As I've been listening to K-Love (a radio station) I have realized one main theme: I am a sinner, one who had no chance of saving herself. I am still brought to tears when I think of how awful I have been all my life and yet, I am still forgiven because of the gift my God gave to me (and the whole world) over a couple of thousand years ago.
"I was lost, but now am found"
"I'm just a sinner saved by grace"
"Saved, I'm saved. My sins are now pardoned"
"Searching for the words to thank my King, humbled by my silent offering. Tears of joy well from the depths of my soul, there is no greater gift I know, I’ll ever know."
Jesus, the perfect being, the One who has never sinned, came to this awful sinful world to save ME. He came to save YOU. He will give the gift of forgiveness to anyone who asks of it. I feel like I get a big head sometimes, because I'm "a Christian." But you know what that means? It means I am just as sinful as the rest of the world, I have simply asked for God's forgiveness. No wrong that I have ever done has been any less of a sin than the murderers, thieves, liars, and adulteress. Nothing. If I think of them as being low for what they have done, then I MUST, by God's law, put myself there as well.
Whereas those who are not saved are "sinners" I am simply a "sinner, saved by grace." The perfect, loving, merciful grace of God.
It's so easy to judge everyone around me for the things that they do wrong, but God looks at the big picture, and sees every human as being a fallen race who knows nothing of a perfect life.
I might think I have rough times every now and then...and you know what? That is so very selfish. My Lord took beatings, whippings, and being hung on the cross all for me doing things that I would call my "everyday life."
There are so many people that use the gift that God has given us and run with it. They glow Christ wherever they go...even if it simply means smiling to everyone they come in contact with (the unsaved AND their brothers and sisters in Christ.) With as many people out there that are miserable today, smiling all the time means you have something amazing. I am ashamed of how often I have been around people and have just looked down and not smiled at a single person. How awful to hide such joy that I should have for all that has been given to me! I just don't realize how blessed I am unless I sit and think about it...and even then it's only every now and then. What I SHOULD be doing is, first thing when I wake up, sit and thank God for everything that He has given me and what He is going to send me that very day. Even if it's stressful and full of trials, I am still to be thankful.
- "In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."
1 Thessalonians 5:18
- "The LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."
Job 1:21
- "Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer."
Romans 12:12
- "No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it."
1 Corinthians 10:13
- "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world."
John 16:33
- "More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance"
Romans 5:3
- "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
- "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us."
Romans 8:18
- "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds"
James 1:2
We must remember that tribulations help us grow, and God will never give us more than we can handle. We may think we're going through something unbearable, but we must always remind ourselves that God allows things to happen to us, but He does not wish for us to take them into our own hands and try to fix everything ourselves. This is one of my biggest faults. If anything bad or difficult happens in my life, I try to not "bother" God with my problems and figure I can fix them myself. WRONG. If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times; God did not make us to handle the stresses of life. We are to give it all over to Him every single day. The past two weeks, for the first time in my life, I have been free of stresses and worries almost every single day. I never thought I would be able to let go of so many things, but God finally helped me release things into His hands, and now I no longer have to worry about it all!
I serve an amazing God that can work out and repair the most impossible things in our minds. But you know what? He works miracles; even today. So trust in Him! Have some of that faith we always talk about!
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Weeds
I find it absolutely amazing, and quite intriguing, how many things in God's creation we can relate to with the life and walk of a Christian...or even just things of fact in the world.
I was pulling weeds from our brick steps yesterday, and for whatever reason it made me think of Christians; of good and evil. Weeds grow so easily, and in the places you would least expect them to. They rarely need water or good soil to grow, they just start from a tiny little seed and take off growing and spreading. Like sin in this world. It doesn't need a lot of time or pushing to get started, and when it has begun, it spreads like wildfire. It takes over churches, ruins families, friendships and lives of all who let a small seed of lies dwell in them. Now, also like the weeds, sin cannot be gotten gotten rid of completely (at least not yet,) but we can make the choice to weed out certain things in our life that try to spring up. Anything that is not of Christ must be pulled from our life so He is all people see.
Who likes to see a bountiful garden, only to look closer and find a mound of weeds among the fruit? As is our life...it means nothing to be a Pharisee, to have a perfect life on the outside, yet be rotten and covered with weeds on the inside. God has commanded that we all must die to ourselves to be able to live for Him. I have failed so often with letting my wants and wishes go for the cause of Christ, slowly I have been realizing all of the weeds that I've let grow in my heart, and I am praying every day for God to pull them all out, even if it means some pain or discomfort on my part. Those weeds are like vines, they are wrapped tightly around me and my life, the things I say and do...and I cannot just wish upon them to leave; they must be pulled, roots and all, for them to be gone and not come back.
Little things here and there will pop up when Satans seeds fly into my heart and mind, but I pray with all of my heart that I will catch them before they become a part of who I am. To be free of weeds is a freeing feeling! God can use more weed free Christians, ones who are willing to let Him pull all of the junk from our lives...but we must ask Him to, make the choice to change.
This past week something happened to me, I don't really know what to be honest, but God moved in my life and for the first time ever, I have been given a freedom from so many fears and worries... Things that I have had all of my life. I have been able to go through the day being happy, thinking of Him, and spending more time and energy on praying and doing for others. I only pray God will let this last, and when I start trying to deal with things on my own that God will stop me, and remind me how it felt to be so afraid.
"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22
He can free us from anything we ask Him to; whether it be:
-Fears
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" -Psalm 56:3-4
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:28
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7
-Worries
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22
"God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." -John 14:1
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34
"I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 121:1-2
-Insecurities
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samual 16:7
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." -Collosians 1:15-16
-Anger
"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated." —Proverbs 14:17
" Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." —Proverbs 14:29
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." —Proverbs 15:1
"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
—Proverbs 15:18
-Bitterness.
"Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good."
Job 21:25
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." -Hebrews 12:15
I have had all of those, and believe me, they will not leave unless we ask God to take them. I have held onto so many things in my life with a tight grip, and God is finally getting through to me that I must let them go.
"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" -Exodus 15:11
"The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him." -Exodus 15:2
I was pulling weeds from our brick steps yesterday, and for whatever reason it made me think of Christians; of good and evil. Weeds grow so easily, and in the places you would least expect them to. They rarely need water or good soil to grow, they just start from a tiny little seed and take off growing and spreading. Like sin in this world. It doesn't need a lot of time or pushing to get started, and when it has begun, it spreads like wildfire. It takes over churches, ruins families, friendships and lives of all who let a small seed of lies dwell in them. Now, also like the weeds, sin cannot be gotten gotten rid of completely (at least not yet,) but we can make the choice to weed out certain things in our life that try to spring up. Anything that is not of Christ must be pulled from our life so He is all people see.
Who likes to see a bountiful garden, only to look closer and find a mound of weeds among the fruit? As is our life...it means nothing to be a Pharisee, to have a perfect life on the outside, yet be rotten and covered with weeds on the inside. God has commanded that we all must die to ourselves to be able to live for Him. I have failed so often with letting my wants and wishes go for the cause of Christ, slowly I have been realizing all of the weeds that I've let grow in my heart, and I am praying every day for God to pull them all out, even if it means some pain or discomfort on my part. Those weeds are like vines, they are wrapped tightly around me and my life, the things I say and do...and I cannot just wish upon them to leave; they must be pulled, roots and all, for them to be gone and not come back.
Little things here and there will pop up when Satans seeds fly into my heart and mind, but I pray with all of my heart that I will catch them before they become a part of who I am. To be free of weeds is a freeing feeling! God can use more weed free Christians, ones who are willing to let Him pull all of the junk from our lives...but we must ask Him to, make the choice to change.
This past week something happened to me, I don't really know what to be honest, but God moved in my life and for the first time ever, I have been given a freedom from so many fears and worries... Things that I have had all of my life. I have been able to go through the day being happy, thinking of Him, and spending more time and energy on praying and doing for others. I only pray God will let this last, and when I start trying to deal with things on my own that God will stop me, and remind me how it felt to be so afraid.
"Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Psalm 55:22
He can free us from anything we ask Him to; whether it be:
-Fears
"The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1
"When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?" -Psalm 56:3-4
"And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." -Matthew 10:28
"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." -2 Timothy 1:7
-Worries
"Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22
"God is our refuge and strength,an ever-present help in trouble." -Psalm 46:1
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me." -John 14:1
"So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." -Matthew 6:34
"I lift up my eyes to the hills— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD,the Maker of heaven and earth." -Psalm 121:1-2
-Insecurities
"But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” -1 Samual 16:7
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him." -Collosians 1:15-16
-Anger
"A man of quick temper acts foolishly, and a man of evil devices is hated." —Proverbs 14:17
" Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly." —Proverbs 14:29
"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." —Proverbs 15:1
"A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention."
—Proverbs 15:18
-Bitterness.
"Another man dies in bitterness of soul, never having enjoyed anything good."
Job 21:25
"Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled." -Hebrews 12:15
I have had all of those, and believe me, they will not leave unless we ask God to take them. I have held onto so many things in my life with a tight grip, and God is finally getting through to me that I must let them go.
"Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders?" -Exodus 15:11
"The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise Him; my father’s God, and I will extol Him." -Exodus 15:2
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Never give up, but shine the light.
There are so many things that come up in life, and the more I pay attention to the things around me the more I see how easy people give up. Marriages broken apart because the parents just gave up and didn't fight for something so important. People lose their jobs and just give up, don't even try to find another one because it's too "stressful." People just give up on standing up for what's right because they feel nobody hears or cares what they're saying or doing. Parents give up on their kids, thinking they'll never get through to them some lessons they need for life. Christian family members giving up on their lost family members, just saying they won't ever get the truth through their head. Everywhere I look, people struggle a little bit, then give up and stop trying. Winston Churchill once said in a speech "Never give in--never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy."
It's a good thing to remember. We SHOULDN'T ever give in. We should strive to work as hard as we can for the things we believe in, for the promises we've made, we should work as hard as possible. So many things people try to do on their own. Whether it be keeping a marriage alive, keeping one's child from going down a wrong road, or bringing a loved one to Christ. If you want the honest truth, we cannot do a single one of these with our small human strength. Not a one. We will fail every time. The only way to keep these things full of hope is to rely on Christ to give us strength, patience, love, and forgiveness. God is all powerful, always forgives, loves beyond comprehension, and has more patience than we could even imagine. He gave everything He had, and still gives today to those who follow Him.
When things seem tough, never give in, never, never, never give in. No matter how hard things get, no matter how hurt we are, or stressed we get. Never give up... We need to rely on Christ and pray for wisdom in all situations that we would have patience.
Not all, but in many instances people give up on things because of another persons pride. The bile says so many things about pride and how much destruction in causes.
1. I will break down your stubborn pride. Leviticus 26:19
2. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Obadiah 1:3
3. His pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 26:16
4. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:4
5. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. Psalm 59:12
6. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
7. Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10
8. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
9. A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Proverbs 29:23
10. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8
11. The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11
12. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11
13. Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 13:19
14. The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth. Isaiah 23:9
15. Arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. Daniel 5:20
16. “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 1 Corinthians 4:6
17. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:4
18. Your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 8:14
19. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low. Job 40:11
20. Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6
21. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5
22. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:19
23. Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12
24. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled). Isaiah 2:12
25. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4
We need to remember that in all of the things Satan throws at us, turn our pride off or we'll do so many things we'll regret...not to mention things that will sadden Christ. If it means glorifying God to let someone else do something instead of what we want, then we need to do it. If it means God will be glorified for us to give something up that WE want, then by all means do it. We should show others God's love, shine His light...not show them our own selfish wants or wishes.
I had a friend once who told me he couldn't believe Christians were real, because all they wanted was a number on their board of attendances, a big pile of money in their offering plate to build more "stuff", and to tell people to live one way, then go live their life the total opposite. It saddens me to hear anyone say that, but it is an opinion of many people out there in the world. They see us going and telling other people of all the wonderful things God does for us, and all about His love that we have inside of us. Yet they see churches split and argue over things like the color of the carpet, or the arrangement of the chairs. They are thinking we aren't any better than them, why would they want to learn about this "Jesus" we talk about and this fake love we speak so highly of. It's a sad thing to see in Christians lives...as well as my own. One thing that my mom has told me lately is that our only job is to shine Jesus, and if we haven't done that then no matter what, WE have done wrong. It was a job we failed at and we must take the punishment for it. I think if I tried harder to shine Jesus and worried less about what other people were thinking about what I was wearing, how I talk, how much I know or how I looked, then I would have such a huge impact on my community. Just to smile at people and treat them with the love of God, no matter what they do to me, how rude or grumpy they are, or what is said to me. Everything that comes out of me, every reaction, should be from God.
It's a good thing to remember. We SHOULDN'T ever give in. We should strive to work as hard as we can for the things we believe in, for the promises we've made, we should work as hard as possible. So many things people try to do on their own. Whether it be keeping a marriage alive, keeping one's child from going down a wrong road, or bringing a loved one to Christ. If you want the honest truth, we cannot do a single one of these with our small human strength. Not a one. We will fail every time. The only way to keep these things full of hope is to rely on Christ to give us strength, patience, love, and forgiveness. God is all powerful, always forgives, loves beyond comprehension, and has more patience than we could even imagine. He gave everything He had, and still gives today to those who follow Him.
When things seem tough, never give in, never, never, never give in. No matter how hard things get, no matter how hurt we are, or stressed we get. Never give up... We need to rely on Christ and pray for wisdom in all situations that we would have patience.
Not all, but in many instances people give up on things because of another persons pride. The bile says so many things about pride and how much destruction in causes.
1. I will break down your stubborn pride. Leviticus 26:19
2. The pride of your heart has deceived you, you who live in the clefts of the rocks and make your home on the heights, you who say to yourself, ‘Who can bring me down to the ground?’ Obadiah 1:3
3. His pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the LORD his God. 2 Chronicles 26:16
4. In his pride the wicked does not seek him; in all his thoughts there is no room for God. Psalm 10:4
5. For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride. Psalm 59:12
6. When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. Proverbs 11:2
7. Pride only breeds quarrels, but wisdom is found in those who take advice. Proverbs 13:10
8. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18
9. A man’s pride brings him low, but a man of lowly spirit gains honor. Proverbs 29:23
10. The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride. Ecclesiastes 7:8
11. The eyes of the arrogant man will be humbled and the pride of men brought low; the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. Isaiah 2:11
12. I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless. Isaiah 13:11
13. Babylon, the jewel of kingdoms, the glory of the Babylonians’ pride, will be overthrown by God like Sodom and Gomorrah. Isaiah 13:19
14. The LORD Almighty planned it, to bring low the pride of all glory and to humble all who are renowned on the earth. Isaiah 23:9
15. Arrogant and hardened with pride, he was deposed from his royal throne and stripped of his glory. Daniel 5:20
16. “Do not go beyond what is written.” Then you will not take pride in one man over against another. 1 Corinthians 4:6
17. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Galatians 6:4
18. Your heart will become proud and you will forget the LORD your God. Deuteronomy 8:14
19. Unleash the fury of your wrath, look at every proud man and bring him low. Job 40:11
20. Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Psalm 138:6
21. The LORD detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. Proverbs 16:5
22. Better to be lowly in spirit and among the oppressed than to share plunder with the proud. Proverbs 16:19
23. Before his downfall a man’s heart is proud, but humility comes before honor. Proverbs 18:12
24. The LORD Almighty has a day in store for all the proud and lofty, for all that is exalted (and they will be humbled). Isaiah 2:12
25. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 1 Corinthians 13:4
We need to remember that in all of the things Satan throws at us, turn our pride off or we'll do so many things we'll regret...not to mention things that will sadden Christ. If it means glorifying God to let someone else do something instead of what we want, then we need to do it. If it means God will be glorified for us to give something up that WE want, then by all means do it. We should show others God's love, shine His light...not show them our own selfish wants or wishes.
I had a friend once who told me he couldn't believe Christians were real, because all they wanted was a number on their board of attendances, a big pile of money in their offering plate to build more "stuff", and to tell people to live one way, then go live their life the total opposite. It saddens me to hear anyone say that, but it is an opinion of many people out there in the world. They see us going and telling other people of all the wonderful things God does for us, and all about His love that we have inside of us. Yet they see churches split and argue over things like the color of the carpet, or the arrangement of the chairs. They are thinking we aren't any better than them, why would they want to learn about this "Jesus" we talk about and this fake love we speak so highly of. It's a sad thing to see in Christians lives...as well as my own. One thing that my mom has told me lately is that our only job is to shine Jesus, and if we haven't done that then no matter what, WE have done wrong. It was a job we failed at and we must take the punishment for it. I think if I tried harder to shine Jesus and worried less about what other people were thinking about what I was wearing, how I talk, how much I know or how I looked, then I would have such a huge impact on my community. Just to smile at people and treat them with the love of God, no matter what they do to me, how rude or grumpy they are, or what is said to me. Everything that comes out of me, every reaction, should be from God.
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