The blood that Jesus shed for me, way back on Calvary, the blood that gives me strength from day to day, it will never lose its power! For it reaches to the highest mountain and it flows to the lowest valleys, the blood that gives me strength from day to day, It will never lose its power!
There was a time when our loving Father looked down from heaven and had seen that sin was conquering and that man hadn't the ability to overcome it, the plan would be to clothe Himself in flesh, come to this earth, walk among us and then pay the ultimate penalty for our sins which was His death on the cross!
It was this precious blood that flowed from the body of Jesus, the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, the Lamb of God that would take away the sins of the world, the innocent blood of Jesus that would make me whole again!
What shall wash my sins away, NOTHING but the blood of Jesus. What shall make me whole again, NOTHING but the blood of Jesus!
There is power in the blood! Life sustaining! Wound healing! Sin forgiving! Strength providing! POWER!!!
As I was living my life in sin, doing only what I wanted to do according to my own will I came to an Old Rugged Cross by the way of attending a few church services and learning from my pastor the word of God! I had learned that the penalty of my sins was death. Yes I would have to die because I had sinned against God as all humanity had! But where sin did abound Grace did much more abound! A second chance was offered to me in the scriptures, if I were to escape death I would have to except another's sacrifice in place of my own. The only sacrifice that was ever made that would cover the multitude of sins was that of the blood of Jesus Christ!
As I had accepted His death in place of my own the only requirement on my part is that I now would surrender my life to Him! I was bought with the blood of Jesus and am no longer my own! I was to deny myself take up my cross and follow Him! To follow Him and to live the life that I would lead I needed to be born again of water and of the Spirit! I was born of the water in baptism where I now had taken on His name and born of the Spirit when filled with the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in another tongue!
Now born again, sins forgiven and all things have become new I take the time to thank Him for the blood! Thank God for the blood that washes white as snow! The power in blood that had once washed my sins away, remains yet today. It will never lose its POWER!
Isa 1:18
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Repeat offender!
Prov 17:9
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Well if that doesn't say it all! Some things are not worth repeating and other things just plain shouldn't be repeated! Enough said! But I will say more.
We can talk about forgiveness and being over things but sometimes we store the offense in our memories as a future weapon! To make ourselves look better we remind people of who they were or what they have done. I call them repeat offenders. People who repeat only do so to hurt or damage those who they are talking to or about!
James 5:20
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
In order to convert a sinner is to offer them hope of forgiveness and redemption. To remind a person of the error of there ways is damaging. Its difficult enough to except sometimes that the Lord has really forgiven us from the sins that we have committed just to have others try to hold us accountable for our pasts!
There is a saying in the church about sins that have been forgiven, Its under the blood! You can remind me of my failures and all that I can say is that its under the blood! Its meaning is that I have repented of those sins, have changed my life style to avoid repeating and Gods word says that He has forgiven me! Once forgiven, it no longer can be held against me!
Pro. 17:9 also speaks to those who choose to gossip. Not everything that a person hears is meant to be repeated or shared! If it is an issue that needs to be prayed about, then pray about it and there is no need to involve others. The greatest way to earn someone's trust is to keep your mouth shut. If someone entrusts you with a matter it should be held in confidence! To repeat the matter is to break that confidence and lose the trust of that someone! Repeat offenders destroy relationships! Not only with a single individual but with all parties involved. As the church is concerned it will infect the whole body.
Rom 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Jesus Christ has offered us hope by forgiveness through repentance and baptism! 1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
To have a good conscience is to be freed from the guilt of our sins, baptism washes that sin away never to be counted against us again!
Don't be a repeat offender by gossip! Don't be a repeat offender by judging and condemning a person for the things of there past.
One of the most powerful statements that Jesus had said in the bible comes from John 8:11
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
Well if that doesn't say it all! Some things are not worth repeating and other things just plain shouldn't be repeated! Enough said! But I will say more.
We can talk about forgiveness and being over things but sometimes we store the offense in our memories as a future weapon! To make ourselves look better we remind people of who they were or what they have done. I call them repeat offenders. People who repeat only do so to hurt or damage those who they are talking to or about!
James 5:20
Let him know, that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.
In order to convert a sinner is to offer them hope of forgiveness and redemption. To remind a person of the error of there ways is damaging. Its difficult enough to except sometimes that the Lord has really forgiven us from the sins that we have committed just to have others try to hold us accountable for our pasts!
There is a saying in the church about sins that have been forgiven, Its under the blood! You can remind me of my failures and all that I can say is that its under the blood! Its meaning is that I have repented of those sins, have changed my life style to avoid repeating and Gods word says that He has forgiven me! Once forgiven, it no longer can be held against me!
Pro. 17:9 also speaks to those who choose to gossip. Not everything that a person hears is meant to be repeated or shared! If it is an issue that needs to be prayed about, then pray about it and there is no need to involve others. The greatest way to earn someone's trust is to keep your mouth shut. If someone entrusts you with a matter it should be held in confidence! To repeat the matter is to break that confidence and lose the trust of that someone! Repeat offenders destroy relationships! Not only with a single individual but with all parties involved. As the church is concerned it will infect the whole body.
Rom 8:1
8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
Jesus Christ has offered us hope by forgiveness through repentance and baptism! 1 Peter 3:21
21 The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:
To have a good conscience is to be freed from the guilt of our sins, baptism washes that sin away never to be counted against us again!
Don't be a repeat offender by gossip! Don't be a repeat offender by judging and condemning a person for the things of there past.
One of the most powerful statements that Jesus had said in the bible comes from John 8:11
11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
Reality is where I live!
Eccl 9:11-12
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
The reality is that LIFE HAPPENS! There are times when God does show His children favor and because of prayers that we have made God has changed His mind on a certain thing, but there are times when life happens. It may be raining today simply because the clouds are full and can no longer contain it! The train has stopped you at the crossing simply because this is the moment it had entered the path in which you were on. People have been mean, unruly, hateful, disrespectful and may just have ignored you because they are people. That's life.
I do believe in spiritual influence, good and evil but I also believe that time and chance happeneth to us all. Meaning that not everything that happens to us in our lives is spiritually determined! The bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust alike. This doesn't mean that the just are blessed with the equal amount that the unjust are cursed or judged! What this means is good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people!
If bad things always happened to bad people then what hope would they ever have? If good things always happened to good people then what faith, trust or dependency on God would we ever need?
Living in reality means that I recognize that not everything goes according to my plans. It means that I don't blame God for allowing bad things to happen and only bless Him for the good! In all things give thanks!
Like the old song says, You take the good you take the bad you take the both and there you have The Facts of Life! As a Christian I have help from the Lord in my life's journey but I will still face what every life faces. I will face temptation. I will face difficulties. I will face loss and struggle. I will face the rain, the storm and winters cold but I will also face the warmth of the sun, not because the enemy is against me and the Lord is for me but because that's reality.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!!!!!! In most cases it is because your heart is still beating, its because you are alive. We want to blame the enemy for all that happens but the problem is then we end up also blaming God for doing nothing about it.
There are times of influence from the enemy, but it will be a time when you are having an impact on the kingdom, when your reaching the lost, when your life is turning from sin to God not during your day to day life! The enemy will try to do greater damage than a flat tire on your car, broken down washing machine, late payment on your bills and even more than a common cold!
When we learn to live in reality our faith will quit waivering with every mishap! We wont blame God or give unwarranted credit to the enemy!
If you draw a circle and put your life and God in it, that's one reality! Now if you take God out of that circle, that's another reality but a reality nonetheless.
With Christ there is hope, purpose, help, direction, guidance and eternal salvation but there will still be difficult times, that's life, that's reality! Reality is where I live but it is still lived by faith and my life is still in His hands!!
I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
12 For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them.
The reality is that LIFE HAPPENS! There are times when God does show His children favor and because of prayers that we have made God has changed His mind on a certain thing, but there are times when life happens. It may be raining today simply because the clouds are full and can no longer contain it! The train has stopped you at the crossing simply because this is the moment it had entered the path in which you were on. People have been mean, unruly, hateful, disrespectful and may just have ignored you because they are people. That's life.
I do believe in spiritual influence, good and evil but I also believe that time and chance happeneth to us all. Meaning that not everything that happens to us in our lives is spiritually determined! The bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust alike. This doesn't mean that the just are blessed with the equal amount that the unjust are cursed or judged! What this means is good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people!
If bad things always happened to bad people then what hope would they ever have? If good things always happened to good people then what faith, trust or dependency on God would we ever need?
Living in reality means that I recognize that not everything goes according to my plans. It means that I don't blame God for allowing bad things to happen and only bless Him for the good! In all things give thanks!
Like the old song says, You take the good you take the bad you take the both and there you have The Facts of Life! As a Christian I have help from the Lord in my life's journey but I will still face what every life faces. I will face temptation. I will face difficulties. I will face loss and struggle. I will face the rain, the storm and winters cold but I will also face the warmth of the sun, not because the enemy is against me and the Lord is for me but because that's reality.
WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME!!!!!! In most cases it is because your heart is still beating, its because you are alive. We want to blame the enemy for all that happens but the problem is then we end up also blaming God for doing nothing about it.
There are times of influence from the enemy, but it will be a time when you are having an impact on the kingdom, when your reaching the lost, when your life is turning from sin to God not during your day to day life! The enemy will try to do greater damage than a flat tire on your car, broken down washing machine, late payment on your bills and even more than a common cold!
When we learn to live in reality our faith will quit waivering with every mishap! We wont blame God or give unwarranted credit to the enemy!
If you draw a circle and put your life and God in it, that's one reality! Now if you take God out of that circle, that's another reality but a reality nonetheless.
With Christ there is hope, purpose, help, direction, guidance and eternal salvation but there will still be difficult times, that's life, that's reality! Reality is where I live but it is still lived by faith and my life is still in His hands!!
Tuesday, May 13, 2014
Awaken with purpose!
Isa 60:1-5
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Well if that doesn't say it all! The people of God have great purpose to be awake and alive this morning, noon and night and every day that follows! We are the light of an ever darkening world and without us there is no hope for them that live in it! Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Absolute darkness is simply the absence of light! We bring and we offer that light through our lives and His glorious gospel. If we don't arise, if we don't allow the light of Jesus to shine in our daily walk it is not we who are being effected but those who depend on us! Our families, co-workers, friends and everyone who we may come in to contact with need to see Jesus in us to survive.
As the church we have to understand what we mean to this world! We are the counter agent to all that is evil and ungodly! Where sin doth abound grace doth much more abound! Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world! If you being the light are removed from the surroundings you are involved in darkness prevails! It may seem hopeless, it may seem unproductive to remain but without you there hope fades.
This morning I awoke with purpose! Though most of my day will be spent on the job I have to remember and remind myself that there is a greater purpose to this day than making a living or fulfilling my duties! It is to present Christ to the world!!! Maybe you are awake to get kids off to school, go to school yourself or maybe its to clean the house or to do nothing at all, today you have purpose! Shine the light on all that you can and if your confined to your home then pray for those who aren't and for the souls of the lost to receive that light! We all have a significant role to fulfill today, wherever you are and whatever your day brings YOU are a force in the kingdom!
If the church could ever realize the importance that we have to this world our woes would become non-existent or at least not our focus. As dark as it seems our lives can get being the light I cant even imagine how those without light feel!
You may get or be frustrated with those who you are trying to help and influence for the cause of Christ but the light must continue to shine! Many will reject you, turn against or rebel against you but that does not change our purpose! Just remember that the resistance and the rejection that you feel is not toward you, it is a reaction to what the light you shine is revealing in their lives.
Prov 4:18-19
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
When Jesus shines through us it reveals what it is that they are stumbling upon and they have to react to it, some react with persecution and some to repentance! My purpose is to shine the light and be ready to lead them to repentance!
Isa 59:10
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
As the blind and they that stumble reach out to find stability and direction we need to be the ones they find. If you have breath and know Jesus, then you have purpose!
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee.
2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the Lord shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.
3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.
4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side.
5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.
Well if that doesn't say it all! The people of God have great purpose to be awake and alive this morning, noon and night and every day that follows! We are the light of an ever darkening world and without us there is no hope for them that live in it! Let your light so shine before men that they see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Absolute darkness is simply the absence of light! We bring and we offer that light through our lives and His glorious gospel. If we don't arise, if we don't allow the light of Jesus to shine in our daily walk it is not we who are being effected but those who depend on us! Our families, co-workers, friends and everyone who we may come in to contact with need to see Jesus in us to survive.
As the church we have to understand what we mean to this world! We are the counter agent to all that is evil and ungodly! Where sin doth abound grace doth much more abound! Greater is He that is in YOU than he that is in the world! If you being the light are removed from the surroundings you are involved in darkness prevails! It may seem hopeless, it may seem unproductive to remain but without you there hope fades.
This morning I awoke with purpose! Though most of my day will be spent on the job I have to remember and remind myself that there is a greater purpose to this day than making a living or fulfilling my duties! It is to present Christ to the world!!! Maybe you are awake to get kids off to school, go to school yourself or maybe its to clean the house or to do nothing at all, today you have purpose! Shine the light on all that you can and if your confined to your home then pray for those who aren't and for the souls of the lost to receive that light! We all have a significant role to fulfill today, wherever you are and whatever your day brings YOU are a force in the kingdom!
If the church could ever realize the importance that we have to this world our woes would become non-existent or at least not our focus. As dark as it seems our lives can get being the light I cant even imagine how those without light feel!
You may get or be frustrated with those who you are trying to help and influence for the cause of Christ but the light must continue to shine! Many will reject you, turn against or rebel against you but that does not change our purpose! Just remember that the resistance and the rejection that you feel is not toward you, it is a reaction to what the light you shine is revealing in their lives.
Prov 4:18-19
But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.
19 The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble.
When Jesus shines through us it reveals what it is that they are stumbling upon and they have to react to it, some react with persecution and some to repentance! My purpose is to shine the light and be ready to lead them to repentance!
Isa 59:10
We grope for the wall like the blind, and we grope as if we had no eyes: we stumble at noonday as in the night; we are in desolate places as dead men.
As the blind and they that stumble reach out to find stability and direction we need to be the ones they find. If you have breath and know Jesus, then you have purpose!
Friday, May 2, 2014
Time to be selfish!
1 Sam 30:6
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
David as the leader of the people was catching all the blame for what had just transpired. The enemy came in and burned the city and had captured their wives, sons and their daughters! But here is what the people didn't allow themselves to see, Even David's wives were taken! David was suffering loss right along side them and instead of sticking together, working out a plan to save them they turned to David and put all the blame on him! Welcome to leadership 101. When the people don't get the results they want, you get the blame!
David had no one that he felt he could turn to. David the bible says was GREATLY DISTRESSED! You might say he felt like throwing in the towel. You might say he felt like giving up! David may have even been contemplating running for his life! But David encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord!
If God before me who can be against me! God is my strength, my shield, my deliverer! I am chosen of God, called and sanctified for the Masters use! David had to say to himself all that he knew of His God to get himself back into a place where he could lead and where he could begin again to encourage others!
David was not in a place to speak to the people with faith, considering it was the people who caused him to be distressed. Looking at them and saying All things work together for the good, to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose probably would have worked against Him. And since no one was stepping up to encourage David, no one was standing beside him or holding up his hands David had to be selfish and care for himself!
David didn't give up. David didn't abandon them. David didn't go on a vacation, David went to the prayer room and lifted himself up. Not by putting others down, or condemning their actions or seeking out others who would be in agreement with him, he encourage himself in the Lord.
If you're going to be selfish, be this kind of selfish. Take time for yourself in prayer to build yourself up by Gods word. Take time for yourself and read the scriptures. Take time for yourself, by yourself away from others who are not encouraging you, and who may be causing you to be distressed!
The biggest reason that I hear from people why they don't take time away from others is because they are trying to help them! And the answer I can usually give is You cant save a drowning victim if you are drowning yourself!
Maybe its selfish to get saved! Maybe its selfish to seek healing for your own soul! Maybe its selfish to find the shore to plant your own feet on. But if your going to be this selfish do it for the right reason and that is for the cause of Christ. To offer hope and help to others! To become strong in the Lord and be able to do His will!
Its time to build yourself up, speak faith into your life and encourage yourself by what God has to say about you!
Jer 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God.
David as the leader of the people was catching all the blame for what had just transpired. The enemy came in and burned the city and had captured their wives, sons and their daughters! But here is what the people didn't allow themselves to see, Even David's wives were taken! David was suffering loss right along side them and instead of sticking together, working out a plan to save them they turned to David and put all the blame on him! Welcome to leadership 101. When the people don't get the results they want, you get the blame!
David had no one that he felt he could turn to. David the bible says was GREATLY DISTRESSED! You might say he felt like throwing in the towel. You might say he felt like giving up! David may have even been contemplating running for his life! But David encouraged HIMSELF in the Lord!
If God before me who can be against me! God is my strength, my shield, my deliverer! I am chosen of God, called and sanctified for the Masters use! David had to say to himself all that he knew of His God to get himself back into a place where he could lead and where he could begin again to encourage others!
David was not in a place to speak to the people with faith, considering it was the people who caused him to be distressed. Looking at them and saying All things work together for the good, to them that love God and are the called according to His purpose probably would have worked against Him. And since no one was stepping up to encourage David, no one was standing beside him or holding up his hands David had to be selfish and care for himself!
David didn't give up. David didn't abandon them. David didn't go on a vacation, David went to the prayer room and lifted himself up. Not by putting others down, or condemning their actions or seeking out others who would be in agreement with him, he encourage himself in the Lord.
If you're going to be selfish, be this kind of selfish. Take time for yourself in prayer to build yourself up by Gods word. Take time for yourself and read the scriptures. Take time for yourself, by yourself away from others who are not encouraging you, and who may be causing you to be distressed!
The biggest reason that I hear from people why they don't take time away from others is because they are trying to help them! And the answer I can usually give is You cant save a drowning victim if you are drowning yourself!
Maybe its selfish to get saved! Maybe its selfish to seek healing for your own soul! Maybe its selfish to find the shore to plant your own feet on. But if your going to be this selfish do it for the right reason and that is for the cause of Christ. To offer hope and help to others! To become strong in the Lord and be able to do His will!
Its time to build yourself up, speak faith into your life and encourage yourself by what God has to say about you!
Jer 29:11-14
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
12 Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you.
13 And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
14 And I will be found of you, saith the Lord: and I will turn away your captivity, and I will gather you from all the nations, and from all the places whither I have driven you, saith the Lord; and I will bring you again into the place whence I caused you to be carried away captive.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Longing for His Presence!
Job 23:3-6
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
In all that Job had lost, his children, his servants, livestock, wealth and even his health the one thing Job desired to regain was the presence of His God! Not for one minute do I believe that Job didn't love all that he had lost but Job understood that without the presence of the Lord his own life would be meaningless!
To have the gains of this whole world but to lose your soul, to find yourself with material things and longing for something more.
To be without the presence of the Lord in comparison would be like a fish out of water, a tree plucked up by its roots or a severed finger or limb! All of these things removed from there natural habitat or its atmosphere quickly begin to die unless reintroduced to its natural environment.
When an astronaut leaves the atmosphere of the earth he must create, by imitation, this type of atmosphere in order to survive. He would have to wear a suit that would supply oxygen in order to breath. This suit would also provide enough weight to overcome the lack of gravity, keeping him grounded and avoiding floating off into space! God has created an atmosphere for His children to live in and that is His own presence. When we get out of that atmosphere, or having never entered in to that atmosphere life cannot be sustained at the level that Almighty God has designed it to be!
The bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust alike but with the rain on the just an umbrella of Gods protection is also provided! Troubles still arise, difficulty is still a part of life, temptation is still present but God provides a way of escape!
In thy presence is fullness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures forever more! Psalms 16:11
The world provides imitations to try to fulfill the emptiness in our lives that only Gods presence will do! But like the astronaut we need to find our way back into our natural atmosphere because the longer that we are out of it the greater the toll on our bodies, our lives!
Job had lost everything and his response was, Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat! I can live with the loss of all that I loved but I cannot live with out thy Presence! I know the words which He would answer me!
What would God say to me when I am at a loss, when hurting, when feeling abandoned, hopeless and at the end of my rope? Job said would He plead against me? NO, but He would strengthen me!! God is our help, our refuge, our strength,healer, deliverer and our salvation! Not to mention a caring, loving, concerned and compassionate Father like no other!
No matter where I am, what is happening in my life I long for His presence!
Read Psalms 63
Oh that I knew where I might find him! that I might come even to his seat!
4 I would order my cause before him, and fill my mouth with arguments.
5 I would know the words which he would answer me, and understand what he would say unto me.
6 Will he plead against me with his great power? No; but he would put strength in me.
In all that Job had lost, his children, his servants, livestock, wealth and even his health the one thing Job desired to regain was the presence of His God! Not for one minute do I believe that Job didn't love all that he had lost but Job understood that without the presence of the Lord his own life would be meaningless!
To have the gains of this whole world but to lose your soul, to find yourself with material things and longing for something more.
To be without the presence of the Lord in comparison would be like a fish out of water, a tree plucked up by its roots or a severed finger or limb! All of these things removed from there natural habitat or its atmosphere quickly begin to die unless reintroduced to its natural environment.
When an astronaut leaves the atmosphere of the earth he must create, by imitation, this type of atmosphere in order to survive. He would have to wear a suit that would supply oxygen in order to breath. This suit would also provide enough weight to overcome the lack of gravity, keeping him grounded and avoiding floating off into space! God has created an atmosphere for His children to live in and that is His own presence. When we get out of that atmosphere, or having never entered in to that atmosphere life cannot be sustained at the level that Almighty God has designed it to be!
The bible tells us that it rains on the just and the unjust alike but with the rain on the just an umbrella of Gods protection is also provided! Troubles still arise, difficulty is still a part of life, temptation is still present but God provides a way of escape!
In thy presence is fullness of joy and at thy right hand are pleasures forever more! Psalms 16:11
The world provides imitations to try to fulfill the emptiness in our lives that only Gods presence will do! But like the astronaut we need to find our way back into our natural atmosphere because the longer that we are out of it the greater the toll on our bodies, our lives!
Job had lost everything and his response was, Oh that I knew where I might find Him, that I might come even to His seat! I can live with the loss of all that I loved but I cannot live with out thy Presence! I know the words which He would answer me!
What would God say to me when I am at a loss, when hurting, when feeling abandoned, hopeless and at the end of my rope? Job said would He plead against me? NO, but He would strengthen me!! God is our help, our refuge, our strength,healer, deliverer and our salvation! Not to mention a caring, loving, concerned and compassionate Father like no other!
No matter where I am, what is happening in my life I long for His presence!
Read Psalms 63
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
My enemy is me!
Read this in the first person.
Today I wake up and I decide. I decide what to wear, what to do, what to think about, who to be around and as the day goes on how to react to life. Its easy for me to blame others for how my life goes but it is I who allows how much other people influence my life. It is my decision who I allow to influence my life.
My problem is that I care what people do and say about me that don't really care about me and I really need to focus on the ones that do! I let there actions dictate my response! I shouldn't but I do. That's my problem, I am in contact and communication with the people that are not good for me! I'm constantly surrounding myself with negativity whether in person or by social media and then I get caught up in it and become negative myself. Its me, I am my enemy! I do this to myself! I need to get off this merry-go-round because its no longer any fun and I keep ending up where I started.
What does the bible say in 2 Cor 6:14-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Its no wonder I am not getting along with these people because we are not on the same journey. Our destination is in two different places. For those who are on the same journey we must be at different points along the way.
This is hard for me to say but in every situation that I find myself in I am the constant factor! Every time Im at odds with someone I am involved. Every time Im in disagreement with someone I am involved. Every time the drama curtain opens I am the star of the show! My enemy is me! I am fighting with myself!
Today I change course. I am turning away from those who choose not to influence my life in a positive way and I turn to those who do. I am not going to socialize with or respond to anyone who is not going to benefit my life and who's life will not benefit from mine!
Today I am choosing to let my light so shine that others will see the goodness in me and desire what I have!
I am sick of drama and gossip and all the negative things that go with it so I am going to quit spreading it! I am my enemy! Rom 7:18-19
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
With that said I realize that if I take me out of every problem then there is no problem at all!
Authors note: If you find yourself offended or angered in any way remember your enemy is not me.
Today I wake up and I decide. I decide what to wear, what to do, what to think about, who to be around and as the day goes on how to react to life. Its easy for me to blame others for how my life goes but it is I who allows how much other people influence my life. It is my decision who I allow to influence my life.
My problem is that I care what people do and say about me that don't really care about me and I really need to focus on the ones that do! I let there actions dictate my response! I shouldn't but I do. That's my problem, I am in contact and communication with the people that are not good for me! I'm constantly surrounding myself with negativity whether in person or by social media and then I get caught up in it and become negative myself. Its me, I am my enemy! I do this to myself! I need to get off this merry-go-round because its no longer any fun and I keep ending up where I started.
What does the bible say in 2 Cor 6:14-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
Its no wonder I am not getting along with these people because we are not on the same journey. Our destination is in two different places. For those who are on the same journey we must be at different points along the way.
This is hard for me to say but in every situation that I find myself in I am the constant factor! Every time Im at odds with someone I am involved. Every time Im in disagreement with someone I am involved. Every time the drama curtain opens I am the star of the show! My enemy is me! I am fighting with myself!
Today I change course. I am turning away from those who choose not to influence my life in a positive way and I turn to those who do. I am not going to socialize with or respond to anyone who is not going to benefit my life and who's life will not benefit from mine!
Today I am choosing to let my light so shine that others will see the goodness in me and desire what I have!
I am sick of drama and gossip and all the negative things that go with it so I am going to quit spreading it! I am my enemy! Rom 7:18-19
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
With that said I realize that if I take me out of every problem then there is no problem at all!
Authors note: If you find yourself offended or angered in any way remember your enemy is not me.
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