Love

As we are continuing our series of podcasts on Meditations on Love, we have some powerful blog posts by Jolan and Judypie that further enforce the edict of Jesus’ greatest command. May this week’s blog post inspire you throughout the coming week… month… year…

If You Have Love For One Another
by Jolan

By this shall all [men] know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves].

John 13:35 [AMP]

Often I think of the blood that you shed

The blood that you shed so that I may live

The love that you showed me that day on the cross

The love that continues to grow in my heart

Why me I wonder?

What did I do?

Me, who is so far from perfect

The idea is skewed

It's like that for all of us

We come to him broken

Ashamed of our past

And yet His arms are wide open.

That kind of love

Is the love we should have

The love we should always show our fellow man

So the question is this?

How do we love?

Others as Jesus continues to love us?

The answer is simple

The answer is this:

Love one another as Jesus loves us!

Simply put. If God can forgive you who are we to hold a grudge?

If God can open His arms wide after all that we have done. What prevents us from doing the same?

We are human and yet we are blessed beyond all measure with the spirit of God

Walking in Love
by Judy Ann

Father, the love you define in 1 Corinthians 13 is my greatest aim, and I ask also for the special abilities the Holy Spirit gives. I believe on the name of your Son Jesus Christ, and I am able to love others just as I love myself because you first loved me. God, you are love, and when I live in love, I am living with you and you live in me. As I live with Christ, my love grows more perfect and complete. Thank you for loving me, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Go after a life of love as if your life depended on it—because it does. Give yourselves to the gifts God gives you. Most of all, try to proclaim his truth. If you praise him in the private language of tongues, God understands you but no one else does, for you are sharing intimacies just between you and him. But when you proclaim his truth in everyday speech, you're letting others in on the truth so that they can grow and be strong and experience his presence with you.

1 Corinthians 14:1-3 [MSG]

And friends, once that's taken care of and we're no longer accusing or condemning ourselves, we're bold and free before God! We're able to stretch our hands out and receive what we asked for because we're doing what he said, doing what pleases him. Again, this is God's command: to believe in his personally named Son, Jesus Christ. He told us to love each other, in line with the original command. As we keep his commands, we live deeply and surely in him, and he lives in us. And this is how we experience his deep and abiding presence in us: by the Spirit he gave us.

1 John 3:21-24 [MSG]

^13-16This is how we know we're living steadily and deeply in him, and he in us: He's given us life from his life, from his very own Spirit. Also, we've seen for ourselves and continue to state openly that the Father sent his Son as Savior of the world. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is God's Son participates continuously in an intimate relationship with God. We know it so well, we've embraced it heart and soul, this love that comes from God.To Love, to Be Loved

^17-18God is love. When we take up permanent residence in a life of love, we live in God and God lives in us. This way, love has the run of the house, becomes at home and mature in us, so that we're free of worry on Judgment Day—our standing in the world is identical with Christ's. There is no room in love for fear. Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life—fear of death, fear of judgment—is one not yet fully formed in love.

¹⁹We, though, are going to love—love and be loved. First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.

1 John 4:13-19 [MSG]

With God, Nothing is Impossible

Audrey Dubois of Hope For All in Jesus Prison Ministry sent a testimony to Judypie that demonstrates the theme of this week’s blog.  Dru Black, a former teacher at the jail ministry, had an experience that exemplifies the power of our God in protecting our lives:

I WAS SITTING AT THE RED LIGHT AT 242 & I-485, WITH A BUS LOAD OF SENIOR CITIZENS. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN & THE HOLY SPIRIT GRABBED ME IN THE STOMACH AND SAID “WAIT,” I STARTED TO RE-LOOK BOTH WAYS AGAIN AND BEFORE I COULD GET MY HEAD BACK AROUND TO THE RIGHT OF ME, A FULLY LOADED LOG TRUCK DOING ABOUT 70 CAME BARRELLING THRU THE LIGHT. JESUS SAVED MY LIFE THAT DAY, AS WELL AS ALL THOSE ON MY BUS. GLORY TO HIS HOLY NAME! I’LL NEVER FORGET IT. NO-ONE CAN TELL ME GOD DOESN’T TALK TO US IN THESE DAYS! AS HE SPOKE VERY CLEARLY THAT DAY, THANK GOD I LISTENED... DRU BLACK

This week’s blog features articles by Jolan, Judypie, and Adrian Rogers.

---

All is Well

by JesusLover Judy

Jesus said: If you live in Me [abide vitally united to Me] and My words remain in you and continue to live in your heart, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you (John 15:7). What a wonderful promise. If your thoughts, actions and habits are controlled by the Word of God, you will know that in spite of circumstances all is well.

Each and every day take time to pray Scriptural prayers, meditate and read your Bible. You can have complete assurance and boldness before God if you keep His commandments and habitually practice what is pleasing to Him.

Believe in and rely on the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He has commanded us (1 John 3:20-24). Regardless of circumstances you can rest assured – all is well.

Father, I acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

Empowered by Your Spirit, I purpose to keep Your decrees and commands, which You have given me, so that it may go well with me and my children after me, and that I may live long in the land the Lord my God gives me for all time. To the glory of God the Father, I acknowledge that Jesus is Lord of my home, ministry and the work place. Jesus is Lord of my life!

Amen.

Know, recognize, and understand therefore this day and turn your [mind and] heart to it that the Lord is God in the heavens above and upon the earth beneath; there is no other.
Therefore you shall keep His statutes and His commandments, which I command you this day, that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may prolong your days in the land which the Lord your God gives you forever.

Deuteronomy 4:39-40 [AMP]

Oh, that they had such a [mind and] heart in them always [reverently] to fear Me and keep all My commandments, that it might go well with them and with their children forever!

Deuteronomy 5:29 [AMP]

He Took on the Status of a Slave
^1-4If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

^5-8Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn't claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.

^9-11Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.

Rejoicing Together

^12-13What I'm getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you've done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I'm separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God's energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.

^14-16Do everything readily and cheerfully—no bickering, no second-guessing allowed! Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night so I'll have good cause to be proud of you on the day that Christ returns. You'll be living proof that I didn't go to all this work for nothing.

Philippians 2:1-16 [MESSAGE]

Amen.

---

With God, There is No Such Thing as Can’t

by Jolan

The other day I was in the car with a friend of mine. We were talking about God and different aspects of our faith.

Not thinking, I blurted out, “If Primo ever cheated on me, I think I could forgive him but I don’t think I could be with him.”

She said, “Well my daddy used to tell me that when you make a blanket statement like that then it’s like you are testing God.”

Testing God?

Well this statement has stayed with me since last Saturday and I felt it important to share with you what I got out of this.

We have to take each situation as God gives it to us. We accept it and deal with it while leaning on our Father for help and understanding.

Jesus said to him, On the other hand, it is written also, You shall not tempt, test thoroughly, or try exceedingly the Lord your God.

Matthew 4:7 [AMP]

She also said, that when we say things like that it gives the devil way too much room to mess with our lives. I have really thought about this and have taken it to heart. Why should I say that I can not do something? It is like saying God cannot do something and we all know that is not true. God can do all things. As His child I have to be careful about the statements I make.

I don’t want Satan to have any hold over me. I don’t want to give him an opportunity to hurt me. It is like giving the enemy ammunition. Satan wants to hurt us. He loves it when we give Him reasons to sin or to dismiss Gods laws. When we are angry, it is hard to forgive but if we do not forgive others then God will not forgive us. When bad things happen it is easy to question God but when we worry and don’t trust in God but in mere humans then we are falling into sin, because we are showing lack of faith in God. Remember how the Satan tempted Eve…

NOW THE serpent was more subtle and crafty than any living creature of the field which the Lord God had made. And he [Satan] said to the woman, Can it really be that God has said, You shall not eat from every tree of the garden?

Genesis 3:1 [AMP]

Hmmmm.

Really did God really say you shouldn’t lie? A little white lie won’t hurt.

Porn – nahhhh, its not sinning if you don’t do anything.

Forgiveness? Why forgive when they hurt me…It’s just too hard. They don’t deserve it.

Sex before marriage, that’s not a sin, its not cheating if you aren’t married.

What lies are you listening to? How does the devil twist your thoughts to fit the crime. How does he justify your sin to you? Remember the devil is the Father of lies, he is slick and his number one goal is to hurt you and deceive you.

Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but he who trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on the Lord shall be compassed about with mercy and with loving-kindness.

Psalm 32:10 [AMP]

By [the help of] God I will praise His word; on God I lean, rely, and confidently put my trust; I will not fear. What can man, who is flesh, do to me?

Psalm 56:4 [AMP]

I cannot predict how I will behave to future events but I now think, well my Father would never give me anything I could not handle.

For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear]. But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.

1 Corinthians 10:13 [AMP]

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

The Bible is my comfort.

When I read Gods letters to me, I always learn something new. And if you read carefully enough God makes many promises, promises that if you follow, will prove true time and time again.

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.

James 1:3 [AMP]

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

James 1:12 [AMP]

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

[You should] be exceedingly glad on this account, though now for a little while you may be distressed by trials and suffer temptations,

1 Peter 1:6 [AMP]

So be truly glad!* There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

So that [the genuineness] of your faith may be tested, [your faith] which is infinitely more precious than the perishable gold which is tested and purified by fire. [This proving of your faith is intended] to redound to [your] praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One) is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7 [AMP]

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

There is no part of the Bible that says life will always be great. Unfortunately life can be very trying and at times lonely and sad. But we are promised paradise. A paradise in heaven with our Father. With Jesus. I cannot even explain how wonderful it will be but there is no sadness or pain, only happiness. Think of your happiest moment. . .that will be nothing compared to the joy you will feel in heaven.

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and death shall be no more, neither shall there be anguish (sorrow and mourning) nor grief nor pain any more, for the old conditions and the former order of things have passed away.

Revelation 21:4 [AMP]

So when God sends trials and tribulations my way I will see them through with His help. I know that I can handle anything God brings me and in the future I’ll trust my Father. He would never lead me astray and if I obey His word, then there is no such thing, as I can’t.

---

Trust

by JesusLover Judy

Father, I thank you for the Holy Spirit Who brings all things to my remembrance.

As far as I am concerned, Father-God, You turn to good what is meant for evil.

You brought me into the position that I currently hold so that others may benefit from the blessings You pour through my life.

I rest in You knowing that in all things You are working for my good because I love You, and You called me according to Your purposes.

I will trust in You, Lord, at all times for Your ways are perfect.

In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

As for you, you thought evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive, as they are this day.

Genesis 50:20 [AMP]

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

Romans 8:28 [AMP]

Trust in, lean on, rely on, and have confidence in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts before Him. God is a refuge for us (a fortress and a high tower). Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!

Psalm 62:8 [AMP]

“In the glory of His Presence...I see the beauty of His ways”

Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your goodness. In the name of Jesus I cast the whole of my care—all anxieties, worries and concerns—upon You. I know that You love me and care for me, and those for whom I am praying.

Today I make all my requests known to You with thanksgiving. I know You hear me, and I believe Your best answers are on the way from the moment I ask. Amen.

  Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits.

   Thank the God of all gods,

      His love never quits.

   Thank the Lord of all lords.

      His love never quits.

Psalm 136:1 [MESSAGE]

Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

Philippians 4:6-7 [MESSAGE]

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.

1 Peter 5:7 [AMP]

Trust the LORD in everything.

---

Peace

by Adrian Rogers

Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.

Colossians 3:15 [CEV]

In Florida where I was raised, we had a lot of hurricanes. Even as a child I learned that in the center of the worst hurricane, there’s a calm called the “eye” of the storm.

When the storm passes over, there is a calm like a millpond on a summer evening. Friend, in your storm today there is a center that is calm.

It’s the heart of God.

He is there. He is the great I AM in the midst of your storm. As someone has well said, “God gives peace that the world can't take away.” It is supernatural peace.

Do you have the peace of God in your heart?

Claim the promises of Psalm 29:11, Isaiah 26:3, and Romans 5:1 today.

Saints or Aint’s?

When we wrote the book Spiritual Fruits or Religious Nuts, we were thinking about the Lord’s warning that many will come before Him on the day of judgement expecting a reward. Instead, Jesus will say He never knew them and they will be cast out from His presence.

That is a sobering reminder of the seriousness of this lifestyle that we who are Christians have been called to.  A reminder to not get so engulfed in the things of this life that we forget the pressing needs of the spiritual life. 

• The need to communicate daily with God through prayer offered with a thankful heart (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18). 
  .
• The need to feed upon the spiritual food in the word of God (Luke 4:4). 
  .
• The need to walk in love with others… even when they are being hurtful and hateful towards us.  We must forgive, in order to receive God’s forgiveness (Matthew 6:15).

The truly good news is that Jesus has given His Spirit to us to help us live this Christian life.  And as Lon Solomon reminds us... the only way that we can live the Christian life is by allowing the Spirit of God to walk out the steps of Jesus in our lives.

In fact, it is impossible for us to live the Christian life in and of our own strength. We must rely upon Jesus to live it out by the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. To quote Phil Keaggy:

Yield to the Spirit. He has the right of way.

This week’s blog features the writings of Pastor Jake, Judypie, Brotha DC and Jolan. May these words be comfort and inspiration as you walk out your paths in this coming week:

Consider This

by Pastor James C. Sanford

Consider Adam, the first born of all mankind and the heir of God's kingdom on earth. Through disobedience he forfeited his sonship, lost his dominion and became sin in the flesh. Thus all born of Adam are heirs of sin in the flesh and death.

Cain was the first born son of Adam; Able was the second. It was Able, the second born, who by grace through faith became the heir of righteousness.

And then there was Ishmael, the first born son of Abraham; born of the works of the flesh. But it was Isaac, the second born son of Abraham, born according to the word of God who became the heir of the promises of God.

Consider also Esau, the first born of Isaac who God hated while yet in his mother's womb. It was Jacob, the second born son of Isaac who was chosen of God to become the heir of the promises.

Consider also the sons of Jacob's son Judah, Perez and Zerah born of their mother Tamar; although Zerah who was the first born, it was Perez who became the heir.

And then there is Jesus, the second Adam born of God, who by grace through faith became the heir of God's kingdom.

What is our Creator trying to tell us in these things?

Consider this; it is not the first born, the sons of Adam, who become heirs of God's kingdom, but the second born, he that is by grace chosen of God and through faith born of Jesus, the Living Word, and the Spirit of God; these are His sons and are joint heirs with Jesus their Lord.

Flesh and blood does not inherit the kingdom of God, his inheritance is death; it is the child of the spirit that is the son of God, his inheritance is eternal life.

Whitewashed Sepulcures?

by JesusLover Judy

Have you ever met people who give the appearance of being really great Christians, but the things they do in the dark are sometimes so bad that it makes you wonder how they fool us, or even others?

I have, I know them well. I would not be surprised if you also have these kind of people in your life. I know people who say “if that is a Christian, than I don’t want to be one.” This is because of the things these people do outside of church.

Don’t you wonder how this can be? It is because their eye is bad.

Yes, if one part of you is bad than you are filled with darkness. Now this does not mean that we are free from sin. We all sin, but a true Christian repents of those sins and does everything he or she can to not do that thing again.

Those who have darkness instead of light within them continue to do the same sin over and over again. Often they become so caught up in their sin that they don’t even know they are doing it.

For example: Telling a lie is a sin. Now, everyone has lied at one time or another. We are imperfect people. However, a person who has darkness inside them lie to the point that they believe their own lies. If a Christian is caught up in this as a lifestyle they should desperately seek GOD for deliverance!

Who is the father of all lies?

Satan.

Therefore, we must try our hardest to be truth tellers.

Who is the Author of Truth?

GOD!


Open your heart today and ask GOD to make your eye good so that you may be filled with His light!

³³No one after lighting a lamp puts it in a cellar or crypt or under a bushel measure, but on a lampstand, that those who are coming in may see the light.

³⁴Your eye is the lamp of your body; when your eye (your conscience) is sound and fulfilling its office, your whole body is full of light; but when it is not sound and is not fulfilling its office, your body is full of darkness.

³⁵Be careful, therefore, that the light that is in you is not darkness.

³⁶If then your entire body is illuminated, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright [with light], as when a lamp with its bright rays gives you light.

Luke 11:33-36

Amen.

Sin Lurking for its Prey

by Jolan

Sin. Ahhh, how it takes control of us in even the smallest opportunity. I haven’t had a drink in close to a year not because of any problems with drinking, I just lost the taste for it. At my weekend visit there was lots of champagne at the Baby shower. At first I thought Nahhh, I won’t have any. But as the hours drew on I decided to have a small glass, why not I used to love champagne, I told myself. Well 1 glass turned to 2 and 2 turned to 3 (I shared the third glass with Primo) and for some reason I ended up with a very upset stomach. Something niggled at my brain, “Oh come on even Jesus drank wine.”

Isn’t that how it is?

We look for reasons to do the wrong thing. I didn’t get smashed but I did feel guilty afterwards. Where was the guilt coming from?

I read this passage today in church:

¹⁹ Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

I believe that drinking caused me to have jealous feelings, and covet my neighbor. You see my family never gets together for anything (my grandparents are getting on in age and it is hard for them to drive. My aunts and uncles forget about it lol, and of course my loving family in Puerto Rico, they would love nothing more than coming to visit us but money doesn’t grow on trees) and here was my friends family together again. They get together all the time. Now I do not lack in love with my family, in fact I felt so ashamed because I wasn’t truly looking at the blessed life God has given me. I have never felt more love come from my immediate family and they would bend over backwards to make me smile.

I think that the devil looks for opportunities such as these, he looks for our weak moments to help us along in our sinful nature.

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

1 Peter 5:8

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness.

Ephesians 6:12

I immediately felt ashamed of my behavior and repented.

Psalm 38:18

But I confess my sins;

I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

It doesn’t matter if we ask others for forgiveness if we haven’t asked our Father. He is the only one who can forgive and erase our sins.

I--yes, I alone--am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

Isaiah 43:25

Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:7

In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22

God has purchased our freedom with his blood* and has forgiven all our sins.

Colossians 1:14

Thank the Lord he knows we are not perfect. He knows we will be tempted and he also knows that as a Christian we will learn from our mistakes. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.

Remember, Jesus said, Matthew 5:30 And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

1 John 1:7

To many drinking may not seem like a big deal but anything that causes you to do wrong in Gods eyes is a sin. Drinking the champagne, led me to sin in my mind which is just as bad as doing it in front of someone. I also thought how I may have appeared to some of the people at the baby shower. Many people didn’t know me, but some did and are we or are we not supposed to be shining examples of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I failed my Father that day and it made me sad. It made me very sad. But He has forgiven me. He always will because I died to my sins and became one with God.

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 37:28

From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.*”

Matthew 4:17

Don’t be fooled.  GOD hates sin.

And when we do not confess our sins to Him it separates us from him and damages our relationship with our Father.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9

Therefore this is what the Lord says, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve Me.”

Jeremiah 15:19

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1 John 1:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

Psalm 51:10-13

Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God (Matthew 3:8).

Once God has forgiven us, we can then forgive ourselves:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14

This is an example of how sin can fool you.

It may fool you and those around you but it will not nor will it EVER fool God.

Remember he knows your heart:

Psalm 44:21

God would surely have known it,

for he knows the secrets of every heart.

Don’t be fooled by the lies of this world. Drunkenness (losing control of your body -- God’s body), Adultery (lusting after anyone with your eyes, your heart or even in actions), Murder (hating someone -- the same as killing someone), lying (that means any lie used to deceive someone), using God’s name in vain (bringing his name down to a level of disgust and in turn using it as a cuss word), idolatry (loving anything more than God -- money, possessions etc., making your own image of God).

The list goes on and on my brothers and sisters. How often do we try to justify our sins?

There is no justification for sinning against our Creator, our Father in heaven.

How we must break his heart again and again.

But we redeem ourselves when we admit our weakness, when we suffer for the bad decisions we have made and ask him to forgive us.

¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him.

² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,

For they shall be comforted.

⁵ Blessed are the meek,

For they shall inherit the earth.

⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,

For they shall be filled.

⁷ Blessed are the merciful,

For they shall obtain mercy.

⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,

For they shall see God.

⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,

For they shall be called sons of God.

¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.

¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

God has given me all I need.

I have love.I have happiness.

I have health.

I have GOD.

And in reality without God I would have nothing and with Him I have everything. I know where my treasures lay and they are with Him in Heaven. The only treasure I care about is my Father, the rest are just perks.

¹⁹ “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

Can They See The Light of Jesus in You?

By Brotha DC

Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
Can they see Him in your life
Or, do they witness sin and strife?
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?

Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
in His glory, in His love
in His power enthroned above
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?

Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?
Can they witness that He lives
That He saves, and heals, forgives
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?

Can they see the Holy Spirit in you?
Can they see the Holy Spirit in you?
Not by signs you may display
but how you live from day to day

Can they see the Holy Spirit
In your words... do they hear it?
Can they see the Light of Jesus in you?

The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

Romans 13:12

For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to [give] the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7

This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

1 John 1:5-7

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb [is] the light thereof.

Revelation 21:23

Jolan on Sin

Sin. Ahhh, how it takes control of us in even the smallest opportunity. I haven’t had a drink in close to a year not because of any problems with drinking, I just lost the taste for it.

At my weekend visit there was lots of champagne at the Baby shower. At first I thought Nahhh, I won’t have any. But as the hours drew on I decided to have a small glass, why not I used to love champagne, I told myself.

Well one glass turned to two... and two turned to three (I shared the third glass with Primo) and for some reason I ended up with a very upset stomach.

Something came to mind that said, “Oh come on even Jesus drank wine.”

Isn’t that how it is?

We look for reasons to do the wrong thing. I didn’t get smashed but I did feel guilty afterwards.

Where was the guilt coming from?

I read this verse today in church:

Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.

1^st Corinthians 6:19-20

I believe that drinking caused me to have jealous feelings, and covet my neighbor. You see my family never gets together for anything (my grandparents are getting on in age and it is hard for them to drive. My aunts and uncles forget about it (LOL), and of course my loving family in Puerto Rico, they would love nothing more than coming to visit us but money doesn’t grow on trees) and here were my friends family together again. They get together all the time. Now I do not lack in love with my family, in fact I felt so ashamed because I wasn’t truly looking at the blessed life God has given me. I have never felt more love come from my immediate family and they would bend over backwards to make me smile.

I think that the devil looks for opportunities such as these, he looks for our weak moments to help us along in our sinful nature.

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour.

1^st Peter 5:8

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness

Ephesians 6:12

I immediately felt ashamed of my behavior and repented.

Psalm 38:18

But I confess my sins;

I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

1^st John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

It doesn’t matter if we ask others for forgiveness if we haven’t asked our Father. He is the only one who can forgive and erase our sins.

“I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.

Isaiah 43:25

Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that He may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Isaiah 55:7

In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.

Hebrews 9:22

God has purchased our freedom with his blood and has forgiven all our sins.

Colossians 1:14

Thank the Lord he knows we are not perfect. He knows we will be tempted and he also knows that as a Christian we will learn from our mistakes. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.

Remember, Jesus said in Matthew 5:30 And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.

1^st John 1:7

To many drinking may not seem like a big deal but anything that causes you to do wrong in Gods eyes is a sin. Drinking the champagne led me to sin in my mind which is just as bad as doing it in front of someone. I also thought how I may have appeared to some of the people at the baby shower. Many people didn’t know me, but some did and are we or are we not supposed to be shining examples of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I failed my Father that day and it made me sad. It made me very sad. But He has forgiven me. He always will because I died to my sins and became one with God.

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish.

Psalm 37:28

From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^*”

Matthew 4:17

Don’t be fooled. God hates sin.

And when we do not confess our sins to Him it separates us from him and damages our relationship with our Father.

If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

1^st John 1:9

Therefore this is what the Lord says, “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.”

Jeremiah 15:19

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts.

1^st John 1:10

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you.

Psalm 51:10-13

Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and have turned to God (Matthew 3:8).

Once God has forgiven us, we can then forgive ourselves:

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13,14

This is an example of how sin can fool you.

It may fool you and those around you but it will not nor will it EVER fool God.

Remember He knows your heart:

Psalm 44:21

God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.

Don’t be fooled by the lies of this world:

• Drunkenness (losing control of your body – Gods body)
• Adultery (lusting after anyone with your eyes, your heart or even in actions)
• Murder (hating someone – the same as killing someone)
• Lying (that means any lie used to deceive someone)
• Using Gods name in vain (bringing His name down to a level of disgust and in turn using it as a cuss word)
• Idolatry (loving anything more than God – money, possessions etc., making your own image of God).

The list goes on and on my brothers and sisters. How often do we try to justify our sins?

There is no justification for sinning against our Creator, our Father in heaven.

How we must break his heart again and again.

But we redeem ourselves when we admit our weakness, when we suffer for the bad decisions we have made and ask him to forgive us.

¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: ³ “ Blessed are the poor in spirit, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ⁴ Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. ⁵ Blessed are the meek, For they shall inherit the earth. ⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, For they shall be filled. ⁷ Blessed are the merciful, For they shall obtain mercy. ⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart, For they shall see God. ⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. ¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. ¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Matthew 5:1-12

God has given me all I need.

I have love.

I have happiness.

I have health.

I have GOD.

And in reality without God I would have nothing and with Him I have everything. I know where my treasures lay and they are with Him in Heaven. The only treasure I care about is my Father, the rest are just perks.

Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be.

Matthew 6:19-21

If ye Have Love One to Another

“By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35)

Often I think of the blood that you shed

The blood that you shed so that I may live

The love that you showed me that day on the cross

The love that continues to grow in my heart

Why me I wonder?

What did I do?

Me, who is so far from perfect

The idea is skewed

It's like that for all of us

We come to him broken

Ashamed of our past

And yet His arms are wide open.

That kind of love

Is the love we should have

The love we should always show our fellow man

So the question is this?

How do we love?

Others as Jesus continues to love us?

The answer is simple

The answer is this:

Love one another as Jesus loves us!

Simply put. If God can forgive you who are we to hold a grudge?

If God can open His arms wide after all that we have done. What prevents us from doing the same?

We are human and yet we are blessed beyond all measure with the spirit of God

Either you forgive or you don't…

My mom sent me this email, and it touched me deeply because if you haven’t lived a perfect life you often find your actions under scrutiny. Even though God has forgiven our sins others find it necessary to bring it up again and again.

The Blood of Jesus

One night in a church service a young woman felt the tug of God at her heart.

She responded to God’s call and accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior.

The young woman had a very rough past, involving alcohol, drugs, and prostitution.

But, the change in her was evident. As time went on she became a faithful member of the church.

She eventually became involved in the ministry, teaching young children.

It was not very long until this faithful young woman had caught the eye and heart of the pastor’s son.

The relationship grew and they began to make wedding plans.

This is when the problems began.

You see, about one half of the church did not think that a woman with a past such as hers was suitable for a pastor’s son.

The church began to argue and fight about the matter. So they decided to have a meeting.

As the people made their arguments and tensions increased, the meeting was getting completely out of hand.

The young woman became very upset about all the things being brought up about her past. As she began to cry the pastor’s son stood to speak. He could not bear the pain it was causing his wife to be.

He began to speak and his statement was this:

My fiancée’s past is not what is on trial here.

What you are questioning is the ability of the blood of Jesus to wash away sin.
Today you have put the blood of Jesus on trial. So, does it wash away sin or not?

The whole church began to weep as they realized that they had been slandering the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Too often, even as Christians, we bring up the past and use it as a weapon against our brothers and sisters.

Forgiveness is a very foundational part of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. If the blood of Jesus does not cleanse the other person completely then it cannot cleanse us completely. If that is the case, then we are all in a lot of trouble.

What can wash away my sins?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus!

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:23

If God can forgive me who are you to judge?

Not one is perfect none, not one.

Jesus became our perfect lamb. He led a perfect life so that we could be washed free of our past.

And what a feeling it is to find yourself finally white as snow. Who can do that for us but Jesus?

I pray constantly to be like Jesus and how I fall short. But I continue to pray in hope that over

Time I will become like him. Able to really forgive, able to really love. Jesus love was gentle, he didn’t threaten

And scream at people His actions spoke more of His life than anything.

What do your actions say about you?

Isaiah 43:25

“I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again.”

Scars of Life

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in South Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house. In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father’s fingernails dug into his flesh in his effort to hang on to the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter, who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn’t let go.” You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He’s been there holding on to you.

The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way but sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead.

The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That’s when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

God has blessed you, so that you can be a blessing to others. You just never know where a person is in his/her life and what they are going through. Never judge another person’s scars, because you don’t know how they got them. Also, it is so important that we are not selfish, to receive the blessings of these messages, without forwarding them to someone else.

Right now, someone needs to know that God loves them, and you love them, too - enough to not let them go. Always Tell Your Family And Friends How Much You Love Them!!! FRIENDS ARE ANGELS WHO LIFT US TO OUR FEET WHEN OUR WINGS HAVE TROUBLE REMEMBERING HOW TO FLY.

What is this life compared to eternity!?

I love this bible verse.

“I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure, just as gold and silver are refined and purified by fire. They will call on my name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God.’” (Zechariah 13:9)

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: “And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” One lady’s opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject. She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her.

“But Sir” she said, “do you sit while the work of refining is going on?”

“Oh, yes, madam,” replied the silversmith; “I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured.”

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, “He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.” Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; “the very hairs of your head are all numbered.”

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete when he sees his own image reflected in the silver...

--Author Unknown

Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart. (Proverbs 17:3)

He will sit and judge like a refiner of silver, watching closely as the dross is burned away. He will purify the Levites, refining them like gold or silver, so that they may once again offer acceptable sacrifices to the Lord. (Malachi 3:3)

Sometimes I wonder “why God?” and I feel immediately guilty.

No, don’t say that. Who are you, a mere human being, to argue with God? Should the thing that was created say to the one who created it, “Why have you made me like this?” - Romans 9:20

It is normal to wonder why things happen to us.

Some wonderful examples in the bible:

• Moses argued with God at the burning bush
• Sarah laughed at the angels when they told her she would become pregnant
• The Israelites complained that God had brought them out to the desert to starve and die
  
  • Job 30:20: “I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer me. I stand before you, and you don’t bother to look.
  • David in psalm: Psalm 77:7-9: “Has the Lord rejected me forever? Will he never again show me favor? Is his unfailing love gone forever? Have his promises permanently failed? Has God forgotten to be kind? Has he slammed the door on his compassion?
• Jeremiah 15:18: “Why then does my suffering continue? Why is my wound so incurable? Your help seems as uncertain as a seasonal brook. It is like a spring that has gone dry.”

• Lamentations 3:8 And though I cry and shout, he shuts out my prayers.

But its also important to see what God does for his children:

- Sarah bore her son

• Peter walked on water
• Moses had a staff that could transform
• God parted the red seas so His people could escape
• The Spirit of the LORD came upon Samson in power so that he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as he might have torn a young goat
• In Daniel 3 the three Jewish youngsters friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, refuse to adore the image of gold made by King Nebuchadnezzar, ninety feet high and nine feet wide, and they are thrown into the fiery furnace, but the Angel of the Lord saved them from all harm, whereas the flame consumed the Chaldean soldiers above the furnace.
• Jonah was eaten by a whale and LIVED
• Mary bore the son of God – she was a virgin

Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. When they had all had enough to eat, He said to His disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten. After the people saw the miraculous sign that Jesus did, they began to say, “Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world.” Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself. (John 6:10-15)

• Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, cured the sick, healed the blind
• David killed the giant

It is not so hard to see that life as a Christian doesn’t guarantee an easy life.

For the Lord does not abandon anyone forever. Though He brings grief, He also shows compassion according to the greatness of His unfailing love. For He does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow.

All praise to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of every mercy and the God who comforts us. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When others are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. You can be sure that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ. So when we are weighed down with troubles, it is for your benefit and salvation! For when God comforts us, it is so that we, in turn, can be an encouragement to you. Then you can patiently endure the same things we suffer. We are confident that as you share in suffering, you will also share God’s comfort. (2^nd Corinthians 1:3-7)

In all their suffering he also suffered, and he personally rescued them. In his love and mercy he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them through all the years. (Isaiah 63:9)

And then of course there is this verse:

“Then you will be arrested, persecuted, and killed. You will be hated all over the world because of your allegiance to me.” (Matthew 24:9)

Makes you want to run out stick your head in the sand. YIKES. Arrested, persecuted, beaten and killed. Would we follow Christ today if these were the guidelines?? How many of us forget to pray, put off church or keep your convictions to yourselves??

God’s word never changes but it changes things.

For our present troubles are quite small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! (2^nd Corinthians 4:17)

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or are hungry or cold or in danger or threatened with death? (Even the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels can’t, and the demons can’t. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can’t keep God’s love away. Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35-39)

The righteous face many troubles, but the Lord rescues them from each and every one. (Psalm 34:19)

I guess what I’m saying is yeah sometimes life stinks, but all good things come from the Lord. When troubles creep up on you instead of discouraging try praying.

“When something happens that deeply touches us, we often ask, “Why me, God?” We are quick to judge the event as good or bad. What if we were to eliminate the possibility that anything that happens to us is inherently bad and choose to believe that everything that happens to us is always good? Impossible, you say? It has to be one or the other, doesn’t it?

Belief systems are changeable. When we discover that something we have believed, even for a long time, is no longer valid, can we not simply change our mind and fully embrace the new? If you are crying out “Why me, God?” you must believe there is a God out there who hears you and you have hoped He would answer you. Maybe there was a time when you didn’t believe there was a God at all. If you changed your mind and opened your life to God, then you can also change your mind about judging events as being bad for you.

When we choose to believe that ALL the events in our life are good for us, even the ones that seem frustrating and painful for now, we are agreeing with God! When we choose to believe and trust God that there will always be a good outcome, we are trusting Him! Only God knows why we are going through these circumstances. Our new dialogue with God will be,

”God, this is going to be an interesting journey. I’m excited to see how you are going to bring good out of this one. I trust you will!” –allaboutlifechallenges

You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; then you will rejoice, and no one can rob you of that joy. At that time you won’t need to ask me for anything. The truth is, you can go directly to the Father and ask him, and he will grant your request because you use my name. You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy. (John 16:22-24)

Look to the clouds, keep your eyes on the only thing that matters. Yes we will face trials and tribulations but this life is just a stones throw away from our eternity with our heavenly Father. Jesus suffered for us. We can suffer for Him. Because really what is this life compared to eternity??

With God, There is No Such Thing as Can’t

The other day I was in the car with a friend of mine. We were talking about God and different aspects of our faith. Not thinking I blurted out, “If Primo ever cheated on me, I think I could forgive him but I don’t think I could be with him.” She said, “Well my daddy used to tell me that when you make a blanket statement like that then it’s like you are testing God.”

Testing God? Well this statement has stayed with me since last Saturday and I felt it important to share with you what I got out of this. We have to take each situation as God gives it to us. We accept it and deal with it while leaning on our Father for help and understanding.

Matthew 4:7

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Do not test the Lord your God.’”

She also said, that when we say things like that it gives the devil way too much room to mess with our lives. I have really thought about this and have taken it to heart. Why should I say that I can not do something? It is like saying God cannot do something and we all know that is not true. God can do all things. As His child I have to be careful about the statements I make.

I don’t want Satan to have any hold over me. I don’t want to give him an opportunity to hurt me. It is like giving the enemy ammunition. Satan wants to hurt us. He loves it when we give Him reasons to sin or to dismiss Gods laws. When we are angry, it is hard to forgive but if we do not forgive others then God will not forgive us. When bad things happen it is easy to question God but when we worry and don’t trust in God but in mere humans then we are falling into sin, because we are showing lack of faith in God. Remember how the Satan tempted Eve…

Genesis 3:1

Now the serpent was the shrewdest of all the creatures the Lord God had made. ”Really?” he asked the woman. “Did God really say you must not eat any of the fruit in the garden?”

Hmmmm.

Really did God really say you shouldn’t lie? A little white lie won’t hurt.

Porn – nahhhh, its not sinning if you don’t do anything.

Forgiveness? Why forgive when they hurt me…It’s just too hard. They don’t deserve it.

Sex before marriage, that’s not a sin, its not cheating if you aren’t married.

What lies are you listening to? How does the devil twist your toughts to fit the crime. How does he justify your sin to you? Remember the devil is the Father of lies, he is slick and his number one goal is to hurt you and deceive you.

Psalm 32:10

Many sorrows come to the wicked,

but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.

Psalm 56:4

O God, I praise your word.

I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?

What can mere mortals do to me?

I cannot predict how I will behave to future events but I now think, well my Father would never give me anything I could not handle.

1^st Corinthians 10:13

But remember that the temptations that come into your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will keep the temptation from becoming so strong that you can’t stand up against it. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you will not give in to it.

The Bible is my comfort.

When I read Gods letters to me, I always learn something new. And if you read carefully enough God makes many promises, promises that if you follow, will prove true time and time again.

James 1:3

For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:12

God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

1^st Peter 1:6

So be truly glad!* There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while.

1^st Peter 1:7

These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

There is no part of the Bible that says life will always be great. Unfortunately life can be very trying and at times lonely and sad. But we are promised paradise. A paradise in heaven with our Father. With Jesus. I cannot even explain how wonderful it will be but there is no sadness or pain, only happiness. Think of your happiest moment. . .that will be nothing compared to the joy you will feel in heaven.

Revelation 21

He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever.”

So when God sends trials and tribulations my way I will see them through with His help. I know that I can handle anything God brings me and in the future I’ll trust my Father. He would never lead me astray and if I obey His word, then there is no such thing, as I can’t.

Sin Lurking for Its Prey

Sin. Ahhh, how it takes control of us in even the smallest opportunity. I haven’t had a drink in close to a year not because of any problems with drinking, I just lost the taste for it. At my weekend visit there was lots of champagne at the Baby shower. At first I thought Nahhh, I won’t have any. But as the hours drew on I decided to have a small glass, why not I used to love champagne, I told myself. Well 1 glass turned to 2 and 2 turned to 3 (I shared the third glass with Primo) and for some reason I ended up with a very upset stomach. Something niggled at my brain, “Oh come on even Jesus drank wine.”

Isn’t that how it is?

We look for reasons to do the wrong thing. I didn’t get smashed but I did feel guilty afterwards. Where was the guilt coming from?

I read this verse today in church:

¹⁹ Or don’t you know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. (1^st Corinthians 6:19-20)

I believe that drinking caused me to have jealous feelings, and covet my neighbor. You see my family never gets together for anything (my grandparents are getting on in age and it is hard for them to drive. My aunts and uncles forget about it lol, and of course my loving family in Puerto Rico, they would love nothing more than coming to visit us but money doesn’t grow on trees) and here was my friends family together again. They get together all the time. Now I do not lack in love with my family, in fact I felt so ashamed because I wasn’t truly looking at the blessed life God has given me. I have never felt more love come from my immediate family and they would bend over backwards to make me smile.

I think that the devil looks for opportunities such as these, he looks for our weak moments to help us along in our sinful nature.

Be careful! Watch out for attacks from the Devil, your great enemy. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for some victim to devour. (1^st Peter 5:8)

For we are not fighting against people made of flesh and blood, but against the evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against those mighty powers of darkness (Ephesians 6:12)

I immediately felt ashamed of my behavior and repented.

Psalm 38:18

But I confess my sins;

I am deeply sorry for what I have done.

1^st John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from every wrong.

It doesn’t matter if we ask others for forgiveness if we haven’t asked our Father. He is the only one who can forgive and erase our sins.

“I—yes, I alone—am the one who blots out your sins for my own sake and will never think of them again. (Isaiah 43:25)

Let the people turn from their wicked deeds. Let them banish from their minds the very thought of doing wrong! Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them. Yes, turn to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. (Isaiah 55:7)

In fact, we can say that according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified by sprinkling with blood. Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins. (Hebrews 9:22)

God has purchased our freedom with his blood^* and has forgiven all our sins. (Colossians 1:14)

Thank the Lord he knows we are not perfect. He knows we will be tempted and he also knows that as a Christian we will learn from our mistakes. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way.

Remember, Jesus said, Matthew 5:30 And if your hand—even if it is your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

But if we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from every sin.(1^st John 1:7)

To many drinking may not seem like a big deal but anything that causes you to do wrong in Gods eyes is a sin. Drinking the champagne, led me to sin in my mind which is just as bad as doing it in front of someone. I also thought how I may have appeared to some of the people at the baby shower. Many people didn’t know me, but some did and are we or are we not supposed to be shining examples of the Holy Spirit. Yes, I failed my Father that day and it made me sad. It made me very sad. But He has forgiven me. He always will because I died to my sins and became one with God.

For the Lord loves justice, and he will never abandon the godly. He will keep them safe forever, but the children of the wicked will perish. (Psalm 37:28)

From then on, Jesus began to preach, “Turn from your sins and turn to God, because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.^*” (Matthew 4:17)

Don’t be fooled GOD hates sin.

And when we do not confess our sins to Him it separates us from him and damages our relationship with our Father.

“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1^st John 1:9)

“Therefore this is what the Lord says, ’If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me.”

-Jeremiah 15:19

If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar and showing that his word has no place in our hearts. (1^st John 1:10)

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me again the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to sinners, and they will return to you. (Psalm 51:10-13)

Prove by the way you live that you have really turned from your sins and turned to God (Matthew 3:8).

Once God has forgiven us, we can then forgive ourselves:

”Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:13,14)

This is an example of how sin can fool you.

It may fool you and those around you but it will not nor will it EVER fool God.

Remember he knows your heart:

Psalm 44:21

God would surely have known it,

for he knows the secrets of every heart.

Don’t be fooled by the lies of this world. Drunkenness (losing control of your body – Gods body), Adultery (lusting after anyone with your eyes, your heart or even in actions), Murder (hating someone – the same as killing someone), lying (that means any lie used to deceive someone), using Gods name in vain (bringing his name down to a level of disgust and in turn using it as a cuss word), idolatry (loving anything more than God – money, possessions etc., making your own image of God).

The list goes on and on my brothers and sisters. How often do we try to justify our sins?

There is no justification for sinning against our Creator, our Father in heaven.

How we must break his heart again and again.

But we redeem ourselves when we admit our weakness, when we suffer for the bad decisions we have made and ask him to forgive us.

¹ And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:
³ “ Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
¹¹ “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

(Matthew 5:1-12)

God has given me all I need.

I have love.

I have happiness.

I have health.

I have GOD.

And in reality without God I would have nothing and with Him I have everything. I know where my treasures lay and they are with Him in Heaven. The only treasure I care about is my Father, the rest are just perks.

¹⁹ ”Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where they can be eaten by moths and get rusty, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ Store your treasures in heaven, where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. ²¹ Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be. (Matthew 6:19-21)