nothing but pure grace

Romans 6:1-14 "What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it? Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptised into Christ Jesus were baptised into Hid death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should talk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin. Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace." Amazing grace how sweet the sound who saved a wretch like me! For I was blind but now I see. Everytime I hear this song it brings chills throughout my body, I close my eyes and listen around me to those singing the beauty of the words written about a grace that we so do not deserve, but was given freely by a God who loves us as His children. Since I did not come to know Christ until my 20's, I know the meaning of grace from living a life of sin, a life that I called my own. A life that I chose to live the way I saw fit. But through God's grace, He showed me a better way, a newer way, a free way to live, and to live abundently. My past, my sins have no hold over me anymore. I am a new creature in Christ. He lives in me now. He chose me, thats the part that is so hard to understand. Why did He chose me? There is one reason, and that reason is love, a mighty love that only God has to give. He showed us His amazing love in His death for our sins. His blood covered my dirty past, it covered my sins that were covering me, but once I came to Christ, He took that all away. He not only took it away but He remembers no more. Baptisism doesn't save us, we are saved when we ask Christ to come into our hearts, our baptisim is a picture, a symbol if you will of our sins being washed away, being under sin, and coming up washed, clean, and new. As Christ died for our sins and rose again, we too will die no more, but we will be given a life with Him forever. When I became saved, I no longer have to live in sin, I no longer desire to sin, but to live in Christ as He lives in me. When I sin, when I choose to live this way, when those days come that sin seems to take over, all I have to do is remember who my Father is, remember His death, and His resurrection, and no that I am no longer a slave to sin, sin has nothing over me anymore. We choose each day just how we live, and we need to choose to live for Christ, just as we are living for the very first time. Remember that day Christ came into your heart? You were overjoyed, you were on fire, you were a new person, the old was gone, so what happens to that feeling, where does it go? We allow this world, satan, and our selfish desires to take over, and Christ gets put on a shelf to the other things in our life. When we are not making Him our desire, our life, and our center, we are not going to have the feelings we did when we were saved. But when we are living for Him and He is the center, He points us in the direction we are to go, and the more we learn, the more we grow, and the more we grow the more we yearn for Him. We are alive and free because of a God who loves us, and chose to give His life for us. Sin is still a problem in our lives, but the amazing thing is we don't have to give in to it. It has no hold over us, we are free indeed. Turn our eyes away from the temptations, away from the sin, and recoginize that satan is out to kill us, to destroy us, and to lead us right into the path of sin. Satan has nothing on us, Christ took care of all that on the cross. He has already wrote the last chapter in the book, He knows how it all will end. He has taken care of our sin, our past, and wants us to have a future in Him, to live with Him, and to walk with Him. The choice is yours and mine to make. He doesn't force Himself, but is there for us waiting and knocking. Its our choice whether or not we open the door to His love and grace. If not for that grace, I would still be in chains to my sins, but He has taken those chaines off with each nail driven into Him. We have a gift, we have everything in Christ. Let go of this world and the things that are driving you away from Him, take hold of His grace and watch Him free you from your past. What are you waiting for?

no watered down message for me

For me, I do not want to hear a watered down message. I want to hear the word of God, to be broken, to be changed, to be moved, to be inspired, to be on fire for Christ, and to hear the Word. I don't want a watered down message, flowery words, and a message packed full of man's version. I want to hear God's word spoken to move me in my seat, to open my eyes and ears to all He has for me to learn. I want to hear the Word that will bring me to my knees and move me to do great and mighty things for Him. Too many times today we hear messages that just make us feel good about God. I want to hear of the coming of the Lord, I want to learn about the end times, I want to have my broken for the lost. I want to have the understanding of Revelation, I want to hear of the things to come and the things to keep watch about. I want to hear of heaven and all we have ahead of us who believe. To understand that over 50% of those who attend church every Sunday are not saved is an astounding number to hear. So for me I have to question myself and ask, "Am I doing all I can do to learn and to witness to those around me?" As we go to church we are under our Pastor, but it not his sole responsiblity to teach me all he knows. I have to search God out on my own. I have to read and study His word to be broken for a lost world. It is my responsibility to purchase my own studies to learn and grow as a christian. We have to realize, just because our parents are saved doesn't make us saved, just because we are attending church each Sunday doesn't make us saved. For all the good deeds we do, for all the reading we do, there is more, so much more. We can't just say, "I believe in Christ", to be saved. It has to come from from a heart that is yearning for Christ. We have to live it, we have to give our lives to Him, we must give Him control over our lives, it is so much more than saying the words, we must believe without a doubt, and trust without doubt, we must take up our cross that Christ bore for us and die to ourselves, letting Christ live through us. Its not something we keep to ourselves, its not a secret, its for us to spread the gospel to all we meet. So many people today think they have time, they think I will live my way today and when I am older I will settle down and let the Lord in my life. We must show them that is not the way to Christ, tomorrow may not come. Some have made remarks about me placing verses on my facebook page, for me thats what facebook is, it is a place to reach out to so many who are lost, and be the example I am to be. For me, I fall short in so many of these areas in my life, but that is the amazing thing about Christ, I will never match that mark He has given. "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 6:23 "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8 "As it is written: There is none righteous, no, not one; There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God, they have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one." Romans 3:10-12 "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus." Romans 3:23-26 "If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 "So then each of us shall give account of himself to God. Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather resolve this, not to put a stumbling block or a cause to fall in our brother's way" Romans 14:12 "Now I urge you, brethren, note those who cause divisions and offenses, contrary to the doctrine which you learned, and avoid them. For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple. For your obedience has become known to all. Therefore I am glad on your behalf; but I want you to be wise in what is good, and simple concerning evil. And the God of peace will crush satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen" Romans 16:17-20 "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on hight things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rathergive place to wrath; for it is written, ' Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord. Therefore if your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in doing so you will heap coals of fire on his head. Do not be overcome be evil, but overcome evil with good." Romans 12:9-21 Throughout these verses it speaks much of love, much of being the example, having hope and faith. It is living what we say we believe. For salvation, there should be a change, a change that you have opened your heart to God and allow Him to bring change through His Spirit in you. Our salvation is between us and Christ, not anyone else. Therefore it is for us to study ourselves God's word, to set our feet on fire for Him. Why do we wait for others to move first? Why do wait for others to teach us? Why not stand and be a leader? We need to be feeding ourselves as we live out our purpose and plan for Christ. If we want to grow, we must grow with Christ not away from Him and His word. If we want to see a change in ourselves, we must step forward and accept that we are sinners in need of a God, of a Savior. I falter in many ways. I tell my son how he needs to be in God's word, when I myself have not opened my bible yet today. What we do or do not do in moderation, our children will do in excess. We are their examples, we are their teachers. What do others see when they look at you? I ask myself that same question, and there are times when I am not the example I need to be infront of others, but whether we are in front of others or behind closed doors, we should be that person that God has called us to be. If we want to be moved by God, we need to place ourselves in His word and set His message before us, reading to feed our hearts so that we may change the world with one message at a time.

could you please refill my cup?

Are you one who looks at your cup half empty, or half full? There are days I can be on either side of that cup, but for the most part I look at my cup as half full. I am not a coffee drinker, although my husband is. Although I do not drink coffee, I do love the smell drifting throughout the house.It just seems to awaken you to the brightness of the morning. You know those who look at their cup half empty, wondering why life is not going the way they have planned, just as you know those who look at their cup half full, with a joy in their heart no matter what life is throwing at them. Joy is something so very special, and it comes in all sizes of cups. We have the choice to be the pessimist or the optomistic one. We have the choice everyday to be Johnny Raincloud or we can be filled with joy that only comes from the Lord. Joy doesn't come just with success or happiness. Having joy isn't having everything go your way, and have all our wishes filled daily. Joy comes from the Lord. Joy stays with you no matter if you just got the promotion, or if your car just got the bumper smashed in while it was parked. Joy isn't good news all the time, it is a gift from the Lord, to fill us, to fill our cups full of His love, patience, and compassion. Its putting a smile on your face knowing the day ahead is held in God's hands. Its knowing all the control belongs to Him. Its knowing no matter what may come He is with us through the night and into the morning when the sun is shining again. Its being thankful for all we have before us, and taking pleasure in our daily tasks. Joy isn't a feeling that comes and goes as happiness does, its a feeling in your soul down deep that is wanting to escape outward to others. Its having your cup run over with the love of Jesus. I think it takes awhile for us to learn what real joy is. If we look it up in the dictionary it is based on emotions, feelings and success. That is mans view of joy, the world cannot find joy unless all is going their way. But as a christian we can look to all we have in front of us, and know Jesus has it all under control. It may not turn out just the way we thought, but God knows whats best for us. He sees the future, He knows what is up ahead, and we can trust in Him with all we have. Joy is being able to live freely, to feel what real freedom is in Jesus. We know greater things are yet to come, we know God has planned for us to be reunited with Him. If we can take our eyes off ourselves, we will be able to find joy in all we do. It is a choice to have joy and to see your cup overflowing, or to see your cup half full and be filled with anger. Anger will eat you up inside and make you the anger you are feeling. Everything is a choice, and that choice for me is to trust my Savior and wake up each day with a new joy, a new desire to seek Him and to see all He has for me. When you have joy in your heart you can dance in the rain, you can see the light in the dark, and you can feel the kiss of the morning dew. When we are full of joy everything takes on a new look, we can see with new eyes, we are seeing through the eyes of Jesus. "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control." Galations 5:22-23 There are many things people and this world can take away, but they cannot touch our joy we have in our hearts. That is one thing they cannot take away, the joy we have in Jesus. He placed it inside our hearts for us to live out our lives filled with His joy. May we turn to Him, and may we allow Him to fill us, until our cup runs over with joy that makes each day possible. "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." James 1:2-4

do you really know what you have?

That old saying, "You don't know what you have until its gone", is so true ladies. A few days ago my husband left on a motorcycle trip with his brother up north. It was a ride he has always wanted to take and finally got the opportunity to do so. I find myself waiting for his call, wondering where he is and just what he is doing. I find myself missing him more each day that he is gone. So many times we really do not know just what we have until its gone. I find myself at times thinking, I wish I had some time alone, I find myself saying the dumbest things to my husband when he is trying to spend time with me. I find myself saying, "I have to get this done, I must finish this writing thing, I have to finish the laundry", and the list can go on and on. We can get aggrivated at one another, and I can wish we just had time apart to figure things out. Ashamedly I think,"If I could just have a free day alone to myself I could have some peace." There are those days where the house is dirty, and where I seem to find the time to complain about everything around me. Why do we do these things to the ones we love? Why do those words come out of our mouths that hurt the other we love? I can get so caught up in all I have to do, I put my husband at the end of the line, and I am so sorry for that. After eighteen years of marriage we have been on a rollercoaster at times, trials come and seem to take everything out of you, but between all those trials we have had the blessings far out way them. At times when I am hurting I can take things out on him without even knowing what I am doing. I remember when he used to travel over the road, I would cry when I knew it was time for him to leave, and as I stood at the door waving as he pulled out of the drive with tears in my eyes, I would stand there alone praying for him, and asking God to protect him and bring him home safe. When I could hear the truck coming down the road I would be so overjoyed to see him. When he would be gone, I would wait for the phone to ring, only to hang up crying missing him so much. I know at times when my husband is home, he may be a different room and I may be sitting here writing, but I know he there, I know he is in the next room over. I am forever grateful to God for giving me a hand to hold, a hand that mine fits in perfect, an arm to wrap around me, and a soft kiss on my forehead just when I need that. When I catch him looking at me, and then I turn to ask,"What is it", he will at times tell me just how pretty I look. I am blessed to have him for my husband, and I so long for him to get home. So often words go unspoken that so need to be said. We take each other for granit at times, and we should never do that. That kiss at the door may the last, that good morning may be the last words, we never know what the day shall bring forth to us, so why do we live it as we have a thousands to live? I remember that first kiss, our first date, just about our first everything, and for me, I pray we have many new firsts together as our hair turns gray, as our bodies grow old, and as our eyes still speak the words, "I love you" with just one look. Just knowing he is here brings me joy, just hearing his voice still makes my heart flutter. Its time for me to stop complaining, to stop putting other things first, and place my husband just where he needs to be, right there in my heart where God intended when we said our vows. Today I call myself a blessed woman, a blessed wife to the husband God so placed right in my path. To him I say thank you for your love, your life and all you give~

seeing with a new vision

This week has been a long one for me, and even longer for my mom. She had her eye surgery, and so far so good. She has had some pain, but she is hanging in there. My mom amazes me. She is one of those ladies who never complain, who never want to ask for help, for she is afraid it will bring inconvience to another. When my mom wakes every morning she is in pain all over her body. At seventy-one she is feeling her age tremendously. With every gray hair upon her head has been a year she has traveled this road before her without any complaints. I have been amazed by her while I have been trying to care for her. I watch her get up daily and find something to be blessed about. She doesn't let her sickness get her down. She doesn't allow the pain to become who she is. While we were at the doctor's office waiting, we sat next to a little lady just a few years older than my mom. She looked so sweet and she was soft spoken in her speech. As she sat next to my mom, I sat in the floor listening. As they talked I found out the little woman was blind in one eye, and was about to lose the other. She spoke about not wanting to leave her home, because she knew where everything was, and didn't want to be a burden to her son. She may have to go to a home for senior saints if she loses her other eye. As they sat sharing their stories, nothing came from them that said, "Poor, poor me." They in turn lifted one another up, and I heard the little woman say, "I sure do find myself praying alot, and thats what keeps me going." I was so touched by their conversation. Here sat two ladies who have gone through so much, and neither of them are complaining, just sharing and understanding one another. They were giving each other their time and sharing their hearts wide open full of love. So many times we have our pity parties, and think we have it so rough, but in reality, there are others around us who are hurting so much more. Hearing these ladies speak spoke so much of their character, of their faith, and the ability to see blessings around them even though they are losing their sight day by day. The more they are losing their sight the more they are seeing just how beautiful life is. We tend to take so much for granit. Our health, our families, our neighbors, our church, all the things that we use each day, the things big and small. We just assume our mom will be there tomorrow, we just assume our husband will come home from work, we assume our child is safe at school. We assume so much, and we tend to stay in our little box, not thinking of others, since it has nothing to do with me. As my daughter works at a nursing home, she knows which people have family come and which ones have no one. I cannot imagine the pain of being in a nursing home and having no one to come and see me. I cannot imagine the pain they must feel. We don't have to have sight to see beauty around us. We just need to open our hearts, minds and souls to all around us. At times I do get very tired after taking care of my mom. I must be honest and say it is not easy at times, but I would do anything for my mom at any cost. Of all the things I have to do here at home, and taking care of my mom adds on to the tiredness I feel. But I have to be honest and say it is all worth it. Everytime I help my mom I see the love in her eyes, the thank you, the comfort knowing I am there for her. She has been there for me for forty-two years now, and has given me all she has to give, it is now my turn to care for my mom. The tables have turned, and although it is tiring, the blessings override that triplefold. I want to have a heart like them, I want to speak the words the little woman spoke at the doctor's office. I want to be that example to others in my path. So many times I fail at being the example, but I cannot give up, I cannot have myself a pity party, I need to keep pushing forward, keep my eyes focused where they need to be and pray alot just like the little woman said. Jesus is the One who keeps us going, with His strength and His grace we can move forward knowing He is there for us every step of the way. Can you close your eyes, and find a name on your heart who needs a touch from the Savior? Can you close your eyes and see just all that Christ has given you? There are those days where we just need to close our eyes and allow Christ to show us through His eyes just where are blessings are, and who we need to bless.

Are you hurting today?

Are you feeling the pain of loss today? Are you tired and restless in the night? Are your days cloudy and without the sun? So many times in life we make choices that have no consequence at the time. We are only concerned about the moment we are living in, but one day those consequences seem to rain down on us and not only us but those around us, those who love us, those who have watched us fall and have tried to pick us up, but we chose not to listen, we chose our own path. We also chose our future with those choices we made, not knowing just how much they would effect us later in life. There will come a day when our past decisions will touch those around us. Each decision we make impacts the lives of many. We often have the wrong idea that our choices are not going to touch others, but each one touches someone we love in a different way at a different time. Today you may not be the one who made the wrong choices, but you are the one being effected by those choices of another. That pain at times can feel worse, because you were not part of the choice made, but it effected you anyway. It still came into your reach and touched your life with an impact you were not ready for. We are often selfish creatures in nature, we often do not think of others, we are only thinking of ourselves, and our wants. But there will come a day when we wish we could take back those choices, that we could change the circumstances we are now facing. As young people we often do not feel the wave of our actions until we are older, but each cause has an effect, that effect depends on the choices we have made in life. We have to understand that we can only change ourselves, we cannot change other people. Although their actions may effect us, we do not have to own those actions, we can give that power to Christ to work in us and those who have caused the action. Our actions are like a ripple in the water. We often do not see all those who are touched by our actions, but nevertheless they are there feeling the pain today. So what can we do to overcome? We can dive in to Christ, we can make changes in our lives, changes that effect others for the good not the bad. We can leave the past behind us, and allow Christ to come in and make us new, washing away the pain, cleansing us in His righteousness. We don't have to allow the past to swallow us, we can begin new with Christ, letting Him renew us, refresh us, and teach us how to live again, or live for the first time ever. We can give life and joy or we can take life and joy away from others with our choices. What do you have facing you today? Let the anger go today, let the pride fall to the ground, make what is wrong right, and choose to live for Christ, choose life instead of pain. Don't give up on those around you who have hurt you, don't let Satan have the say in your life one more day, choose to let Christ control all around you. We may not be able to choose all that comes our way, but we do have a choice in what we do with it, in how we react to the choice of others. Your not alone in your pain today, Christ is there with you, He can pull you out of the pit you are in, He can wash away every sin, and He has the power to change lives, so what are you waiting for? What is keeping you from making the right choices? What is keeping you from living real life in Him? With Christ there is no limit to His power, to His mighty works, and with Him we can overcome anything that touches us. Let your pain go today whether you are the one who caused the pain or if you one who felt the ripple of it, let it go along with all your hurt, anger, and despair. Feel Christ wash over you. Today you can begin new with Jesus. There is nothing standing in your way of Christ except you. Christ can move those mountains, He can move those hurdles that are standing in your way of a new life. Choose today to make the right decision and Christ will show you a new way to life, a new freedom you have never felt. Today you can feel His wonder, because there is so much power in His name. Call upon Him today and He will answer you. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the thoughts I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." Psalm 130:7-8 "O Israel, hope in the Lord; For with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities." Allow God to take those chains off of you today, and set you free in His forgiving love and amazing grace. Nothing can heal like the love of Jesus~

His light shines brighter than any other

On the 4th of July as my son and I watched fireworks, they didn't begin until dark. What would be the point of shooting them off in the day? They would not be seen. Once it got dark, the night sky came across, and was lit up by magnificant wonders of color. The light was illuminated in the dark. Just as Jesus is. It is when we are in the darkness when He shines forth the most. It is when we are alone, when things are hard, and when we don't understand all thats going on, when we are frightened He is there shining before us for all the world to see. Just as when you put your child to bed, and darkness comes upon them, they are at times afraid. So what is a parent to do? You can leave the bathroom light on, or you can plug in that night light. Now in the darkness there is a glow of light that brings fears to calm, and the room is filled with just the right amount of light to caste upon all for us to see. That is Jesus for us. He is the light that fills us, He is the light that shines through us. He is the light that others want to know more about. He gave us the sun to light the earth in the day, and He gave us the moon and the stars to light up the night sky. His beauty can be seen as we look up into the sky. When we are in His light, we know all will be okay, for His light overpowers the darkness. Just as the sun gives us warmth, the Son also comforts. Just as the moon can lead us through a path at night, He leads us with His light to light the way so we know each step to take. "The Lord is my light and my salvation; Whom then shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of Whom shall I be afraid?" Psalm 27:1 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 We never need to be lost and cannot find our way, for Jesus is there shining before us.

Who is your best friend?

Many of us have sang,"What a friend we have in Jesus" in church, but just how many of us believe that and cling to it? Are we living what we are singing in those words? Think of you very best friend. Who is it? On this earth my best friend is my husband. I have close friends that I would trust my life with, but no one compares to Jesus being my best friend. He is always there, never forgetting me, never too busy with life, and never distracted from the world and all that is calling our name. When it comes to your list of friends, Jesus is at the top, there is no one to even come close. He will not leave us or forsake us. He will not turn His back on us when we are in need. He doesn't turn the phone off, He doesn't make a date over the one you had with a friend. He is honest with us, He lifts us up with His love and glory. I would rather hear His sweet voice than any other I know. I would rather take His hand than another only to let go. Where He goes, I go, and where I to He goes with me. I am never alone. There is no darkness that can overcome me, for He is there shining as a light in my fear, only to bring me peace and comfort. There are limitations to friendships and just what they are willing to give for you, but with Christ there is no limit. He made the highest limit possible in giving His life for us that we may live in Him. He gives us all, and in turn we too should be willing to give our all for Him. I had a dream the other night. I hadn't told my husband or son. There are just somethings you think upon, even in our dreams. I had a dream my son and I were in a local gas station, when a man pulls out a gun, he aims for my son, only for me to jump in the way of the oncoming bullet. I can say without a doubt I would die for each and everyone of my children today or any other day. I would give my life for them to live. That is what Jesus did for ALL His children. He stepped in front of that bullet, and took it for us to live. So for all He has done, He should be at the top of your friend list, and no one should come before Him. If your looking for a friend today. Look no farther than Jesus. He is there for you, waiting to reach out to you, and love you like no other is possible. He is my best friend, and I am so blessed to have Him. To feel His arms around me, to hear His voice, to know He is right here with me, with His healing hands, and His teaching words to show me the way home. Take His hand today and let Him be your friend for life. " A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." Proverbs 18:24

Christ defines who you are,not your past

Ask Jesus why He loves me, and I would only say I didn't deserve His love. I don't understand why He loves me, but He does. With a past that can haunt me at times, I was to let it go when I came to Jesus. There are those days that I pick it up again, but Jesus never does. He knows it doesn't matter anymore, He knows thats not who I am today. The mistakes of the past, are not who I am today in Christ. For He healed me of my past with His blood. We all come from a past, some are better than others, and some of us have made mistakes we wish we could take back and do over. Whatever your past was it is forgotten when you come to Jesus. "Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisifies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The Lord executes righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the children of Israel. The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. He will not always strive with us, nor will He keep His anger forever. He has not dealt with us according to our sins, nor punished us according to our iniquities. For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us." Psalm 103:1-12 Does this not make you want to praise His name? He is our loving God, who chooses to forgive us of our pasts, and never to bring them up again. He changes us, He molds us into someone we could never be without Him. Don't let your past be part of your future. Don't allow your past to come between you and God. Don't ever think He wouldn't love you, because His love is greater than any known on earth. God reigns, and He is mighty, He gave His life for you and I, not to stay in our pasts, but to move to the future. And that future is with Him.

We are not of this world

We are not to be part of this world, but to live in this world as a city upon a hill would shine before all. This world tries its best to tell us we need everything we see, we deserve everything we see, because we work hard. As a christian there is nothing this world can offer us better than Jesus. At times its hard to stand, its hard to fight the temptations of this world, but we can reach for help to Christ. We can have friends help us to be accountable for our actions. We can be strong with the strength that God can give, if we will only ask for it. We can be wise to this world and the evils in it, if we will only ask for wisdom. At times we can think we want more, there has to be more. Well, there is more, but its not of this place, its a far greater place than we can even imagine. Our feet do not have to be tied to this world, we do not have to face each day alone. We can place our faith, our trust and our everything in Christ's hands, and He will guard us against evil. There are many things that bring us joy, God places that joy in our hearts. Good, all comes from Christ, He doesn't bring forth evil to us. This world may be calling your name, the internet can be used for good or evil, television is has good about it, but it also has evil, not just what it before our eyes, but just how much time we spend in front of it. There are drugs, not just on the street, but prescribed by your doctor that can bring addiction. Everywhere we turn there are billboards trying to gain our attention. Sin is everywhere, temptation is calling, but we can turn from it. We must think about what we place before our eyes and our ears. For what we see and hear stays in our mind as a picture, and many times as try as we may, those images are there. Trash in trash out. We cannot even go to a movie without cursing, without taking God's name in vain. The top is calling us, the pride is calling, the money is calling, the more we get, the more we want. Its a cycle hard to break, but Christ can give you the strength to overcome. As I walk into gas stations to pay, there is always someone at the counter buying lottery tickets. I have seen people spend a hundred dollars at one time, taking a chance to win more, only to be caught up in the circle it causes. Why do you think the mags are right there at eye sight in the check out lane? They are there, because that is where are eyes go, just as in the cereal lane. The sugar coated cereal, the ones the kids love are all low to the ground, for that is where their eyes go. We were never to be part of this world, we were meant to stand out, we were meant to be different. When others look at us, they should see Christ in all we do. Our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family should all know we are christians, they should know we love the Lord, and we live differently from the world. I can sit here and type all this about temptation, but I too know the effects of temptation. I know how hard it is to pass it by, but I have learned that with Christ, He will get me through anything, and not just get me through, but let me rise above, and overcome. The things of this world will die, will rust, will be brought to nothing, but the things we do for Christ, for His kingdom are lasting, they leave a legacy for others to witness and to follow. Don't let this world trip you up, don't get caught in the scheme of things, don't press the easy button for all that comes your way. Feed our minds and our hearts on God's word. We are not of this world, so while we are here, lets make a difference. Lets make an impact that will last forever. "You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:14-16 "But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of hte world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God-and righteousness and sanctification and redemption-that, as it is written, He who glories, let him glory in the Lord." 1 Corinthians 1:27-31