burn...not dying, but simply burning. This is a scary place to put yourself in. Where God is the only way to heaven, you allow yourself to be sent to hell if you refuse His gift.
The bible says God doesn't want anyone to be sent to hell.
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." -2 Peter 3:9
Here on earth, the price for breaking the law is prison or death (depending on your crime). Judges decide your sentence and punishment. There are times, however, when you can pay a fine, amount set by the judge, and get out of jail.
God, also, has a judgment. He is the only righteous judge and all will come before Him. Unfortunately for us we only have one option for breaking His laws: Hell. Death. We don't get a few years of community service and then let off the hook. You break the law and refuse to "pay the fine" then your sentence is death. The thing is, we can't pay our own fine so we would be lost anyway. But imagine someone coming into the courtroom right as you were being drug away, unable to pay your fine, they tell the judge "I will pay his fine for him." That is precisely what Jesus did when He died on the cross.
The choice is yours, you have the freedom to decide. Either way, it will be the biggest decision you ever make.
This statement is widely used. We tell ourselves and other people:
- I "deserve" friends
- I "deserve" to be liked
- I "deserve" to be treated good
- I "deserve" to be loved
The list can go on forever, can't it? In our minds we deserve so much. I am constantly telling myself I deserve this or that, or that life hasn't been fair to me.
You know what I've learned? I don't even deserve the air I breathe. I don't deserve friends, to be liked or loved, I don't even deserve to be treated decently.
The very meaning of a Christian is to be Christ-like, meaning we are to be like Christ, have His love, behavior, forgiveness, mercy, etc. But we can't be like Christ. We are sinners and are unworthy of anything "good" in our lives.
It is not humanly possible for us to do anything good with our own power. We are sinful and the only thing we "deserve" is an eternity in hell.
Life sounds very depressing when knowing those things. Some say "well that's not fair, I deserve better than that. I've done some good things in my life." But the honest truth is that nothing is truly good without God being in the middle of it.
Because of the sin on this earth, the only way to wash it all away was to have a blood sacrifice. That's why people used to sacrifice animals on alters. Sacrificing animals for eternity wouldn't have really done much, though. There had to be a life given for a blood sacrifice. We should have been the ones who gave our lives, since we are the ones who have sinned.
" For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God."
If you're breathing, this is you. You have sinned, I have sinned, the man in prison and the preacher at the front of your church...we have all sinned.
Here's the good news: We are told that God's love is endless and that He gave up His only Son to be the sacrifice for our sins so we could have a cleansing of our sins and have life everlasting.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." -John 3:16
Some say He came to condemn people and simply judge them. No, He came to save us all from our own sin.
"For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." -John 3:17
This is a great gift! It clears us of our sins if we accept this sacrifice.
"He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
-John 3:18
So this last verse is good news and bad news. His gift means our sins will be washed away and when God looks at us He no longer sees sin, but the perfect Lamb of God and His blood covering us and we will not be banished to hell one day. His gift is open to all who will believe; that means adulterers, liars, thieves, murderers, those who have places other gods before the One and only God, druggies and drunkards...anyone can come and receive His gift.
However, those who reject that gift will suffer greatly. They will spend eternity in a lake of fire, hotter than the human mind can imagine, and there they will burn, and burn, and burn...not dying, but simply burning. This is a scary place to put yourself in. Where God is the only way to heaven, you allow yourself to be sent to hell if you refuse His gift.
The bible says God doesn't want anyone to be sent to hell.
"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." -2 Peter 3:9
Here on earth, the price for breaking the law is prison or death (depending on your crime). Judges decide your sentence and punishment. There are times, however, when you can pay a fine, amount set by the judge, and get out of jail.
God, also, has a judgment. He is the only righteous judge and all will come before Him. Unfortunately for us we only have one option for breaking His laws: Hell. Death. We don't get a few years of community service and then let off the hook. You break the law and refuse to "pay the fine" then your sentence is death. The thing is, we can't pay our own fine so we would be lost anyway. But imagine someone coming into the courtroom right as you were being drug away, unable to pay your fine, they tell the judge "I will pay his fine for him." That is precisely what Jesus did when He died on the cross.
The choice is yours, you have the freedom to decide. Either way, it will be the biggest decision you ever make.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Rebelling against what's not expected
My mind wondered to the book "Do Hard Things" as I sat here looking through social networks. It then went back to something my dad mentioned to me that he heard someone say. "25 is the new 18. Men are now waiting until they're around 25 to get a job, get their life together, stop playing video games and having a life of their own."
I realized how true this is becoming (and not just in the lives of young men, but women, as well).
At this point in time, the only thing expected of the American teen/young adult are that they graduate from high school, and from then on until about 24 or 25 they just have their free time. They go to college, party or have a good time and lots of fun. Adults don't expect anything from them but rather let them have their fun and wait for them to grow up.
We need to realize that by not expecting anything, or much at all, from then is the sole cause of them not doing anything. Teens/young adults (myself included) are very capable of doing amazing things. They can do just about anything they set their mind to. They're young, smart and full of energy.
The day people stopped expecting hard work or maturity in this group was the day they stopped "doing" and started "having fun".
Since my goal in life isn't to be a doctor, dentist, lawyer or some other fantastic profession, I have made the choice not to go to college. That puts me in a position to be made fun of a lot; it also gives me a lot of easy ways to make excuses. I can make the choice to find something worth while to fill my time with or I can just do nothing and relax. Most people don't agree with my decision to skip college, and that's perfectly fine. Many people find it a necessity in life or a good experience, but I truly feel God called me in a different direction. Let me say this though, this choice doesn't give me the freedom to sit back and watch other people work to death. I still need to do new things, keep learning and working on my passions.
I think we need to show people what we're made of. That we aren't just lazy people that should be blown off or not have anything expected from us. The day we hit 18 we are adults and should act as such. We should put responsibilities on ourselves if nobody else will. We need to "do hard things" like Alex and Brett Harris said. We need to constantly grow and push ourselves further than we thought we could go.
We cannot just sit back and waste the best years of our life on nothingness. We can have fun but do so while we're accomplishing something. Don't just take the easy route and stay at home with mom and dad simply so you can have a limited amount of responsibility and they can pay all the bills and buy all of your food. Don't stay away from college just so you can have free time to kill before you're "expected to get a life". Don't go to college just to have fun and do stupid things just to "experience" them. Make your life have purpose and put all you have into that purpose.
All the while keeping your life pleasing to God and working on the character and person God has called you to be. Don't go with the flow of everything everyone tells you you "have to do". Live your life the way God wants, and make it have a purpose. Make goals for yourself. Push yourself too hard sometimes. Even if you fail at times, remember you at least tried, which is more than most of the teens and young adults here in America do.
You're only young once, there are many things you won't be able to do or will have the ability to do once you've gotten older. Start living your life, instead of just existing to go with the flow of the crowd. Go against the crowd! It's a lot more interesting anyway.
I realized how true this is becoming (and not just in the lives of young men, but women, as well).
At this point in time, the only thing expected of the American teen/young adult are that they graduate from high school, and from then on until about 24 or 25 they just have their free time. They go to college, party or have a good time and lots of fun. Adults don't expect anything from them but rather let them have their fun and wait for them to grow up.
We need to realize that by not expecting anything, or much at all, from then is the sole cause of them not doing anything. Teens/young adults (myself included) are very capable of doing amazing things. They can do just about anything they set their mind to. They're young, smart and full of energy.
The day people stopped expecting hard work or maturity in this group was the day they stopped "doing" and started "having fun".
Since my goal in life isn't to be a doctor, dentist, lawyer or some other fantastic profession, I have made the choice not to go to college. That puts me in a position to be made fun of a lot; it also gives me a lot of easy ways to make excuses. I can make the choice to find something worth while to fill my time with or I can just do nothing and relax. Most people don't agree with my decision to skip college, and that's perfectly fine. Many people find it a necessity in life or a good experience, but I truly feel God called me in a different direction. Let me say this though, this choice doesn't give me the freedom to sit back and watch other people work to death. I still need to do new things, keep learning and working on my passions.
I think we need to show people what we're made of. That we aren't just lazy people that should be blown off or not have anything expected from us. The day we hit 18 we are adults and should act as such. We should put responsibilities on ourselves if nobody else will. We need to "do hard things" like Alex and Brett Harris said. We need to constantly grow and push ourselves further than we thought we could go.
We cannot just sit back and waste the best years of our life on nothingness. We can have fun but do so while we're accomplishing something. Don't just take the easy route and stay at home with mom and dad simply so you can have a limited amount of responsibility and they can pay all the bills and buy all of your food. Don't stay away from college just so you can have free time to kill before you're "expected to get a life". Don't go to college just to have fun and do stupid things just to "experience" them. Make your life have purpose and put all you have into that purpose.
All the while keeping your life pleasing to God and working on the character and person God has called you to be. Don't go with the flow of everything everyone tells you you "have to do". Live your life the way God wants, and make it have a purpose. Make goals for yourself. Push yourself too hard sometimes. Even if you fail at times, remember you at least tried, which is more than most of the teens and young adults here in America do.
You're only young once, there are many things you won't be able to do or will have the ability to do once you've gotten older. Start living your life, instead of just existing to go with the flow of the crowd. Go against the crowd! It's a lot more interesting anyway.
Monday, August 8, 2011
"Worthy is the Lamb"
As I sat in church listening to my dad's sermon this past Sunday, one thing stuck out to me in the verses we read. Jesus is to be praised, because He IS great.
I realized I'm constantly writing about my troubles and how God has brought me through them, but I have rarely written blog posts FOR God. So today, I am going outside of my normal writing and going to take an entire post to praise my God and King.
When you read the bible, many verses talk about people who are praising God. Psalms especially. Just about every verse you read says "praise the Lord."
The truth is, if we're really Christians then our heart should belong completely to God. We should be so in love with God that for anyone else to get to our heart they have to draw closer to God.
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!" -Psalm 148:1
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations." -Psalm 100:1-5
"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." -Psalm 96:1-3
"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land." -Psalm 95: 1-5
"You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted." -Psalm 89:13-15
"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." -Psalm 84:1-2
"Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth," -1 Chronicles 16:8-12
"Since to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of the evildoers." -Jeremiah 20:13
"I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." -2 Samuel 22:4
As you look even more, you see people praising God for the things He did for them, for saving them, winning battles for them, for miracles done.
"And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever towards Israel." Then all the peoples shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid." -Ezra 3:11
When you read in Judges 7, it tells the story of Gideon and how God kept telling him the army was too big. You think "What? Wouldn't it be a good thing to have a big army?" But our plans aren't God's plans.
"And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ "
Eventually, God brought the army of men down to 300 and told Gideon that He would deliver the enemy with those 300. By faith Gideon and his army defeated the enemy, because they obeyed everything God commanded. What God asked them to do seemed a little crazy, but they had faith, and through God they seized the enemies camp and won the battle. "And so it was, when Gideon hear the telling of the dream and it's interpretation, then he worshiped."
I wonder how many times in my life God has won a battle for me and I just sat back and prided myself in how well I handled the situation. I wonder how many miracles God has worked in my life and I just smiled and thought how "lucky" I was that _____ didn't get worse/happen.
Jesus is to be praised in all things, no matter the circumstance. Because He is worthy.
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" -Revelation 5:12
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty." -Revelation 1:8
"And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
"The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face—even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates,
and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory." -Psalm 24:1-10
When you hear the song "Jesus, there's something about that name." The words are just from a heart filled with love for God written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There's just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away, but there's something about that name."
I should be brought to tears when I think of God's amazing love. Brought to my knees when I think of how He gave me the very breath I'm breathing and life I'm living. My life should be given for Him because He gave His life for me. My life should be lived to glorify Him, because He IS greatly deserving of all my praise.
I pray that today, right now, that my vow to give God the glory for everything that comes my way will be one that I will renew every single day. That no matter what people say to me, do to me, or say about me, that I will give God the glory for everything. That I will shine Him to all of those around me and they would know of God's love and power without me even having to say anything. Because you know what, my life should reflect Christ. I shouldn't have to tell them about Him, because my life should be a mirror image of Him.
I realized I'm constantly writing about my troubles and how God has brought me through them, but I have rarely written blog posts FOR God. So today, I am going outside of my normal writing and going to take an entire post to praise my God and King.
When you read the bible, many verses talk about people who are praising God. Psalms especially. Just about every verse you read says "praise the Lord."
The truth is, if we're really Christians then our heart should belong completely to God. We should be so in love with God that for anyone else to get to our heart they have to draw closer to God.
"Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise Him in the heights!" -Psalm 148:1
"Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands! Serve the LORD with gladness; come before His presence with singing. Know that the LORD, He is God; it is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting,
and His truth endures to all generations." -Psalm 100:1-5
"Oh, sing to the LORD a new song! Sing to the LORD, all the earth. Sing to the LORD, bless His name; proclaim the good news of His salvation from day to day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His wonders among all peoples." -Psalm 96:1-3
"Oh come, let us sing to the LORD! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the LORD is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land." -Psalm 95: 1-5
"You have a mighty arm; strong is Your hand, and high is Your right hand.
Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; mercy and truth go before Your face. Blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! They walk, O LORD, in the light of Your countenance. In Your name they rejoice all day long, and in Your righteousness they are exalted." -Psalm 89:13-15
"How lovely is Your tabernacle, O LORD of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God." -Psalm 84:1-2
"Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; talk of all His wondrous works! Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; seek His face evermore! Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgments of His mouth," -1 Chronicles 16:8-12
"Since to the Lord! Praise the Lord! For He has delivered the life of the poor from the hand of the evildoers." -Jeremiah 20:13
"I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; so shall I be saved from my enemies." -2 Samuel 22:4
As you look even more, you see people praising God for the things He did for them, for saving them, winning battles for them, for miracles done.
"And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the Lord: "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever towards Israel." Then all the peoples shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid." -Ezra 3:11
When you read in Judges 7, it tells the story of Gideon and how God kept telling him the army was too big. You think "What? Wouldn't it be a good thing to have a big army?" But our plans aren't God's plans.
"And the LORD said to Gideon, “The people who are with you are too many for Me to give the Midianites into their hands, lest Israel claim glory for itself against Me, saying, ‘My own hand has saved me.’ "
Eventually, God brought the army of men down to 300 and told Gideon that He would deliver the enemy with those 300. By faith Gideon and his army defeated the enemy, because they obeyed everything God commanded. What God asked them to do seemed a little crazy, but they had faith, and through God they seized the enemies camp and won the battle. "And so it was, when Gideon hear the telling of the dream and it's interpretation, then he worshiped."
I wonder how many times in my life God has won a battle for me and I just sat back and prided myself in how well I handled the situation. I wonder how many miracles God has worked in my life and I just smiled and thought how "lucky" I was that _____ didn't get worse/happen.
Jesus is to be praised in all things, no matter the circumstance. Because He is worthy.
"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing!" -Revelation 5:12
"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and was and who is to come, the Almighty." -Revelation 1:8
"And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Might God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." -Isaiah 9:6
"The earth is the LORD’S, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.
For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him,
who seek Your face—even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory?
The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O gates,
and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory." -Psalm 24:1-10
When you hear the song "Jesus, there's something about that name." The words are just from a heart filled with love for God written by Bill and Gloria Gaither.
"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There's just something about that name. Master, Savior, Jesus. Like the fragrance after the rain. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. Let all heaven and earth proclaim. Kings and kingdoms shall all pass away, but there's something about that name."
I should be brought to tears when I think of God's amazing love. Brought to my knees when I think of how He gave me the very breath I'm breathing and life I'm living. My life should be given for Him because He gave His life for me. My life should be lived to glorify Him, because He IS greatly deserving of all my praise.
I pray that today, right now, that my vow to give God the glory for everything that comes my way will be one that I will renew every single day. That no matter what people say to me, do to me, or say about me, that I will give God the glory for everything. That I will shine Him to all of those around me and they would know of God's love and power without me even having to say anything. Because you know what, my life should reflect Christ. I shouldn't have to tell them about Him, because my life should be a mirror image of Him.
Saturday, August 6, 2011
My Papa
After my night last night of nightmares and constant fear being throw at me by satan...trying to fight away the memories...I thought I would write about the hero in my dream. The one who rescued and stood up for me.
Not many of the people I know now know my Papa. You should. A lot of my childhood memories have him in them. He is always so full of life, always there for his family no matter what and a constant reminder of a great man of God and character.
Many people have lost their grandparents, which is very sad. Every minute I'm able to spend with my grandparents I feel blessed. I always learn so much.
My Papa is one of the most amazing men you will ever meet. He works so hard, has amazing creativity, he is quite brilliant, funny, kind, loving and there for us any time we need him. He isn't a man of many "mushy" words or one who will open up to you...but just by one look, you know his heart is one of gold.
I remember as a kid him finding super unique gifts for all of us grand kids at Christmas time; and now that we're all older, he makes gifts for us by hand and hard work (amazing ones if I might add.) I remember get togethers at his house and having some kind of amazing ham always cooked up, I remember his all blue Christmas tree lol, his laugh, the stories we would get to hear from him, my dad and two uncles...I remember the specific candies he always had at his house, and only being allowed one a piece (lol), I remember seeing all of the things he created and thinking "My goodness, my Papa is amazing!" I remember spending days at his house when he worked at a Christian camp...walking around outside in the pine trees, I remember sitting in the back room of the cafeteria eating Trix cereal, I remember getting to swim at the camp then him taking us into the Concession stand and letting us pick out a drink and a treat, I remember him always making homemade ice cream for everyone, the times us kids would sneak behind the fence at the pool and dig up tiles people had picked off of the pool...so many memories. Such sweet memories.
Not many people have amazing grandparents, and certainly not ones as amazing as my Papa. His love for us kids is one that needs not be spoken. I pray God will let me and my family at least attempt to bless him as much as he has us. I pray God will give me a heart like my Papa, and a work ethic as strong as his. I pray God will continue to use him as an example of a man of God to all the young men he comes in contact with...and that I would take the wisdom he's shared over the years to heart and use it in my own life.
These are a few verses that are good examples of my Papa:
Proverbs 17:27- "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. "
I think it explains itself. This is what I see in my Papa.
Proverbs 29:23- "A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor."
Papa is one of the most humble men I've ever known.
Ephesians 6:4- "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Not being biased at all...I think Papa did a pretty good job bringing his sons up in the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:8- "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Papa has provided for his family, and has always been willing to help out his family is they ever needed it.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think Papa is faultless or a "perfect" man, but his walk with the Lord is strong, and he has lived his life honorably. To be Christ-like is our goal in this life; we won't ever get there because we are sinful, but we through God's grace we can follow His leading.
Papa, I love you so much, and I thank God for such an amazing example to look up to. I pray I will one day turn out even as half the person you are.
Not many of the people I know now know my Papa. You should. A lot of my childhood memories have him in them. He is always so full of life, always there for his family no matter what and a constant reminder of a great man of God and character.
Many people have lost their grandparents, which is very sad. Every minute I'm able to spend with my grandparents I feel blessed. I always learn so much.
My Papa is one of the most amazing men you will ever meet. He works so hard, has amazing creativity, he is quite brilliant, funny, kind, loving and there for us any time we need him. He isn't a man of many "mushy" words or one who will open up to you...but just by one look, you know his heart is one of gold.
I remember as a kid him finding super unique gifts for all of us grand kids at Christmas time; and now that we're all older, he makes gifts for us by hand and hard work (amazing ones if I might add.) I remember get togethers at his house and having some kind of amazing ham always cooked up, I remember his all blue Christmas tree lol, his laugh, the stories we would get to hear from him, my dad and two uncles...I remember the specific candies he always had at his house, and only being allowed one a piece (lol), I remember seeing all of the things he created and thinking "My goodness, my Papa is amazing!" I remember spending days at his house when he worked at a Christian camp...walking around outside in the pine trees, I remember sitting in the back room of the cafeteria eating Trix cereal, I remember getting to swim at the camp then him taking us into the Concession stand and letting us pick out a drink and a treat, I remember him always making homemade ice cream for everyone, the times us kids would sneak behind the fence at the pool and dig up tiles people had picked off of the pool...so many memories. Such sweet memories.
Not many people have amazing grandparents, and certainly not ones as amazing as my Papa. His love for us kids is one that needs not be spoken. I pray God will let me and my family at least attempt to bless him as much as he has us. I pray God will give me a heart like my Papa, and a work ethic as strong as his. I pray God will continue to use him as an example of a man of God to all the young men he comes in contact with...and that I would take the wisdom he's shared over the years to heart and use it in my own life.
These are a few verses that are good examples of my Papa:
Proverbs 17:27- "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. "
I think it explains itself. This is what I see in my Papa.
Proverbs 29:23- "A man’s pride will bring him low, but the humble in spirit will retain honor."
Papa is one of the most humble men I've ever known.
Ephesians 6:4- "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."
Not being biased at all...I think Papa did a pretty good job bringing his sons up in the Lord.
1 Timothy 5:8- "But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever."
Papa has provided for his family, and has always been willing to help out his family is they ever needed it.
Don't get me wrong, I don't think Papa is faultless or a "perfect" man, but his walk with the Lord is strong, and he has lived his life honorably. To be Christ-like is our goal in this life; we won't ever get there because we are sinful, but we through God's grace we can follow His leading.
Papa, I love you so much, and I thank God for such an amazing example to look up to. I pray I will one day turn out even as half the person you are.
Friday, August 5, 2011
A candle burning
If I learned one thing today at the funeral it was this: my light for Christ has been but a candle in the wind, never burning to it's full potential.
I've allowed small amounts of my life to glow with the love of Jesus, but never so much that people talked about it. I kept thinking "I wish I could be like Jimmy." Then I stopped and thought... What was Jimmy's goal in life? To bring other people closer to Christ. He doesn't want me putting his life on a pedestal. He was one of the most amazing examples of a true Christian I've ever seen, but he didn't want me to desire to be like him. He wanted everyone who knew him to draw closer to Christ.
I guess you could say that him being so emptied to Christ that being like Jimmy, would be to be like Christ.
All of the things people had to say about Jimmy were just inspiring. I thought "What would people say about me if I were to die tomorrow?" I honestly don't know. I don't know if my life has touched many people or if I've made such a positive difference in anyone's life. Jimmy could say "I've finished the course, I've kept the faith". His life overflowed with God, and everyone knew it. But have I even made a dent in anyone's life? I may never know until I get to heaven.
The stories of Jimmy's bible having almost whole books highlighted...verses written all over the place so he would always have God's word in front of his eyes. The way he found peace and beauty in things like a field, walking barefoot on the road and looking up at the open sky. He found all of those things amazing, because His God made them; he took the time to enjoy the small things in life that we so often take for granted. His bubbly attitude and his amazingly contagious smile shone God brighter than any I've ever seen.
I think to myself questions like "Why would God take Jimmy home, when there aren't a whole lot of young men here on this earth that are that passionate for God, and loving to everyone around him." God stops me, and reminds me that HIS timing is perfect; always. Through Jimmy being brought home, he might inspire thousands of other young men to turn their lives around and they will inspire even more young men (and women).
To be more like Christ...that is my point. I hunger to be more like my Savior and Creator.
"Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself I belong to You. Lead me, lead me
to the cross." ("Lead Me To The Cross" by Chris and Conrad)
Oh dear God, why have I given so much of my life to myself? To be so in love with You, Lord, is something I've always wanted, but never given all the time I had into making it happen. To empty myself completely of "me" and ask You to fill my heart up with You. To be filled with the Holy Spirit and overflowing with love for everyone I come in contact with; Lord that is what I want. I pray today, God, that you would tear out and chisel away everything in my life that is not of You. That what breaks Your heart would break mine. That I would love as You loved and still love...not judging other people by their looks, but doing all I can to win their heart to You. That I would remember what I say and how I say it matters, Lord I pray that You would watch over my tongue and not let me speak words unless You would speak them. I pray that I would glow with Your love, forgiveness, peace and mercy to all I come in contact with. Amen.
I've allowed small amounts of my life to glow with the love of Jesus, but never so much that people talked about it. I kept thinking "I wish I could be like Jimmy." Then I stopped and thought... What was Jimmy's goal in life? To bring other people closer to Christ. He doesn't want me putting his life on a pedestal. He was one of the most amazing examples of a true Christian I've ever seen, but he didn't want me to desire to be like him. He wanted everyone who knew him to draw closer to Christ.
I guess you could say that him being so emptied to Christ that being like Jimmy, would be to be like Christ.
All of the things people had to say about Jimmy were just inspiring. I thought "What would people say about me if I were to die tomorrow?" I honestly don't know. I don't know if my life has touched many people or if I've made such a positive difference in anyone's life. Jimmy could say "I've finished the course, I've kept the faith". His life overflowed with God, and everyone knew it. But have I even made a dent in anyone's life? I may never know until I get to heaven.
The stories of Jimmy's bible having almost whole books highlighted...verses written all over the place so he would always have God's word in front of his eyes. The way he found peace and beauty in things like a field, walking barefoot on the road and looking up at the open sky. He found all of those things amazing, because His God made them; he took the time to enjoy the small things in life that we so often take for granted. His bubbly attitude and his amazingly contagious smile shone God brighter than any I've ever seen.
I think to myself questions like "Why would God take Jimmy home, when there aren't a whole lot of young men here on this earth that are that passionate for God, and loving to everyone around him." God stops me, and reminds me that HIS timing is perfect; always. Through Jimmy being brought home, he might inspire thousands of other young men to turn their lives around and they will inspire even more young men (and women).
To be more like Christ...that is my point. I hunger to be more like my Savior and Creator.
"Lead me to the cross where Your love poured out. Bring me to my knees
Lord I lay me down. Rid me of myself I belong to You. Lead me, lead me
to the cross." ("Lead Me To The Cross" by Chris and Conrad)
Oh dear God, why have I given so much of my life to myself? To be so in love with You, Lord, is something I've always wanted, but never given all the time I had into making it happen. To empty myself completely of "me" and ask You to fill my heart up with You. To be filled with the Holy Spirit and overflowing with love for everyone I come in contact with; Lord that is what I want. I pray today, God, that you would tear out and chisel away everything in my life that is not of You. That what breaks Your heart would break mine. That I would love as You loved and still love...not judging other people by their looks, but doing all I can to win their heart to You. That I would remember what I say and how I say it matters, Lord I pray that You would watch over my tongue and not let me speak words unless You would speak them. I pray that I would glow with Your love, forgiveness, peace and mercy to all I come in contact with. Amen.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Not "goodbye," but "see you soon."
Today was so hard. All of the memories I had and the aching I experienced years ago from my dear sister in Christ going on to be with the Lord were all brought back. Along with so many other stressful things I've been dealing with, it was easy for me to sit and think about myself and how sad and upset I was.
After awhile of crying and feeling sorry for myself and all I've been through, God reached down and lifted my head towards Him and reminded me that, through Kara and Jimmy's lives, MANY came to know Him and have a better relationship with Him. He reminded me of the fact that knowing them was the blessing, not them knowing me. I was brought back to reality and the fact that it WAS a blessing simply knowing these two amazing, inspiring people. The love they showed for their Savior and the devotion for spreading their love and passion for the Lord will forever be with me.
I get selfish and feel sorry for myself that I don't have these people with me anymore...then I think of all the things they're doing in heaven. I remember that God's plan is perfect and without fault. I know He took them home because He was finished with them. I am still so deeply saddened by their passing and I will miss them until I see them again someday, but they don't want to come back. They're up with Christ and all the angels. They're able to sing praises not looking up towards God, but they're singing in the presence of God! They're able to speak with the people we've only read about...and they are without pain and suffering. They don't have to deal with the heartache of the world and all of the troubles there is to deal with. They're with the one they loved more than anything else.
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." -Revelation 21:4
For the time God gave me with these two incredible people, I will forever be thankful. They not only changed thousands of lives, but mine in particular. They showed me that giving every minute of every day for the Lord is very possible...and not only possible, but something that can be done with joy!
"How lovely is Your dwelling place, Oh Lord Almighty. My soul doth long, and even faint for You. Here my heart Is satisfied, within Your presence. I see beneath
the shadow of Your wings.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts, than thousands elsewhere.
My heart and flesh cry out for You, the Living God. Your Spirit's water to my soul
I've tasted, and I've seen. Come once again to me, I will draw near to You.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts, than thousands elsewhere. Than thousands elsewhere." (Kutless "Better is one day.")
Lord I pray that You will use me, as you used Jimmy and Kara. I pray that I will release my wishes and desires for only what You want for my life. That I will long to be with You more than living my life, but that I would give all I have for You and Your name.
Jimmy and Kara,
I will see you again someday, my dear friends...and I cannot wait!
After awhile of crying and feeling sorry for myself and all I've been through, God reached down and lifted my head towards Him and reminded me that, through Kara and Jimmy's lives, MANY came to know Him and have a better relationship with Him. He reminded me of the fact that knowing them was the blessing, not them knowing me. I was brought back to reality and the fact that it WAS a blessing simply knowing these two amazing, inspiring people. The love they showed for their Savior and the devotion for spreading their love and passion for the Lord will forever be with me.
I get selfish and feel sorry for myself that I don't have these people with me anymore...then I think of all the things they're doing in heaven. I remember that God's plan is perfect and without fault. I know He took them home because He was finished with them. I am still so deeply saddened by their passing and I will miss them until I see them again someday, but they don't want to come back. They're up with Christ and all the angels. They're able to sing praises not looking up towards God, but they're singing in the presence of God! They're able to speak with the people we've only read about...and they are without pain and suffering. They don't have to deal with the heartache of the world and all of the troubles there is to deal with. They're with the one they loved more than anything else.
"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away." -Revelation 21:4
For the time God gave me with these two incredible people, I will forever be thankful. They not only changed thousands of lives, but mine in particular. They showed me that giving every minute of every day for the Lord is very possible...and not only possible, but something that can be done with joy!
"How lovely is Your dwelling place, Oh Lord Almighty. My soul doth long, and even faint for You. Here my heart Is satisfied, within Your presence. I see beneath
the shadow of Your wings.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts than thousands elsewhere.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts, than thousands elsewhere.
My heart and flesh cry out for You, the Living God. Your Spirit's water to my soul
I've tasted, and I've seen. Come once again to me, I will draw near to You.
Better is one day in Your courts, better is one day in Your house, better is one day in Your courts, than thousands elsewhere. Than thousands elsewhere." (Kutless "Better is one day.")
Lord I pray that You will use me, as you used Jimmy and Kara. I pray that I will release my wishes and desires for only what You want for my life. That I will long to be with You more than living my life, but that I would give all I have for You and Your name.
Jimmy and Kara,
I will see you again someday, my dear friends...and I cannot wait!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Leaps and love
Every single day is precious, and I often take them for granted. I complain about small petty things when I should be thankful for the opportunities I have been given and the ability to express my beliefs freely. But do I? Do I really and truly shine Christ everywhere I go, no matter what people say about me or to me? The honest to goodness truth is, no. I don't.
I am mean, say things I shouldn't, do things I shouldn't...and yet God still loves me and forgives me. Why?
Well, He said that because of His blood sacrifice, we were purified and forgiven for all we will ever do if we accept His gift.
One of my favorite examples of forgiveness is when Jesus was being crucified on the cross.
"When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." -Luke 23:33-34
Even as He was dying a most painful death, He was still able to ask God to forgive them. How many of us would forgive something so awful done against us? I know it certainly takes God's strength for me to even forgive small things sometimes. Yet I take freely and willingly the forgiveness of my Father. It's just plain selfish. It's exactly like the story of the men who owed another money. The one man owed another a great deal of money, and he begged to not be sent to prison. The man forgave him all of the debt. That same forgiven man went out to a man who owed him a very small amount of money, and when the man told him he couldn't pay and begged him for more time, he sent him to prison...after he had been forgiven his huge amount of debt.
Should I not forgive everyone, now matter what has been done, because I have been forgiven? Yes.
God loved us so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. His only Son. Now, I don't know about you...but if it were me and my child...I honestly can't say I would give their life to save people who hated me. I can't be that loving and forgiving; but Jesus was. He gave all He had to wash away our sinful lives. He endured pain beyond pain. He went through countless rejections and ridicules...He had people mock Him, spit on Him, down grade Him, call Him a liar and a fake. He had people use His name as a curse word and was forsaken by many. Yet He still loved every single one of them; died for every single one of them.
"Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.
And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
He went through everything that day for us. For me and my sins. And because of my sin, He was crucified. *I* crucified Him, yet He still loves me, listens to me, forgives me and guides me. He listens whenever I need Him and gives me the peace I need when times are hard.
The bile is very clear on salvation. It is through Christ alone, and anyone who does not come to Him will be cast into the lake of fire (hell). It is not a made up place by some crazies. It is a real place. It is hot hot hot...and you won't just burn to death quickly like people do here on earth...you will keep burning and burning for eternity. You think 110 degrees in the Texas weather is hot? Hell will be like nothing anyone has ever felt. It is a place for Satan and all of his demons, all of those who curse the name of God and turn their back on His gift.
People think that because God is a God of love they will be let free and able to enter heavens gates, but this is where they are terribly wrong. God is a God of love, but He is also a God of judgement and righteousness.
If a man went and killed someone or stole from somebody, breaking the law, and he went to the judge and said "I know I've done wrong, but...I'm sorry for doing it." Would a good and righteous judge let him go free? No. He would send him to jail as punishment for breaking the law. Just as Jesus will do to those who have broken His law. He loves us all and wishes that all would accept His love sacrifice, but those who don't take that gift will be punished fiercely.
"This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and
separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." -Matthew 13:49-50
Hell is not a place you want to be. This life here on earth is not all there is despite how often people try to convince themselves of that. People think they were made by accident and therefore are simply here to have fun and enjoy life. Yes, we can have fun, yes we can enjoy life...but if that's all you're living for then I must say it is quite an empty life. We were put here in the first place to glorify God, not ourselves. Since sin entered into the world, our job is now to spread the gospel, to save the lives of those who would otherwise have perished in hell.
God is real. God is the One who created all things. God is the One you will have to answer to one day. Just because people think there is no God doesn't mean He is any less there. They cover their eyes to the fact that He is real, because they don't want to give anything in their life up, when in reality they're losing their own lives by doing that. God didn't make this the only way to heaven to ruin anyone's fun. He did it because He wanted us to live forever with Him. He did it so we would live, and live for eternity! The fact that He IS the only way into heaven should be enough to cause us to praise Him! We have no list of choices, there is only one way and it's Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” -John 3:16-21
It is not an empty belief, nor one to use as a safety net thinking "I'll become a Christian in case there really is a hell." It is having faith in the Creator of everything. Believing that Jesus IS the Son of God, and putting all of your trust in Him, and Him alone.
You will never find worth in life until you have Jesus. You will never know the true meaning of love, forgiveness and peace until He is in your heart. Today is the day. Take a leap of faith. God gave you His life because He loved you SO much that He cared less for Himself. He loved YOU enough to give up everything. That gift is there for anyone to take...
I am mean, say things I shouldn't, do things I shouldn't...and yet God still loves me and forgives me. Why?
Well, He said that because of His blood sacrifice, we were purified and forgiven for all we will ever do if we accept His gift.
One of my favorite examples of forgiveness is when Jesus was being crucified on the cross.
"When they came to the place called The Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left. But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves." -Luke 23:33-34
Even as He was dying a most painful death, He was still able to ask God to forgive them. How many of us would forgive something so awful done against us? I know it certainly takes God's strength for me to even forgive small things sometimes. Yet I take freely and willingly the forgiveness of my Father. It's just plain selfish. It's exactly like the story of the men who owed another money. The one man owed another a great deal of money, and he begged to not be sent to prison. The man forgave him all of the debt. That same forgiven man went out to a man who owed him a very small amount of money, and when the man told him he couldn't pay and begged him for more time, he sent him to prison...after he had been forgiven his huge amount of debt.
Should I not forgive everyone, now matter what has been done, because I have been forgiven? Yes.
God loved us so much that He gave His only Son as a sacrifice for our sins. His only Son. Now, I don't know about you...but if it were me and my child...I honestly can't say I would give their life to save people who hated me. I can't be that loving and forgiving; but Jesus was. He gave all He had to wash away our sinful lives. He endured pain beyond pain. He went through countless rejections and ridicules...He had people mock Him, spit on Him, down grade Him, call Him a liar and a fake. He had people use His name as a curse word and was forsaken by many. Yet He still loved every single one of them; died for every single one of them.
"Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. Then Pilate said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him.
As they were coming out, they found a man of Cyrene named Simon, whom they pressed into service to bear His cross.
And when they came to a place called Golgotha, which means Place of a Skull, they gave Him wine to drink mixed with gall; and after tasting it, He was unwilling to drink.
And when they had crucified Him, they divided up His garments among themselves by casting lots. And sitting down, they began to keep watch over Him there. And above His head they put up the charge against Him which read, “THIS IS JESUS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”
At that time two robbers *were crucified with Him, one on the right and one on the left. And those passing by were hurling abuse at Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking Him and saying, “He saved others; He cannot save Himself. He is the King of Israel; let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe in Him. HE TRUSTS IN GOD; LET GOD RESCUE Him now, IF HE DELIGHTS IN HIM; for He said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” The robbers who had been crucified with Him were also insulting Him with the same words.
Now from the sixth hour darkness fell upon all the land until the ninth hour. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” And some of those who were standing there, when they heard it, began saying, “This man is calling for Elijah.” Immediately one of them ran, and taking a sponge, he filled it with sour wine and put it on a reed, and gave Him a drink. But the rest of them said, “Let us see whether Elijah will come to save Him.” And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth shook and the rocks were split. The tombs were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised; and coming out of the tombs after His resurrection they entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now the centurion, and those who were with him keeping guard over Jesus, when they saw the earthquake and the things that were happening, became very frightened and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!”
He went through everything that day for us. For me and my sins. And because of my sin, He was crucified. *I* crucified Him, yet He still loves me, listens to me, forgives me and guides me. He listens whenever I need Him and gives me the peace I need when times are hard.
The bile is very clear on salvation. It is through Christ alone, and anyone who does not come to Him will be cast into the lake of fire (hell). It is not a made up place by some crazies. It is a real place. It is hot hot hot...and you won't just burn to death quickly like people do here on earth...you will keep burning and burning for eternity. You think 110 degrees in the Texas weather is hot? Hell will be like nothing anyone has ever felt. It is a place for Satan and all of his demons, all of those who curse the name of God and turn their back on His gift.
People think that because God is a God of love they will be let free and able to enter heavens gates, but this is where they are terribly wrong. God is a God of love, but He is also a God of judgement and righteousness.
If a man went and killed someone or stole from somebody, breaking the law, and he went to the judge and said "I know I've done wrong, but...I'm sorry for doing it." Would a good and righteous judge let him go free? No. He would send him to jail as punishment for breaking the law. Just as Jesus will do to those who have broken His law. He loves us all and wishes that all would accept His love sacrifice, but those who don't take that gift will be punished fiercely.
"This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and
separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." -Matthew 13:49-50
Hell is not a place you want to be. This life here on earth is not all there is despite how often people try to convince themselves of that. People think they were made by accident and therefore are simply here to have fun and enjoy life. Yes, we can have fun, yes we can enjoy life...but if that's all you're living for then I must say it is quite an empty life. We were put here in the first place to glorify God, not ourselves. Since sin entered into the world, our job is now to spread the gospel, to save the lives of those who would otherwise have perished in hell.
God is real. God is the One who created all things. God is the One you will have to answer to one day. Just because people think there is no God doesn't mean He is any less there. They cover their eyes to the fact that He is real, because they don't want to give anything in their life up, when in reality they're losing their own lives by doing that. God didn't make this the only way to heaven to ruin anyone's fun. He did it because He wanted us to live forever with Him. He did it so we would live, and live for eternity! The fact that He IS the only way into heaven should be enough to cause us to praise Him! We have no list of choices, there is only one way and it's Jesus Christ.
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” -John 3:16-21
It is not an empty belief, nor one to use as a safety net thinking "I'll become a Christian in case there really is a hell." It is having faith in the Creator of everything. Believing that Jesus IS the Son of God, and putting all of your trust in Him, and Him alone.
You will never find worth in life until you have Jesus. You will never know the true meaning of love, forgiveness and peace until He is in your heart. Today is the day. Take a leap of faith. God gave you His life because He loved you SO much that He cared less for Himself. He loved YOU enough to give up everything. That gift is there for anyone to take...
Monday, August 1, 2011
A blessing gone home
There are many times when God does something that I totally don't understand. He moves and works in ways that we can't comprehend and sometimes it's very hard to have the faith knowing He knows what's best for every single one of us.
God sends people into our life who make huge impacts...they change so many lives, give their whole life for the Lord's work. They love like nobody else and touch thousands of people by just knowing them.
Today I found out a friend from church went to be with the Lord. His life truly reflected Christ in everything He did. His love for the Lord and all of those around him was astounding. The fire He had for God was contagious and you couldn't help but want to do more in your own life. You realized just how much you could be doing when you looked at Jimmy's life.
We all think we have until we're old and grey to do what God has called us to do. We waste so much time doing things that don't matter just to pass the time and then it's too late. Jimmy did more in his short life than many Christians that are up in age. He gave everything He had and put it in full throttle for God.
I know many people are hurting right now, and the only reassurance and peace we have is that Jimmy is with the One he loved more than anything else. He is singing up in heaven for the One he gave his life for. I know he is so very happy...I just pray God would give all of us who don't have him in our lives anymore peace. Because we know Jimmy is happier up there than he was down here. He gave His life for the one who gave him life, and is now up in heaven for eternity.
I thank God with all my heart for letting me know Jimmy. I thank Him for the blessing he was to all of those who knew him. I praise Him for the example he left behind for many to follow.
Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven"
Matthew 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust
do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."
II Peter 3:13 "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new
heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Revelation 2:7 "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Revelation 21:1-5 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of
God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." "
God sends people into our life who make huge impacts...they change so many lives, give their whole life for the Lord's work. They love like nobody else and touch thousands of people by just knowing them.
Today I found out a friend from church went to be with the Lord. His life truly reflected Christ in everything He did. His love for the Lord and all of those around him was astounding. The fire He had for God was contagious and you couldn't help but want to do more in your own life. You realized just how much you could be doing when you looked at Jimmy's life.
We all think we have until we're old and grey to do what God has called us to do. We waste so much time doing things that don't matter just to pass the time and then it's too late. Jimmy did more in his short life than many Christians that are up in age. He gave everything He had and put it in full throttle for God.
I know many people are hurting right now, and the only reassurance and peace we have is that Jimmy is with the One he loved more than anything else. He is singing up in heaven for the One he gave his life for. I know he is so very happy...I just pray God would give all of us who don't have him in our lives anymore peace. Because we know Jimmy is happier up there than he was down here. He gave His life for the one who gave him life, and is now up in heaven for eternity.
I thank God with all my heart for letting me know Jimmy. I thank Him for the blessing he was to all of those who knew him. I praise Him for the example he left behind for many to follow.
Matthew 5:12 "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven"
Matthew 6:20 "But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust
do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."
John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would
have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."
II Peter 3:13 "But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new
heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness."
Revelation 2:7 "Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God."
Revelation 21:1-5 "Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of
God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and
God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." "
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