Tag: christian

Rising Flood

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Rising Flood

In the last few days we’ve seen an enormous amount of water come from Hurricane Florence. We have seen record numbers and with that comes floodwaters. There’s been so many thousands of lives affected by this storm and while it’s hard to consider, we must try to find the good in this horrific situation. Lives have been lost, businesses and homes have been destroyed, and while it was take years to rebuild the opportunity for our communities to gather together, to praise Jesus, the accept the power of God and know that Jesus is healing hearts all over the East Coast. We must put our faith and our trust in Jesus that even as families start to return home to measure the destructive cost, all is certainly not lost. There’s no way to measure the heartbreak people will feel in the upcoming weeks as the shock wears off and the trust begins to set in. Many will be in denial, or feel the desire to give up. We as Christians must begin to love on these people, give, and grow showing the grace of Jesus Christ. This time of sorrow is a time of healing, but also a time of growth. Wherever two are gathered Christ is there. Hebrews 13:8 (ESV)“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

As Christians we are to follow the Great Commission, to go forth to all of the nations make disciples and baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. The greatest commandment given by Christ is love. So at the end of the great comissionsion Jesus says this. Matthew 28:20 (ESV)“Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Jesus is saying teach them all to love. People need to be shown love, now more then ever. Peoples lives are gone, destroyed and as everything they’ve known has crumbled before them, it’s time to show them what a solid foundation looks like so they may have hope in the darkness.

Not everyone is able to give money, or food, or supplies, but we can all give time. We can give time to pray for them. We can help move trash if you can get to the places most affected by this storm. Most importantly though, we can give love and hugs. Emotional support is the most important thing anyone can ever give. God will work out the details for the money and supplies, but showing people we care and they aren’t alone is the most important thing we can do. Compassion will be a high commodity in the weeks to come.

As Florence approached and pounded NC for days, fear was a major part of thousands of lives. As tornado’s touched down near by and affected homes, and lives, more fear floods the cities everywhere. While you watch the news you’ll find organizations such as The Red Cross that have volunteers from all over the country who are in North Carolina helping with relief efforts. With so much help, and love Jesus can be seen all over the area right now. Do not fear because we know that God is still in control. Isaiah 35:4 (NKJV)4 “Say to those who are fearful-hearted, “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, With the recompense of God; He will come and save you.” In the eye of the storm, God is still in control. While rebuilding is difficult, as long as we breathe we are still able to live, to move forward. Joshua 1:9(NKJV) 9 “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Facing fear in the rising tide is difficult, but we are truly blessed. No matter how bad it seems, trusting in the Lord to give you peace in these trials, because God will always give us what we need, and when we need it. Psalm 23:4 (NKJV)4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.”

As we rebuild and wipe away the debris to expose the strong foundation, the rebuilding stage begins. Let us start building from a place of peace, of love, and hope in Christ. Let us band together to show love and prove that people suffering the most are not alone. The peace and grace given to us by Jesus Christ need to be given to those who may not know Jesus, and those who are suffering so much to see signs of hope. While this was a devastating storm, it could always be worse. Love all, and have faith in God’s plan.

Keep On Keeping On

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Keep On Keeping On

Today is a mixed front day. While today is a somber day as crews start to assess the damage from the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, today is also the anniversary for the accident my best friend was in back in 2002. He would never wake up after the accident, but today was the Homecoming service for my church and the guest pastor played the song I Can Only Imagine, By, MercyMe This was the last song John sang at his church before he passed. I believe it was a message saying he was doing just fine in Heaven. Knowing John was a Christian and he loved Jesus has made his passing easier. Jesus talks to us often, we just have to quiet our lives to listen.

The days come and go with problems, with tragedy, with happiness, and with joy. No matter how good or bad things get in your life, all we can do is keep on keeping on. When we push forward in our lives following Jesus Christ that’s most we can do or ever hope for. When we walk with Christ are we doing so in trust? With so much destruction and pain just within the last few days as Hurricane Florence has pounded North Carolina, we can see people coming together and working to save those in need, praying together in times of sorrow, and watching over those who’ve lost everything. We understand that the storms may come, but when they finally arrived are we able to look to Jesus and say “okay, what’s next?” Christians must come to realize that no matter how bad things get, there is always something to gain.

While I was at church today and when the song I Can Only Imagine came on, I wasn’t filled with grief, or sadness, I was filled with Joy. I know my friend is in a better place, and I know he’s been watching over me since he got there. I trust in Jesus’s plan, and I believe that even in the midst of that tragedy some good was able to come of it. Sometimes the hardest thing we will ever do is face tragedies with an open mind. In the middle of this storm we find ourselves in there are acts of heroics, selflessness, courage, and love happening all around us. Emergency services, and civilians alike have taken to the streets to help their neighbors in treacherous conditions. Make no mistake this storm has taken many lives, and when dealing with flooded roads, any moment could be the last. We may face our final hours in this world, and while there is always a sadness by ones passing, with hope they know their savior Jesus Christ, the next moment will be without chains, without pain, without tears, and the flood of a new life rains down as the beautiful place of Heaven is now their home. I think of my God and the sacrifice for me, He laid down his life to save a wretch like me. I think of Amazing Grace, and how wonderful it is to see so much love and grace in these troubled times. When I see selfless acts of heroism I see Christ in this world. No one has to choose to go into the storm to save strangers from danger, but over and over we see it happening. How sweet the sound of love when the worst seems to be happening all around us, wherever I go I know that Christ is right beside me no matter the flood that comes.

No matter how dire a situation looks find peace knowing you are never alone. Your faithfulness will always reap rewards. 2 Chronicles 15:7 (NKJV)7 “But you, be strong and do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded!” No matter how bad the storm be strong and believe in yourselves because God believes in you. Do not let the Devil cause you to waiver in your faith. The walls may crumble around you, but you can always rebuild with your foundation set on Christ. Trust, and Love always.

Sometimes Accidents Happen

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Sometimes Accidents Happen

Have you done something that was an accident, but undoubtedly a big one? During the flood, I accidently flooded two rooms in about an inch or so of water. With stress already high from the hurricane the accident was ill timed, if there was ever a good time to flood the house. Sadly the room that flooded was a storage room since a great majority of my belongings are still packed.

Something I have been trying to do, though I’m not always successful with it, is changing my perspective in times of stressful situations. When I was watching the movie Paul: Apostle of Christ a few months ago I was captivated by the ability to find peace even in the conditions he was in. Here’s a man wrongly imprisoned and condemned to death for a crime he didn’t commit, and yet he was at peace no matter his circumstances. It isn’t easy finding a positive spin in every situation, but that’s exactly what we need to be doing. With so much negativity in the world, from just the news alone, we can be the difference in this life. The eight hours it took me to clean up the water, and to dry boxes, throw away damaged boxes, allowed me and my mother time to go through boxes, to condense, to sort through and rearrange to clean up the storage room. I’m not making excuses for my major mistake, but I am saying some good can come from even the most dire of situations.

Psalm 107:28-31 (NKJV)

28 Then they cry out to the Lord in their trouble,

And He brings them out of their distresses.

29 He calms the storm,

So that its waves are still.

30 Then they are glad because they are quiet;

So He guides them to their desired haven.

31 Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness,

And for His wonderful works to the children of men!

 

We know that in the center of the storm is Jesus. We know that all things there are lessons to be learned, there are ways to bring glory to Jesus. We cannot walk through this life beating ourselves up for everything mistake. We cannot walk through this life carrying all of our burdens. We cannot allow the burdens to crush us, because if we are to be followers of Christ, we know that we are to give up our burdens, and allow Jesus to take them for us. We are to walk a life as Christ like as we can. We must let go of our storms and watch as Jesus see’s us through.

Psalm 55:22 (NKJV)

22 Cast your burden on the Lord,

And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

 Matthew 11:28-29 (NKJV)“28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

We see a theme that’s overwhelming undeniable, and that’s us being commanded to give our troubles to the Lord. We were never meant to bare these burdens alone. We know there’s more at work then just the fact that the world can be a cruel place. There is hope in tomorrow that Jesus paid for with blood. We have a ticket to Heaven and we are all cordially invited to join the party. We only need to trust in Jesus Christ, and allow our old selves to be burnt away. We are reborn a new creation, and we find peace in the world. Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV)6 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

 Trust in the reason for the trials, and don’t let the small mistakes bother you too much. Learn from them, and find the silver lining in every trial. There’s always an opportunity to turn to Christ in prayer and find grace and peace in the name of the Lord. Trust, and know, sometimes accidents happen.

Power

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Power

We sit and wait with no control over anything happening around us. With no power and an uncertainty when it will come back, all we can do is ride it out and pray. We often take the simplest prayers for granted just saying we know God is in control, we respect that power, and we humble ourselves submitting all of our grief and anxieties upon the Lord. We cannot allow ourselves to be consumed with worries in situations far beyond our control. As over 321,000 people are without power in North Carolina, all we can do now is pray people were prepared and trust in God’s will. Today is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice in it. The sun is slowly rising and light now awakes the world around me. The light is a warm comfort, still as the wind howls in the rainless skies. It’s not fear, or apprehension that floods the house, it’s almost a boredom with nothing but silence to listen to.

This quiet time had given me the opportunity to turn to God and pray and have a conversation with my Heavenly Father. I’ve been so busy with school and everything I feel I haven’t been praying as much as I should. It’s truly interesting how obligations and life can so quickly and easily interfere with relations with Jesus. Shame on me for not praying as often as I should. Time is something we don’t have control over, but we do have control over how we use it. I hear so many say, I haven’t had the time, or I’ve been so busy. Time with God should never be one of those things we let slip us by.

So in closing, obviously with no power I want to keep this brief, pray for those affected by Flo. Pray for the floods, the wind, those in its wake. Pray for peace in the midst of the storm. God is still in control, and that we can count on. Be safe, be well.

Trial by Combat

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Trial by Combat

If you really think about it often times the attacks we face from Satan feel like we are in the middle of Trial by Combat. This isn’t far from true. While there are some instances where we may experience the occasional poke, the intermittent frustration, but on some occasions we are in full-blown combat. There are some instances where we enter a season in life where war is on the horizon. It’s not always avoidable, and when the season does come, are you ready for it?

Trial by combat is an old custom in which legal matters were settled by hand-to-hand combat. One of my favorite episodes of Arrow was called “The Climb”. In this episode Oliver Queen challenges Ra’s Al Ghul to a trial by combat. If we really think about the troubles we face, is it so different from days of old? We may not be fighting for some legal matter, or honor, or even a bride, but we are fighting for the witness of our souls. When we face troubled waters we show the world what we’re made of. Satan wants you to fall to the ground bloody and broken. Satan tries to beat you down, punch after punch telling you you’re weak, you’re worthless, and your faith is nothing. When things get bad and your life is falling down Satan will whisper “Where is Jesus now? No where to be seen.” He tries to divide you, to make you feel alone. He preys on your suffering, on your pain, to make it about you, and not bout Christ.

The whole world can be crumbling down and the moment the focus turns away from God and we are focused on the “I” in a problem we have already sinned. The Devil has so many different ways to try and break you down, but when you’re in that ring with him, you need to stay focused on the fight. Don’t loose sight what you’re fighting for and why. Don’t loose hope if the fight starts to go badly because no matter how low you may get Christ is always there with you. There is no doubt that every challenge we face is a fight for who we are in Christ. Even when it seems like it’s the world that is beating you down remember since the fall the Devil roams the world creating dissention at every turn. Know that this is cosmic warfare and take heart we know who’s stronger. Ephesians 6:12 (ESV)“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” We are soldiers on the front lines, and we are at war. We are at war with the attacks from the outside, and we are at war with the attacks, the sinful nature within. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 (ESV)“For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,” We must train our minds, and our bodies for the fight. We must be ready when the day comes that we stand toe to toe with Satan that we can resist the temptations, resist the anger within. We will be attacked and it will be relentless. We will face evil and there are day’s evil will wear the face of those we love. The Devil may take everything from us we care about, and try to convince us Jesus let it happen, or worse ‘If Jesus loved you he wouldn’t let it happen.” The lies the Devil tells are always bending the truth, to distort it, to make it sound reasonable, but it’s always 100% lie.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NKJV)10 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—“

 No matter the flavor of the battles we know that God is still in control. We know that we will be tested, and we will face many adversities, but we have the Holy Spirit with us always. We shall not fear in this life because no matter what happens in this life, tomorrow is promised in Heaven. Jesus Christ is the only way, and when we trust in Him, we know his promise will never be broken. It doesn’t matter if you fight fear of a hurricane, fear of a job, or fear of an illness, this life will pass one day for all, and tomorrow the glory of Heaven awaits you. I struggle with fears of loneliness but I know that is my trial by combat. Feelings of isolation, of being trapped on an inescapable island away from life is what I often face. I know what my trials by combat are, do you?

 

 

 

They All Leave

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They All Leave

It has dawned on me that in the last two weeks I have watched people who have left my life as quickly as they entered. I have found a hidden talent in m life to somehow push everyone away. I haven’t been able to figure out if it’s what I say, how I say it, or some other combination. It’s hard not to feel as if somehow I am at fault. Time is a constant for us, but sometimes we can get stuck reliving a moment in the past. The past can define our thoughts about ourselves and create unrealistic expectations. The expectations we place on others, or how we see ourselves when something goes wrong can be a place in history that we never left.

When we consider life and it’s ups and downs, the biggest thing we must learn, and the sooner the better, our value, our worth, our joy must all start and end with Jesus Christ. We have received the best gift ever in any lifetime, the gift of grace and love in the blood of Christ. Christ so loved the world that He willingly sacrificed himself for us, whom He clearly loved. No matter what we face in our lives the direction we must always turn is Christ. That’s not to say there won’t be times when you need a doctor for your mental health, no different then if you were to break your arm, or something else. At the center of every storm is an anchor that keeps you grounded, the anchor knowing that Jesus is with you. Feeling alone is something we all have, some more then others, and in reality some people truly are alone. We are given only so many chances to tell the people we love that we love them. We have become a people intolerant, quick to snap, swift to anger, abrupt to leave people in our lives at the slightest cause. With no accountability, no feeling of the hurt inflicted upon others, a new social norm has entered into the world.

We have forgotten how to treat others. We have forgotten the love that Jesus taught, and we have forgotten what love is. We are to love our brothers and sisters. We are to treat others with respect and with love. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NKJV)4 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not [a]puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, [b]thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” If love is endured through all things, and it’s patient, why are we so quick to turn our backs on someone we called friend, or worse, someone we told we loved. Hebrews 10:24-2524 “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, 25 not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.” How often do we gather to lift up someone else up? How often do we put our own needs aside for those of someone else?

In the instruction we are given by Paul Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) “I, therefore, the prisoner [a]of the Lord, [b]beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” We are to humble ourselves, giving ourselves up to Christ, and in our humble state, going forth to lift up others, to pass on the love that was shared for each and every one of us.

It’s not an easy thing loosing so much and keeping the faith. It’s not an easy thing loosing the love you had and trying to understand and find purpose in it. It’s not easy telling yourself you’re special when you feel you’re not. It’s not easy facing pain and loss and telling yourself that Jesus loves you and that love is never ending. It’s hard facing life every day feeling used, abused, worthless, and as I often felt in my past, a piece of used up garbage thrown away with yesterday’s trash. There is a brighter tomorrow but it has to start with your heart. It has to start with the forgiveness to those who’ve done harm to you, and let go of the pain you feel inside. Even though the past is behind you it can feel like it still has a hold of you. The battles you may face could turn to those of the past that seem to hold you as the months and years continue to pass by. People don’t define who you are. People are fickle, judgmental, emotional creatures, and the only opinion you can truly count on is that of the Lord. We must build our confidence trusting in the Lords work, knowing that we were created for a purpose, and that purpose is not to be worthless. God never makes mistakes and in His perfection, created each and every one of us for an intention of love, change, and hope we can bring by living in Christ’s love. Do you want to be remembered as the person who loved, or the person who left? Do you want to be remembered as someone who was patient and caring, or do you want to be remembered as the person as rash, and harsh? We all have choices to make in our lives, and no one can make them for us. We choose who we want to be, and how we want to be remembered. The instructions to living a good life, an honorable life is right there in the scripture of the Holy Bible, but so few ever truly take the time to read it. So few ever take the time to study and understand the meaning of life that’s spelled out in those pages. Instead we want to go our own way, walk our own path, and try to do things the way we want, that we rarely care who we hurt along the way, so long as ‘I’ am happy. What is your happiness worth? Is happiness worth sacrificing others for it? Is a difference of opinion so horrible that we can abandon all hope of friendship? Do we not owe one another an honest explanation to why we hurt them? It’s so easy to have a conversation but we have become cowardly in this life. We run from anything that might be hard, or even perceived as difficult. We forsake the meaning of friendship, and dishonor the meaning of love. At least Jesus didn’t give up on us. At least our savior knew how sinful, and awful we could be, and in the dying breaths still forgave us of our sins, our trespasses, our constant ability to fall short of what we ought to be. No matter how awful we can be, Christ loved us enough to give everything for us, so we could make a simple choice, to follow, or not. No one will ever make our choices for us, but our actions will speak for our character. As Martin Luther King Jr. once said, that his dream was for his “four little children will one day be judged not by the color of the of their skin, but by the content of their character.”  We now live in a world where people no longer care about the content of their character, so what is it we care about? The answer is sad, we care about self. We no longer care about the bonds of friendship, or the bond of holy matrimony, instead we care about our own happiness, we care only about what makes us feel good, and at a tiny drop of anything unpleasant we now abandon anything, and anyone. How far we’ve come from the teachings of Christ. How far we’ve fallen into the hands of Satan, and the only way out is the truly take a deep, long, hard look in the mirror and ask, who do I serve, is it God above, or is it the person staring back at you in the mirror?

 

 

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The Rough Days

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The Rough Days

When someone tells you “I don’t care” in regards to a way you feel about something, I think few things in life cut that deep. We are lucky to never hear that from God. God has never once said He doesn’t care about us, or our feelings. In fact, scripture tells us to cast all our anxieties, our worries, and struggles unto the Lord and He will give us strength and peace. So if you’re feeling like you’re alone today, or maybe you are alone today, remember the Lord God is always with us. He shall never leave you or forsake you. Trust in God to deliver you from the storm and keep moving forward. Some days you find yourself overwhelmed with spiritual attacks and everything else seems like an amazing struggle, such as posting a blog. The day was such an off day for me, not only did I not post, but I didn’t prepare one for the next day. Struggling with a failing AC unit in NC. On a HOT September day, dealing with homework, and recovering from the hurtful things that had been said early in the day, before I knew it the day had slipped away until it was after midnight. Some days it’s like you’re shackled and you can’t do anything to get yourself free. We are only human, and we can only take so much before we just need a little while away.

 

It’s not easy living your life having so many people tell you what your value is. It’s not easy fighting the insecurities that are lied to you from the Devil. It’s not easy wondering if you could have done something better, or should have done something different. The thing is, we are called by God to do God’s work, and God makes no mistakes. God calls each and every one of us into service who will head the call. The signal is shown because Jesus Christ said go forth and baptize all the nations. If we are called for such an amazing service, an amazing honor that God would use each and every one of us for the glory of Heaven, then we should know how much value Jesus places on each and every one of us.

 

If we were superheroes for Christ we would have a signal in the sky telling us where we needed to go to minister to the helpless, the hopeless, the lost. We don’t have the luxury of having some ‘Bat’ signal in the sky, but we do have the Holy Spirit to guide us where we need to be. We must learn to answer the call, and realize that no matter how we feel, the lies we believe aren’t truth. God’s truth is that every one of us is made in His image. Every single person has a purpose and are made exactly how we need to be made. We encounter trials and trauma’s that can often leave a lasting scar and sometimes we suffer long term. The Devil will influence people to treat us poorly and sometimes it makes us feel bad, and in worst cases it makes us feel worthless. While it’s not easy to overcome difficult trauma’s we must not fall victim to the hurtful lies. Find value in your work for Christ and you will find your value in the Love Christ has for you.

 

God is Good

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God is Good

This seems like such an easy message, but so few truly understand just how impactful it can be, God is good, and God is good all the time. I have been down and from the deepest pits of despair I have know that God is still there. I may not have always been on speaking terms with God for my own selfish, lost reasons, but God as Abba (Father), has never turned His Holy back on me. When we are upset and angry with God it’s us that walks away. We are children who storm off and slam the door to our rooms. I was an angry person for so long I ran from God. We would fight constantly. I felt like I was being taken out to the whipping shed so often I couldn’t sit down anymore. What I couldn’t understand was it wasn’t God, God wasn’t the source of my pain, the Devil was.

It’s easy to feel like you’re alone, but the truth is we are never alone. Romans 8:28 ESV“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” We know that no matter what we are going through God is there. Psalm 31:19 ESV“Oh, how abundant is your goodness, which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you, in the sight of the children of mankind!”

Living life with depression isn’t easy. Living life with severe depression can be debilitating. Knowing God is there is sometimes the only hope people have that suffer from depression is trusting God is still there. I’ve spent time laid up in my bed and the only thought that’s gotten me up is knowing that I need to post a blog entry, or homework, or to go to church. Knowing these things are to bring glory to God is often the only thing that gets me moving. I can’t imagine how people who believe in nothing find anything hopeful when things in life don’t go very well. Worse, when people suffer traumas and if not one, or three, or even five traumas later if they believe in nothing, how they manage to keep moving forward is something I will never understand. Psalm 145:9 ESV“The Lord is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” Knowing everything the light touches, and everything it doesn’t is all under the mercy of God is such a warm thought. Knowing that everything in my heart is touched by God, and every sorrow I feel Jesus Christ felt and took it for me. Knowing that the love of Jesus Christ is what lights up the darkness. The darkness that covers those with true horrors in their life is lit up by the grace of God.

Sometimes in life when you need to fix something, you have to make a mess before you build it back up and make it pretty. The human heart, and the psyche are sometimes the same way. In trauma therapy you often need to talk about the worst things in your life you you’ve ever experienced, and you talk about it some more, and then some more, and each time it feels like the wounds are fresh, just as painful as the first day it happened. Going over the events, and talking about them, and talking about the emotions in a particular way is how we slowly start to clean up the mess. Knowing that God is there keeping you safe, keeping me safe, has been a comfort. Knowing I am broken to pieces right now, is only a temporary thing because I know that one day God will use me to help others and bring precious glory to His holy name. Trusting in the Lord and that He has plans for me keeps me fighting and moving forward. Even when I don’t think much of myself, I know that the Lord loves me. Jesus Christ died for me, and I know that one day I will leave this broken life behind, and I will go home to where I truly belong, and why, is because God is good all the time. God is Love, God is Grace, God is Joy, and God uses broken things just like me. If God can use a broken man like myself to spread the Gospel, God can use anyone to show others hope and joy, and faith that tomorrow will be better because this life is only temporary. We have work to do in this world, and we can’t let the Devil win. We must hold strong, and never give up. If God never gives up on us, we can’t give up on ourselves either, and we certainly can’t give up on God. We are never alone.

Drive

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Drive

Sometimes in life when the dogs are hyper, and the stress is mounting, all you can do is go for a relaxing drive. Yesterday, I was sitting on the couch and my oldest dog Riley was restless. After playing with her, and trying to figure out what she wanted, I asked if she wanted to go for a car ride. She went straight for her Service vest and I said okay. Cooper my youngest dog, who doesn’t usually want anything to do with the car decided he also wanted to go, so we got in the car and started to drive. Before too long I decided to drive to the North Carolina, Virginia border, and then decided to go further. In total the ride was about an hour and fifteen minutes. While I was out driving it occurred to me, as long as there wasn’t much traffic it was nice to be out on the road. By time I got back home it turned out to be a nice time out with the dogs.

How often in life do we forget to take a moment for ourselves? I know for me, I need to schedule fun into my life because if I don’t I forget, and the mundane of life creeps along until my weeks or months have finally gotten to me. It’s important for all of us to remember that doing things we enjoy, and taking to recharge is essential. Christ often took time to retreat away from his friends to have quiet meditation, time to rest and spend with God. Luke 5:16(NKJV) 16 “So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

Christ was leading by example, and the example started in Genesis as we see God resting on that seventh day. It’s important to take time to rest, or even just go for a relaxing drive with the animals. For me, going for a drive with the Dogs was going for a drive with friends. While I was out driving I had time to turn to God. I listened to K-Love, which always plays good Christian music. I was reminded of the scripture in Matthew 11:28-30(NKJV) 28 “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am [a]gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

In this verse you find a simple thought, come to Christ with everything you have, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, you shall be renewed. Christ took the burden of sin for us, so everything else in comparison is easy. Not saying we don’t suffer in this life, but it’s certainly better then fiery pits of Hell. Take time to recharge your battery once in a while. Take time every day to turn to God with praise, worship, and unloading your burdens. Have that relationship with God because there’s no other relationship that’s more important. We should all remember to find a little rest each and every day.

 

 

 

Are You Just Hanging Around?

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Are You Just Hanging Around?

It’s not an understatement to say there are a lot of people who will complain, and feel down about themselves and their lives, but how many truly put forth the effort to change their circumstances? People want God to fix everything for them, and they expect God to deliver the answer to their prayers and never have to put their boots on the ground to make anything better. Scripture talks about laziness and the need to work hard for what you want in your life.

I have seen so many people in relationships where financial hardships seem to rule the day. How many men today refuse to work to take care of their families? How many single mothers are there because the father of their child has decided not to work to take care of their responsibilities? I have listened to a great many people tell me all kinds of stories and I have seen some who work incredibly hard to try and better their situations, and some who only complain about it but offer no real sustenance of change. Scripture is clear about the importance of taking care of and providing for ones family. 1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV) 8 “But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

 Another point I’d like to make is those who live in financial hardships. While I understand sometimes it’s just the way life goes, but others I have to say it seems largely someone’s own fault. Americans love the overspending lifestyle. Americans love to spend and rack up credit card debt. Americans also love to get degrees that are not likely to make a return on their college investment. With so many people building debt at an alarming rate we as Americans have failed to understand scripture. Proverbs 10:4 (NKJV) 4 “He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich.” We must learn to work hard and in our work not waist time being lazy. We as Christians must learn that hard work will reap big rewards. We must take pride in what we do.

In all we say and do work to bring glory to God. If instead of us being upset about how bad our boss is, we look at what we do is for the Lord, working should bring us more joy. In the event we don’t like our work, or where we live, or our situation in general, we may not be able to change our situation right away, but we need to always work to better our circumstances. Colossians 3:17 (NKJV)17 “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

 When I think of motivation I think of Batman. There’s a difference between being patient and being lazy. Batman often skulks around on rooftops waiting to crack a fist on some thug’s head. Batman is always calculating in his actions. Nothing is done without purpose. I think we can all take a few notes from Batman’s pages. We must learn to train our lives to be with purpose. We must always work to better ourselves and never become stagnant or lazy in life. Batman is always training to be better then he was, and is always learning and growing. We must remember that for the Lord we too must always learn and grow. We must always be willing to go the extra mile, and when we sew well in good soil, we too will reap the benefits of our many works. If you want change, you must be the change. If you don’t like where you are, work to make it better. This doesn’t mean it’s easy, but nothing in this life ever is. The thing with living life in bad situations is how unwilling we are to do what is necessary to improve our lives. We truly have become lazy and expect God to drop all the answers into our laps like a cosmic Santa Claus. This isn’t at all what scripture teaches us. Work for what you want, and bring glory to God in everything we do.

 

 

 

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It’s a wonderful thing to be able to share the blessings and teachings of Christ with all of you. For those who read my works in Christ, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. Recently I came across an amazing home business based in Travel and Entertainment that’s the real deal. The savings found through this business are amazing. If you shop online, like to go to movies, or travel, this gift card for you can save you up to 50%. Please enjoy your gift as a symbol of my appreciation and gratitude. God Bless.