Tag: faith

It’s a Wonderful Life, or flashpoint?

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It’s a Wonderful Life, or flashpoint?

Do we ever truly know the difference we make in our lives? To be honest I myself have questioned my place in this world. In the last 6 months I have had the hardest time of my life fighting my own personal doubt and have suffered a major defeat of my self-esteem. As I am very familiar with the authors of the Bible many of them suffered with depression, doubts, and questioned what God saw in them. Luke 12:7 “Why, even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not; you are of more value than many sparrows.” As we struggle knowing if we are valued, know that Christ values us.

As we walk our path we meet people, we encounter numbers beyond our realizations. We don’t ever know how our presence can affect someone else’s life. Matthew 5:13-16 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” If we are to understand Matthew we should see how we cannot hide ourselves from the world. WE must realize that if we are a positive influence just because we don’t see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Proverbs 27:17 “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” Don’t just be a light for others, be the iron that sharpens others. Help strengthen others.

If we were to remove ourselves from time, we cannot fathom how important we are. We cannot believe our presence wouldn’t be missed from time. Our actions affect countless lives. Use your life to make a difference and never stop making a difference. When life gets hard, when it looks like hope is lost, find faith in God. Believe in yourself, and even when things are at their worst show the world that you can keep your head held high with dignity. As it’s always easier said then done, always try to do your best to keep your honor. Consider this, consider the comic Flashpoint, were one change affected the course of history. Consider the Butterfly Effect, were no matter how much we try to change the past things get worse. The movie It’s a Wonderful Life, is a man who wishes he were never born. An Angel shows him the world as if he were never in it. People’s lives weren’t better without him. His importance in the world seemed so insignificant to himself, but in reality God used him for good. Let God use you to make a difference. Be positive, raise them up, and walk with God to know your path is true.

 

Jesus the real super hero

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Jesus the real super hero

When bad things happen to us it’s easy to allow anger, frustrations, bitterness and for some hate to compound and grow in ones heart. When we are hurt or betrayed, sold out, left or forgotten by the people we care for most in this world, it can force us to fear others, fear even ourselves. When we suffer it’s easy to pull away from the light. “Once you let the darkness in it never comes out.” (The Huntress) So if even good people, even superhero’s can fall to the darkness within, what hope do any of us mere mortals have? You can change who you are, you can always let go of the pain and hate. Pain and hate are like a cancer for your soul. Vengeance is not bringing harmony to life, it brings further destruction. The real superhero in our lives is the living God. Jesus Christ preformed miracles, raising the dead, healing the blind, walking on water, saving lives. James 5:19-20 “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” As a superhero the idea is they never stop seeing the good in people, they never give up hope on the ability to save others. If that’s the case, then much like Batman the rules apply, never kill. The faith in the goodness of man is something that as the Lord knew, in order to save us, we must first fall. When we fail we learn more from our mistakes then our successes. Psalm 94:16-17 “Who rises up for me against the wicked? Who stands up for me against evildoers? If the Lord had not been my help, my soul would soon have lived in the land of silence.” Learn scripture and figure out how to be a side kick for Christ. A line from one of my favorite movies, “Twenty years in Gotham, how many good guys are left, how many stayed that way?” (Bruce Wayne) Isn’t that the truth though? Living through life, are we one bad day from becoming a super villain? We must learn to let go of our hate, do not give in to it, not give in to fear, doubt, or sink to the level of our enemies. Forgiveness is about regaining harmony for ourselves, it’s about allowing the King and Savior of the universe to pass righteous judgment. We must remember to live above the get even mentaility. Once we lower ourselves to that level we loose. Romans 7:19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” For every person there is both the light and dark inside them, both Justice and In-Justice. It’s for us to keep our dignity, hold our chest high, and let your cape flow in the wind. Be the sidekick for Christ, never forget the golden rule. Matthew 7:12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.” Mark 12:31 “And the second [is] like, [namely] this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.” Matthew 5:38-40 “Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloak also.” Let God be our true hero. Let the heart not be stained, let not the heart be hardened. Love long, love often, trust God, trust faith.

 

 

I got a friend in Jesus.

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I got a friend in Jesus.

I see a silhouette of the man I once was. It’s like a flashpoint on the wall of just an outline of the old man, the burn marks that surrounded the intense heat of the fire that burnt down my life. Like the phoenix something beautiful can be born from the ashes. Like that majestic bird rising and taking flight Jesus also rose from the dead, more beautiful then we could ever comprehend. Christ became the embodiment of perfection. Heaven is our perfect home that we only need to believe and follow to be accepted into. No matter the road we are led down, we must remember that the fire will get put out. When your life is burnt to ashes we must learn to rise up better then before. John 3:16-18 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” When we run through our life we have our hurdles and our pain, our joy and happiness. Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”

A quote from a famous movie I heard once was “”Life is an endless series of train-wrecks with only brief, commercial-like breaks of happiness.” (Deadpool) As cenacle as that may be, I’d say in life we should generally be more happy then not. Yes we are promised hardships, but we got a friend in Jesus. John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” There are a plethora of verses that Jesus calls us friends. John 15:15 “Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.” Jesus is the great phoenix and he has offered to carry us on his wings to take us home when our journey has ended. Never give up hope for God never gave up hope on us. We truly are the Champions for Christ, we truly are the Champions over Satin and everything he tried to destroy. Don’t loose faith, take the challenge end never stop fighting till the day God calls you home. Keep fighting and never surrender to the evil ones calls.

Silver Lining in the Clouds Above

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Silver Lining in the Clouds Above.

Look to the skies after a storm, we often see beautiful colors in the clouds, beautiful rainbows in the sky to signify the rain has passed. Such is the symbolism in our own lives. James 1:2-3 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.” We should know that through the good and bad we should count our blessings. Our faith is always tested no matter the challenge, no matter the situation, because it’s in both our hardships, and our successes that we owe everything to the Lord above. Psalm 37:5 “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” As we commit to the Lord we will be guided in all things. Romans 8:18 “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.” The bad will always fall to the wayside. It may be a few days, it may be a few months, it may be years, but know that we must have faith, we must know that our storms may pass and we shall see our silver lining. The clouds will move on and the days will continue to come and go no matter our understanding. Job 14:1 “Man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of trouble.” Of all people in the Bible who knew pain it was Job. He lost everything and still remained faithful to the Lord. Find your own silver lining in any troubles you may face. Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.” “Red Sky Morning Sailors Take Warning, Red Skies at Night Sailors Delight.” For every red sky morning, there’s a red sky at night. Do not loose hope, do not loose faith.

Chess Match For Our Souls

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Chess Match For Our Souls

I move my pawn, and you move your rook, a chess match of moves and counter moves. The fight for the ultimate prize is heaven. When dealing with the Devil never turn your back, never underestimate. The whiles of the Devil are cunning and smooth, the deepest desires of your soul are brought forth. Romans 12:9 “Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.” If we love then we should know love. Love is defined in 1 Corinthians 13 4-13 “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.  For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” When we say I love you this is what it should be. We must learn to love one another in the truest of words. When we play our game of chess the Devil will lie and deceive us. Colossians 3:13 “ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” We as a society are cruel and sinful. When given the choice we hung an innocent man on the cross instead of Barabbas a known criminal. If Christ can forgive us for condemning him to death, and not just for that, but the entirety of our sins, we can forgive those who wrong us, and forgive those for walking the path of sin. James 5:20 “Let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.” Lastly Luke 15:4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it?” If we sin because we are lost, and we love the sinner, we must rebuke the sin, but not give up hope on the sinner. If we can take the pain we can make the sacrifice. Never forsake those whom you love. Humans make mistakes, never give up on love and never give up on what you know to be biblically right. IF we love we can defeat the Devil in this chess game we call life.

Maximum Effort

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Maximum Effort

As a person we all have ideals, goals, dreams, but what does that mean? Me personally I enjoy photography, writing, archery, but what does this really mean? Our goals are usually our own, but are we in tune to what God wants from us? Do our goals match those of Gods? As David knew from an early age he was destined to become King, we aren’t as lucky knowing our destiny. How much effort do we put into our futures? What do we put our efforts into? Colossians 3:23 “And whatsoever ye do, do [it] heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Whatever we do should be the best we can for the Lord. Romans 14:19 “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.” In all things we should put our efforts in Love. Love the Lord and that fact that Love isn’t always easy, that’s what makes it worthwhile. No mater the path we are put on by God shouldn’t we put in as much effort as we do the things of a worldly nature that make us ‘happy’? Hebrews 10:36 “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” What if we put all that effort in getting rich, or climbing the mountain, building empires, our careers, as we do to spread the word of the Lord? What if we put all that effort into loving our neighbors and remember the teachings of the Lord? Romans 15:5 “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,” As the climbing of a mountain takes courage, strength, and endurance, so does giving our maximum effort to Christ. Remember the most important mountain to climb is the mountain to Heaven. It won’t be easy, but we were told it wouldn’t be. Never quit moving forward. Colossians 3:17 “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Whatever you do, do your best. Always remember, get out there and make a difference. Climb that mountain, go the distance.

A fisher of men/ Finding love in all the wrong places

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A fisher of men/ Finding love in all the wrong places

This blog will be unique. It will be a two-part episode as it were. Days like today I find that writing may be the only escape. The silence is deafening, the lack of companionship is excruciating. To truly find oneself you often need to take a long deep look inside, but also a long deep gaze into the pages of the one book, the only book that matters, the Bible.

As some call our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ more then a man, what else was he? He was a Fisher Of Men. Matthew 4:19 “And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to bring the good news of Christ to the world. The great commission, Matthew 28 19-20 “19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.” As good Christians we must learn to become fishers of Men/Women. We must learn how to approach people about Christ, learn how to talk about the good Lord. We must learn how to use Apologetics, to defend Christianity, and understand religious worldviews. Mark 16:15 “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.” A world fallen into sin may cause fear to be used by the Devil to dissuade you from continuing your path to Christ. The path to heaven is not for the weak, or the faint of heart. In our path to bring others into the fold is tough, but worth the attacks to expose others to everlasting life.

In the efforts in our walk with Christ we often fall victim to loneliness, depression, anxiety. Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” When we walk in the troubles of the world, we often find ourselves looking for comfort, companionship. We may loose our worldly loved ones, we may watch them leave our lives, hurt us, try to destroy our very lives, our reputations, but in all reality this is the Devils grasp on their heart. Often King David struggled with depression, anxiety, struggles with worldly desires, but in that deepest pain the book of Psalm’s was born. Psalm 23 “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even 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. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Do not be fooled, the Devils taunts are tough, the lies sound good, and when we need comfort, all manner of temptations will be thrown into our path. 1 Peter 4:8 “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.” We look for love, but if we are faithful to the Lord, the Lord will take care of us. John 14:23 “Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.” Ephesians 5:1-2 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Never forget where the true love in life comes from. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” We are promised that our God is faithful, in that faith we must trust in the Lord. Genesis 2:18 “And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.” God wants us to have a companion, though we must have faith and trust in the Lord. Do not seek love in ungodly men, or ungodly women. Do not seek love in the desires of the flesh, but in the righteous who follow the Lord. Have faith and be patient with God, for he will bless you for it.

 

 

What Color is Your Lightsaber?

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What color is your Lightsaber?

As the country has been engulfed in pop culture you’d be hard pressed to find any household where someone doesn’t know the name Star Wars, or Lightsabers. The bigger question is what do light sabers have to do with Christianity? In the world of Star Wars each light saber’s color represents the holders personality and specialty. As seen on screen there is Green: Peace through force when necessary. Blue: Justice and Protection. Red: Evil and Power. Purple: Moral ambiguity. Yellow: Intrigue and pursuit (patrol). There are many, many more colors. When you start to break down your place in this world each of us has a personality, and that personality will match up with a particular color light saber. My color, much to my own chagrin would most likely be blue. (My favorite color is green) Being a Jedi Guardian Using Force on a physical level, light saber combat rather then strength with the Force. Protecting civilians. Romans 12:4-6 For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;” As we are one bodies in Christ, so as the Jedi’s mission with the Jedi counsel. Protect the universes and maintain the balance within the force. Proverbs 27:19 “As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man.” When you consider the color of your own light saber, how do we use our gifts for the Lord? Do we want to be a villain, a protector, a negotiator? Christ recruited fisherman, tax collectors, zealots, and with each of their own particular gifts, and personalities they used them in their own way of teaching and preaching. As each personality of the Jedi provided them a place in the universe, so do our gifts for the great commission. As my gifts lead me to a protective role and justice, I know now how to use my particular personality for Christ. Some people have a moral ambiguity and this purple light saber would often fall to people who follow the rules they want to, but bend them when they feel it suits them. Red obviously is that of evil. Those who fail to follow the Lord, those who have an appreciation and love of Sin would hold a red saber. Find your place by evaluating your own saber color. Which force are you? Do you fight for the light or the dark? Are you a Jedi for Christ, or a Sith for Satin?

The Strongest

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The Strongest

Living day to day is never for the weak. The ability to fight the fight is something that takes time and effort, and a lot of faith. As the strongest are often the ones who take the brunt of the fighting, we must remember that the war is not that of flesh and blood but of principalities, the spiritual plane, the fight for our very souls. We may never fully understand how lucky we are, but if we understand nothing else, we must know God is for us. We may fall and fail our fellow man, and fail ourselves, but in the words of Thomas Wayne “Why do we fall, so we can learn to pick ourselves up.” It’s okay to get knocked down, just always fight to stand again. Be vigilant against the whiles of the Devil. He will sneak and lie, whisper, and deceive to achieve his goal. The great deceiver is always on the hunt to find a chink in the armor. Defend yourself.

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.”