Tag: bible

Second Chances

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Second Chances

How often in life do we get a redo? How many chances do we get to overcome true adversities and mange to come out of the storm with your head held high? In life Gods gifts are big and small. Our faith will often be tested and pushed to the brink. It is often only at the brink were we fully realize our true potential. No matter the path we believe we are on the only true path is that of Christ our Savior. The strength of character to live a life in Christ is a path that is not for the faint of heart. What does it mean to truly live a life in Christ. We have struggles so we are tested. We have faith and courage to keep that faith. For it is our faith that keeps us true to the larger course. The forest grows with no help from man, and yet we feel the need to control our every minute. The true power is no power at all. There is no power of man that is true power. Power is an illusion that is made up to make us feel better about ourselves. When the sun rises on the morrow what power do we as mortal men have?

We can build great monstrosities, we can create wondrous pieces of technologies, but the true power is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gives us strength beyond our wildest imagination. We have the ability to overcome death and enjoy eternal life. 1 Corinthians 1:18 “ For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.” Wise men live and die but those who truly choose life understand that the flesh of this world is but temporary in the eternal plane. To live life is to understand what that life is built upon. 1 Corinthians 3:10-11 “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” The path of Christ will be one of trouble and pain and as Christ was tortured in this life we too will bare a cross, one we must truly accept.

The second chance is a second chance of life. When this world ends and it will end, which side of the wall do you want to reside? Will you labor for Christ to live inside the walls of paradise or will you accept the world as it is believing that you are in control, that you have power within your life? When threatened with death one often faces a realization that either they are afraid, or welcoming the unknown. The other side is beyond human comprehension. Isaiah 45:5-8 “I am the Lord, and there is none else, there is no God beside me: I girded thee, though thou hast not known me: That they may know from the rising of the sun, and from the west, that there is none beside me. I am the Lord, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord do all these things. Drop down, ye heavens, from above, and let the skies pour down righteousness: let the earth open, and let them bring forth salvation, and let righteousness spring up together; I the Lord have created it.”

Facing ones own mortality is the truest of second chances. To see death, to witness death, and to hear the voice of God and the love and compassion of our Father is a gift. Know that for our sins we are not in bondage any longer. If we remain in chains it’s of our own doing. Lay down your heart and follow Jesus. Do not give in to the prince of darkness, he will deceive you, he will lie to you, fool you. The prince of darkness will steal you from your place in paradise for the promise of worldly desires, for it is in those desires that sin is truly born, and true death is a reality. Isaiah 40:28:31 “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

Finding Courage

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Finding Courage

“It takes courage to look inside yourself and even more courage to write it for other people to see.” Benjamin Sisko. I hadn’t really thought about it before, what making a public website would actually mean, what putting my deepest most intimate thoughts on paper in one blog after another for all the world to see, would actually mean. September 12th of 2004 my truck was ambushed in the downtown region of Ar-Ramadi Iraq. During the 15 minutes of absolute Hades on earth the courage of 7 men would be tested literally under fire. After the first two explosions obscured HQ 25 the first bullet hit my truck HQ 26 on the door right at head level. At that point the feelings of fear and doubt started to creep in. The bullets from the enemy AK’s where striking the truck. One RPG after another was being fired at both of the trucks. An RPG that passed just a few feet from the front of the truck, and hit a barrier near the truck blew out the front right tire of HQ 26. If the truck stops we’re all dead. If we don’t keep up with HQ 25 and were separated we all die. When the MK-19 failed and my gunner Haley had to switch over to his M-16 rifle. With no side shielding he would be completely exposed to enemy fire. The amount of courage he would show under extreme stress was nothing short of a miracle, in fact the courage of Stevens, and Watson the HQ 25 gunner/driver would stand out as heroes. What does it take for a person to show courage? “I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” (Nelson Mandela) Many people in their lives are faced with incidences that will test their fight or flight response. For me September of 2016 would test my fight or flight response again. This time, for the first time my flight response would kick in, and alter my life forever. Living it seems is not for the weak. If it weren’t for close calls some people never fully realize their potential, the gift of life. 1 Chronicles 28:20 “David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do the work. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.” True Courage cannot be had without faith. We must have faith that the situation we find ourselves in is worth courage. Joshua 1:9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” When Haley stood up and shot back the faith he would have that the need to survive, to save the lives of his crewman would win out over fear. For me my faith that God was in control is unrelenting. True courage however might be as simple as truly trusting in the Lord. Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” When we give our lives to the Lord we put our faith in Him that we will never be alone. Sometimes God has a plan for us that take us out of our comfort zone. It takes a great deal of courage to follow God. No matter the cost, to have faith, is to have courage, and that courage is the key to everlasting life.

Sins and Sinful Nature

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We mustn’t let others overshadow our own sins. We are responsible for our actions. We are responsible for who we hurt, what we do, the type of person we want to be. Just because you did something yesterday doesn’t mean you are forever bound to be that person. We can never justify our sins but instead we must take ownership of it and remember who’s truly in control. Romans 3:23 “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” When Cain killed Able and that hatred of heart was first spoken of, we understand the true nature of sin. No one sin is worse or better then another, for all sin is equal footing. Galatians 5:19-21 “19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.”

Note it doesn’t say if you only sin a little, or it’s all right to do this as long as you aren’t killing people. Sin before God and we all must answer for that when eternity is at stake. Psalm 119:25-29 “19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” King David knew his wrongdoing and suffered for it. Knowing we all sin we must always remember it isn’t just what we do on the outside, it isn’t just the good works, the words that we speak, it’s the content of our heart. Let no one question the true content of your heart.

Let everyone know God by knowing what God can do through us who are unworthy of the true gifts of Heaven. Our eternal life was bought and paid for, but do not squander the gift. Do not fall victim to the lies of the deceiver and believe that we can live a life of sin and expect to enter into perfection. We all sin, but in our hearts we must hate and rebuke the sin. Take responsibility for your own actions, your own desires, your own transgressions. Be not afraid to lay down your sins to the Lord, and help others face their own sins. Be the conduit for Christ to talk through you. Live for the Lord and let all others see Christ in all that we do.

Love, Forgiveness, overcoming sorrow

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You know what I’ve realized? I’m not weak. Struggling with emotions especially strong ones doesn’t make me weak. Luke 22:44 “And being in an agony he prayed more earnestly: and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Jesus was under so much stress knowing he was going to die his capillaries broke. Struggling with strong emotions doesn’t mean you have little faith. We often loose the ones we love, sometimes it comes with warning, sometimes it happens suddenly. 1 Samuel 30:6 “And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.” David was promised the throne at a mere 14 years old. He would be in his late 30’s by the time he would sit on the throne. Having faith is not always easy. Knowing the promises God has made to us and having patience to see it through is very much different. Knowing the world is a cruel fallen place we must understand the nature of sin. We must understand the meaning of Gods grace and all that we have because of Gods grace. We must understand that as difficult as it may me we must know Love. 1 Corinthians 13:2 “And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Without love we are nothing. Without God’s love we have nothing. We are commanded to love and Corinthians explains exactly how to do that. If we are to love that also means that love must be strong enough to forgive. Forgiveness isn’t optional. Forgiveness isn’t a choice it’s a directive. When Christ died it was to pay a price that we couldn’t possibly ever pay. Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.” Ephesians 4:31-32 “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” As it is written so shall it be done. Patience is not something that comes easily. Reaching out to brothers and sisters for strength isn’t easy and it shows great trust and courage. Bare ones faults, bare ones cross and never give up on hope.