Friday, January 29, 2016

God Is Good All the Time


Grace:


2 Timothy 2:11-13

"If we died with Him,
   We will also live with Him;
 If we endure,
    We will also reign with Him,
 If we disown Him,
    He will also disown us;
 If we are faithless,
    He remains faithful.."


We do not deserve God's grace, but because of His great love for us, we have received it. (1 John 4:19)

2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.."

His grace is enough!

Romans 5:1-11
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God! (meaning: It is as if we never sinned; we have peace with God through Jesus. Because of His grace we have through faith)
Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. (When we are suffering, we are growing stronger in character (as a Christian) because we are relying on God(We should be))
And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (When we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, we are given the Holy Spirit to guide us and discern our intentions of heart)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungoldy. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, (No one is righteous, no not one. So that is why Jesus died for us; we are not righteous and He died out of love)
Though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (As in verse 7, Jesus died for the unrighteous out of love)
Since we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through Him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now  received reconciliation." 

How rare it is for someone to die for His enemy. But Jesus did that on the cross for us! We were His enemies, but He still died for us! What a great example of 'Love your enemies'. This passage sums up God's grace, Jesus's love, and how even though we were enemies of Jesus, He still loved us and died for us. Now we are children of the King!





Thursday, January 21, 2016

(Dad sent this to me and I thought it was really good)

I once learned a precious lesson from a little girl!

(George Everard, "Victory in the Battle!" 1885)

I once learned a precious lesson from a little girl. I was walking along a road in my town, when a little girl came walking by my side. I saw that she was not a poor child seeking relief, so I wondered what she needed. After a few moments I bent down and asked her if I could do anything for her; but I only heard a sob. Soon I tried again, and, after a little delay, I just heard the words, "Rough men! So frightened!" 

I looked around and saw some railroad workers returning from their work, and I imagine they were not very sober, and had been fighting or quarreling along the way. So I took hold of the child's hand, and inquiring where she lived, I took her to the gate and saw the little girl cheerfully run up the garden and enter her house.

It seemed to me just a type and picture of the way in which a Christian should act in temptation. Go near to Christ, and put confidence in Him. Go and nestle by His side and under His wing--and remember that He cares for you, and will go with you and protect you. Take hold of His hand and tell Him your trouble--and look to Him to go with you every step of your homeward journey. And He will do it. He won't reject your humble suit. He won't turn away from you and leave you. Oh no! He delights in those who flee to Him and trust in Him! He will keep them from their fears and dangers, and bring them to the Father's house in peace.


Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Through It All



Well, I just got over the stomach bug(I HATE IT) and a song came to mind.
It is really encouraing because it tells us that no matter what we go through, God will get us through it ALL.

Through It All (Written by Andre Crouch)
("All things work together for good to them that love God.." Romans 8:28"

(v. 1) I've had many tears and sorrows, I've had questions for tomorrow,
There've been times I didn't know right from wrong;
But in every situation God gave blessed consolation
That my trials come to only make me strong.

(Chrous)
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've leanred to trust in God;
Through it all, through it all, I've learned to depend upon His word.

(v. 2) I've been to lots of places, and I've seen lots of faces, there've been times I felt so all alone; But in my lonely hours, Yes those presious lonely hours, Jesus let me know that I was His own.

(Chrous)

(v. 3) I thank God for the mountians, and I thank Him for the valleys, I thank Him for the storms He brought me through; For if I'd never had a problem, I wouldn't know that He could solve them, I'd never know what faith in God could do.

(Chrous)

The last verse stuck out to me the most. If we never had a problem, we wouldn't know that God could solve them. I for sure think at times,"Ugh, why can't I just have a perfect life with no problems?"
Well, then if we did, how could we know that God can solve them?
And we wouldn't know what fatih in God could do.
I love that song so much!

Friday, January 15, 2016

Living by Faith, Not by Sight

Psalm 34:4
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.”


Isaiah 41:13
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

Why should we be afraid when God is holding our hand?
He will help us, and guide us along the path of the righteousness.


2 Corinthians 5:7
“For we live by faith, not by sight.”

Do not live by sight. Things of this world are ugly, dirty, and sinful. Why would we want to live by them? If we live by faith, we can see the light of God! 

 When we live by faith, we are letting go of the things of this world, and grasping onto the things that are eternal, holy, and beautiful. The things that will last forever. The things that won’t be burned up in fire. The things that will satisfy our hunger and thirst and yearning for something which we cannot see, but know is there. That’s why we should live by faith,not by sight.
Living by faith is living for God.

Thursday, January 14, 2016

Child of God



As a child of God, I struggle a lot. I started asking myself: Am I really saved?
The answer is this: If you put your trust and faith in Jesus, then yes, you are saved.
Romans 10:9
“If you declare with your mouth that ,”Jesus is Lord.” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you WILL be saved.”


It is THAT simply. I tend to make it harder than that. I tend to think: There has to be more to it. Right?


NO! There is nothing else to it.


But, when we do become saved, we must live out our lives for Jesus Christ.


Ephesians 5:1-2
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”


Be children of God by showing His love to other!
Just how are we to do that?


James 2:18
“But someone says,”You have faith; I have deeds,” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show my faith by my deeds.”


If we don’t go out and spread God’s word to others, how will people know we are Christians?
THEY WON’T.


Let us not be the type of Christians who hide away.








LET US BE BEASTS FOR GOD!




Matthew 28:19-20
“Therefore, go out and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you to the VERY end of the age.”

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Guard Your Heart


Luke 6:43-35
"No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. Each tree is recognized by its own fruits. People do not pick figs from thorn bushes, or grapes from briers. A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."


People see us as the fruit we bear. Ask yourself: Am I bearing good fruit, or bad fruit?
We need to check and see where are heart lies. Is it for ourselves? Or is it for God?
If our heart is focused on ourselves and not God, we need to have a heart change, and ask God to work on our hearts and change us deep inside.
1 Timothy 2:15
"Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth."


Ephesians 4:29
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."

"The mouth speaks what the heart is full of."
Is what we say reflecting off of our hearts?

Hey, I found this really awesome Etsy listing at https://www.etsy.com/listing/225716250/guard-your-heart-proverbs-423-8x10-print:

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

We Are Not Fair Save to the King



I am reading a really good book called Hinds Feet on High Places.
Part of a song in the book really stuck out to me.

I am not fair save to the King,
Though fair my royal dress,
His kingly grace lavished on
My need and worthlessness.
My blemishes He will not see
But loves the beauty that shall be. 

We are not good enough in any way for Jesus to save us. But because of His grace that He lavished on us, we were saved. We are worthless without Christ. He will not look at us and see our sins, but He will look at us and see our beauty.

If you haven't read that book yet, I encourage you to. It is REALLY good.


Wednesday, January 6, 2016

When Life Knocks You Down, Kneel



1 Peter 5:8-11
"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy-the devil-prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever."

It is good to know that everyone struggles too, and that we aren't the only ones. I feel like that a lot.
Me most of the time: Oh no! I am the only one in the world that has had this happen to them. 
My reaction when I read this verse: Ha! I knew I wasn't the only one.
 Shock and Awe:

So we are NOT alone in our struggles and cloudy days. Everyone has them, but it is how we handle them that matters. I tend to handle them with: stress, anger, irritation, and other negativity. Which I should NOT do. So here are some verses that will help us in our struggles/bad days to not be discouraged or stressed.

John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do NOT give to you peace as the world gives. Do NOT let your hearts be troubled and do NOT be afraid." 


Romans 8:31
"What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

Proverbs 12:25
"Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up."

Romans 8:28 
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Matthew 11:28-30
"Come to Me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light." 



(P.S This would be longer, but it's my bed time)



Monday, January 4, 2016

Get On A Spiritual High



It's time that I get my spiritual life back into groove. So I created this step by step list to help me get back into it.

Step 1. Take a deep breath, then PRAY>
Step 2. Confess any sin that needs to be confessed.
Step 3. If you need to talk to a fellow Christian, talk!
Step 4. Feel any better yet? Good, now PRAY again. Tell God how you feel and what you are dealing with.
Step 5. Pray once more for guidance as you are getting your spiritual life back into order.

Ask yourself some questions:
What needs work?
Write out your own list of these that need work in your life.


More Steps. (My pastor mentioned these in the sermon on Sunday) 

1. Guard your heart. (Proverbs 4:23)
2. Choose God above everything else.
3. Where does your heart devotions lie?
4. Re-commit your heart to God.

I did this, and it helped me SO MUCH!