February 28, 2012

This post is a little different. It talks about a recent personal struggle of mine, and I’d love people to post what they suggest, thoughts, advice, spiritual references that can support these, etc.

One thing that I’ve always had a hard time letting go, though now more than other times is letting go of disappointments. The problem is, people disappoint all the time in this life, so I think it’s essential to learn how to forgive and forget this type of thing. So any suggestions on how to do it? I’m all ears. Please if you can, provide scripture to back up what you say. This will kind of be a meditation for me though I’m sure we can all benefit from it. Thanks in advance! :-)

February 27, 2012

Romans 8:28

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Ever have whose moments where you wonder will ANYTHING go right??? Maybe God is mad, busy, or even worse, maybe He’s forgotten about me :(. Not to worry, God never forgets about His children! You might think it’s all going wrong, but that may mean it’s all going right because all things work together for good for those who love God.

So, the next time you find the devil telling you all these lies about the way things are going, remind him that God is working out everything according to His purpose for your life and that you’re waiting on Him to show you the light. Don’t doubt, just believe! :-)

February 26, 2012

Psalms 34:7

“The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear Him, and He delivers them.”

Isn’t it nice to know you have a protector that delivers you from adverse situations? Sometimes we act in a way that displays a little forgetfulness about our protector, but no doubt, He always has His angels watching over us. 

However, here’s the catch: angel encamps around those who FEAR the Lord. By fear, it doesn’t mean fear as in deathly afraid. Fear in this case means respect. That’s what God really wants for His children, for us to show reverence and respect for Him. 

Do you fear Him? If so, in what ways do you show it? If you don’t, in what ways can you start? Think about it and start today so that you can be a recipient of this divine protection! :-)

February 25, 2012

Matthew 11:28

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Ahhhh…that word “tired.” It’s one that I think we can all identify with; and not just physical fatigue, but emotional and even spiritual fatigue as well o_O. In fact, these past few days have been pretty draining and boy do I need some rest in all of these domains zzZZZzzzz. But you ever get that feeling that you got some rest but you still feel super tired??? Maybe it’s because we’re looking for rest in the wrong place.

True rest only comes from one place and from one person and that’s Jesus Christ. If you go looking for it anywhere else, sorry to say, but you won’t find it. You might feel okay for a little bit, but it’s only a matter of time before you feel overly fatigued again. So, why not just seek rest from the one and only source and see how it goes? Beats feeling tired all the time… :-)

February 24, 2012

John 1:5

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not understood it”

How many of you have been in a dark situation? How many of you have prayed about your dark situation? How many of you have ever received clarification about what to do in these situations? How many of you think you never have?

You might think what’s the point, “ASKING ALL THEM QUESTIONS!!!” :D but it all serves a purpose. Many times a lot of think that God doesn’t answer us, but at the same time, you have to ask yourself, how many times has God shown His glory…and we just don’t understand that that’s what it is?

In this scripture, it’s obviously talking about Jesus coming into the world and the world not recognizing who he is; but compare it to your life and consider this: how many times has Jesus stepped into your life and you didn’t recognize it was Him? Even I don’t know the answer to this question. I may have missed it time and time again. But how about making it our goal to be his disciples, specifically Peter? Be the ones that recognize His presence in our lives and recognize who He is? Some of you won’t be able to identify with this analogy, but think about it as not having perfect vision and getting vision correction for the first time! I can almost guarantee you that your life will be much more peaceful and happier at that because it’s a wonderful feeling to come out of the darkness and into the light :-)

February 23, 2012

Proverbs 17:22

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

We all know those people, the ones who feel down and kind of pull you down right along with them, the ones who never seem to be happy or cheerful, the ones whose spirit seems crushed no matter what.

We all also know the cheerful people, the ones who can make you feel better on a rainy day, the ones who kind of make you forget about your problems, the ones who can’t help but to bring joy to your life :-)

Now which do you prefer to be around? If the cheerful ones? My thoughts exactly. Sometimes, we don’t quite realize how our negative attitudes about life can affect other people. I’m not dissing anyone because I used to be the same exact way. Even today, I have to catch myself to make sure that I don’t fall back into that line of thinking. But the truth of the matter is, while some things are no doubt depressing, we have so much to be thankful for.

Now, there are those people who use the excuse of, "you just don’t understand." And if you’re one of them, I say to just drop it...do it...NOW! O_o and ask God to open your understanding O...:B. A lot of us complain and sulk because we just don’t know any better, but there are other ways! In my opinion, no one ain’t got nothing on Job o_O, but he found a way to praise God through the storm. And when he started to slip, God shut him up real quick because there was nothing that Job could say to the almighty, all-knowing Creator. So, instead of questioning, sulking, and complaining, we can ask God to show us better and maybe ask someone with more experience in those respects for help! It won’t be easy, but with time and God’s help, you’ll be surprised at what you can do!

If you’re the helper, granted, you won’t be able to fully empathize with everyone, but do what you can, be a good listener, provide helpful, spiritual advice, and be cheerful about life. Only when you attempt to understand someone’s point of view will you best know how to approach their situation :-)

February 22, 2012

Matthew 6:24

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.”

Everyone knows the cardinal rule of against worshipping idols or serving other gods. Specifically here, we have money listed. It’s easy to let money take the head in our lives because we need it to buy the things we want. But what about the other gods in your life??? You know which ones I’m talking about. The car god, the beauty god, the cellphone god, the internet god, the social networking god, the boyfriend/girlfriend god, the gym god, the school god, the work job etc. All of these things tend to be possessions or activities we put ahead of God, oftentimes w/o even realizing it. Try to pay attention to what takes up your time during the day, what’s the first thing you do when waking up? Do you thank God for still being here? How about before going to sleep?? Ever think to pray or meditate on the word anytime during the day…or are you too busy for God that He can’t fit into your schedule?? If so, may want to rework some of those priorities and put God first! After all, you either serve one god or the other, but not both :-)

February 21, 2012

I've read these verses in the Bible...but I've never read them quite like this...

Ephesians 4:17-32

“And so I insist—and God backs me up on this—that there be no going along with the crowd, the empty-headed, mindless crowd. They've refused for so long to deal with God that they've lost touch not only with God but with reality itself. They can't think straight anymore. Feeling no pain, they let themselves go in sexual obsession, addicted to every sort of perversion.

But that's no life for you. You learned Christ! My assumption is that you have paid careful attention to him, been well instructed in the truth precisely as we have it in Jesus. Since, then, we do not have the excuse of ignorance, everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It's rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ's body we're all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.

Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don't use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don't stay angry. Don't go to bed angry. Don't give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.

Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can't work.

Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.

Don't grieve God. Don't break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don't take such a gift for granted.

 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.”

…’NOUGH SAID!!! Lol :-)

February 20, 2012

1 Timothy 4:8

“Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever.”

It’s good to stay in shape and fit. It helps along our health. Some of us choose the gym, some home, others outdoors, etc. But the important question is, how many of us can say that we workout spiritually as much as we work out physically or even more so??? Oftentimes, one finds not many.

Although it’s good to take care of our bodies as best we can, we have to maintain priorities. Don’t find yourself focusing more on this corruptible body than attaining the incorruptible one. What good will that do you in the future when heaven is in the picture? My peeps, keep your spiritual glasses on 8-). Wouldn’t want you to miss Jesus’ return while lifting weights at the gym lol.

February 19, 2012

Isaiah 50:6-8

“I followed orders, stood there and took it while they beat me, held steady while they pulled out my beard, Didn't dodge their insults, faced them as they spit in my face. And the Master, God, stays right there and helps me, so I'm not disgraced.  Therefore I set my face like flint, confident that I'll never regret this. My champion is right here. Let's take our stand together!”

Ever felt insulted or embarrassed for standing up for what you believe in? It’s the easiest thing for people to do, make fun of you for something that they disagree with or don’t believe in themselves. The important thing to notice is, how do you react to their demeaning behavior?

It may be tempting to get upset, become angry, or even feel depressed when things like that happen. But in times like these, we have to remember who’s on our side and standing with us when all of those insults are being hurled. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. Because God is with us, we can stand firm and even proud when people belittle us. So, don’t feel embarrassed, don’t feel disgraced. Like the author says, your champion is right here. TAKE YOUR STAND TOGETHER!!! :-)

February 18, 2012

Matthew 5:11-12

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

I know we all have had that feeling where we feel ridiculed for our faith and beliefs (and if you haven’t had that feeling, hmmm….that’s something to be addressed o_O). You probably feel a little crappy, add a little bit of anger and frustration, yep, that sounds about right. So, what happens next? Does the anger subside? Does it last? Are you left questioning your faith? What about God? Angry with Him too, think He’s forgotten you maybe? Or maybe wondering why did He let you endure that embarrassment??? He could’ve at least made you think of a really good comeback -_-

But think about it for a moment…are you the first person to be persecuted for your beliefs??? I mean there were the Christians before you, the disciples, the prophets and even Jesus himself. Now think about those people and the people who were persecuting them…who do you think is in a better place right now??? O_O

Sometimes, we let things upset us, but it’s not that they really have to. We just let them have that power over our lives. Jesus says we will be blessed when people do these things towards us. Why get angry when you’re receiving a blessing? :-) You just gotta stand your ground because you know what you’re saying, even if no one else believes you. Always stand firm. As this songwriter so eloquently put it:

"I believe in God the Father, Jesus Christ, His only Son, And the blessed Holy Spirit, Distinct, yet three in one. I believe there is forgiveness for everything we've done. That is why all the more, I will serve Him.

I believe the Son of God was crucified upon the tree and laid within a borrowed tomb not far from calvary. I believe He rose up from the dead, alive for all to see. That is why all the more, I will serve Him.

Chorus:

I have made my decision. I have STAKED my claim. I have drawn a line in the sand and I'll not be ashamed. With the world behind me and the cross before, by the grace of God, I will serve the Lord.

I believe you must be born again, John 3:16 is true. The old life can be washed away, everything made new. I believe the love of God can somehow find its way to you. That is why all the more, I will serve Him.

And I know when Satan and his minions come to torment me, when I invoke the name of Jesus every demon has to flee. I know the time will come when Christ returns again someday. Till then there's just one name on Earth whereby men can be safe.

I believe there is a right and wrong. A time to live to die and the Bible is the blueprint that all men should live by. I believe I'm not alone with my faith in Jesus Christ. That is why all the more, we will serve Him.

We have made our decision. We have STAKED our claim. We have drawn a line in the sand and we won't be ashamed. With the world behind us and the cross before, by the grace of God, we will serve the Lord.

By the grace of God

I will serve the Lord"

and by God's grace, WE WILL! :-)

February 17, 2012

Exodus 14:14

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still."

How many times do we fight our own battles only to lose in the end and come back and ask God for help??? Probably tons. You know, the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results o_O. LMBO!!! I’m not saying we’re insane or anything lol, but wouldn’t the best option be (since what we do never works) trying something different…like letting God handle it instead?

Many times we want God to solve our problems or fight our battles…the problem is we don’t trust Him to do it, so we try to help Him along. However…God doesn’t share glory lol. He is a jealous God. He is also displeased by a lack of faith. So, if we think we can do it, by all means He will let us try and maybe laugh at our silly attempts :(

It’s easy to have a lack of faith when things aren’t going our way, but that’s when we must read our Bibles and seek the Lord in prayer for strength and more faith so that we can allow Him to do what He said He would do. You can also seek the support of a friend in times of trouble to help you keep the faith and let God have His way. But don’t get in the way of your own deliverance people. For the battle is not yours; it’s the Lord’s! Trust Him today! The battle is already won :-)

February 16, 2012

Galatians 5:19-25

"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 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.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other."

I usually don’t split the scripture midway, but let’s do an exercise! :D

Look at the first cluster. Go ahead and highlight, circle, or whatever (in your mind) the ones that apply to you.

Now, look at the second cluster. Can you tell me which ones you exemplify on a regular basis???

Out of the two groups (AND BE HONEST!!!), which one outweighs the other in terms of the group your actions fit most with? If it’s the second one, congrats!! You are displaying several fruits of the Spirit! And Jesus did say ye shall know them by their fruits so continue with your progress. If you identify with the first group, that’s fine too!! Just means we have a little work to do ;). Oftentimes, situations, events, or people in our lives affect us in ways that do not lead us to act in the way of the Spirit. Rather, we yield to the flesh…because it’s easier to do!!! But as Christians we have to learn to crucify ourselves on a daily basis so that we no longer live, but Christ lives in us. So today, try to tackle ONE of the fruits of the Spirit that you lack, and see if you can show it a little better. Also, feel free to post areas where you want help or ones that you want to work on. There’s a whole support system here waiting to help you along w/the Holy Spirit :-)

P.S. my main thing to work on is patience (forbearance) and self-control…pray for me! Lol 

February 15, 2012

Psalms 37:7-9

“Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”

Wait for it…wait for it…wait for it….it’s annoying to wait for something isn’t it? One of the toughest things to learn and do in this life, you ask? Acquire and have patience! It’s so hard to just relax and wait especially in a society that accommodates our want to have everything now. It’s no wonder we can’t wait with all the fast food, fast phones, instant messaging, ongoing connectedness, and all of the other things that provide instant gratification. But that’s just the easy excuse of why we can’t wait…

I know we all sometimes have that feeling…that feeling of…grrrrr, I do everything right, but why does the bad guy get to have the life that I want?? It’s in moments like these we tend to doubt God, start to worry, lose our faith, slip up a bit…but God knows how we feel. That’s why He has allowed this psalmist to reassure us that the evil will fail and we “will inherit the land.” So, trust God today and see where He leads you. I can assure you He won’t let you down. :-)

February 14, 2012

I John 4:7-12

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

Valentine’s Day! Love is in the air, everywhere!!! But let’s not forget “love” itself and what it means to us. God is love. Nothing could ever sum up God any better. How many people would know what we’ve done, all our faults, all our misgivings, all our flaws and love us anyway to the point where He sends His only son to die and save us?? No wonder love is such a heavenly feeling. Such a strong feeling could only originate from God Himself.

Make it a point to show your love today and everyday, to your family, to your classmates, your loved ones, friends, co-workers, church family, etc. With God’s love in our hearts, there’s no doubt in my mind that we can shine like crazy!!! :D <3

February 13, 2012

Revelation 2:2-5

“I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked people, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first. Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.”

Do you remember the day you got saved or came to Christ? It was a very joyous day, you probably were ready to jump on it, learn all you could, become a fervent believer and participant in God’s ministry because you just loved God so much and were so enthusiastic about joining the fold, couldn’t wait to get started!

But how long did it take for that to die down? Do you still feel the way you first did? Are you still super eager or excited about God, His Word, His ministry, His people? All of you may not have yet experienced a first love, but I’m pretty sure everyone has at least experienced a 1^st crush. Remember how excited you would be to see that person? Talk to that person? Even just hang with that person??? Doing nothing at all? Well, that’s the feeling that God wants us to have towards Him. Don’t let that feeling die. Don’t let Christianity just become a religion. Keep the spark/flame alive in your relationship w/God…before you end up getting a divorce lol :-)

February 12, 2012

Jeremiah 29:11

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I’m pretty sure most of you or all of you have heard about Whitney Houston’s death. It’s been pretty much everywhere since they found out about it last night. Surprisingly, even though I’ve known many celebrities that have passed through this road, her death hit me harder than any of the others because I had known her and loved her voice for such a long time, ever since I was a little girl. I used to think, “Man, I wanna be able to sing like that someday!!” Even if I had to do backup, I wanted to sing like her one day professionally!!! But…look at how she ended up? Granted, her cause of death is unknown, but it’s no secret that she lived a very miserable life. At the end of the day, her fame did nothing for her.

My point is, sometimes we think we want something because it would be the best or most fulfilling thing ever. But sometimes, what we want isn’t always the best thing. Sometimes, the very thing we think will make us happy will only serve as our demise. It may start out well, but it won’t be long before everything that seemed so put together…will begin to fall apart. Thus, it’s important for us to trust God, trust Him, believe in His ability to create a great plan for your life. Don’t just stand on what you believe, what others believe, what people tell you, what you tell yourself, etc. If you have an all-knowing Father, why not use Him? There’s no harm in trusting someone when they know everything anyway right? Just a thought :-)

February 11, 2012

Philippians 4:4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Rejoicing and peace…sounds like heaven to me! lol. It’s so easy to get caught up in the ups and downs of this life and worry about what curveballs life is going to throw our way. However, the Bible advises us to do differently. We should have a rejoicing mindset accompanied by gentleness and seek the Lord in prayer with our requests. How many of us can honestly say we do this?? We’re probably more likely to complain, be worried and then after ALL of that (if we remember), go to God in prayer.

Today, I’m telling you to make a positive attitude and praying your INITIAL reaction. I know it’s tough but the next time something bad or negative happens, how about challenging yourself to rejoice, don’t worry, bring it to God, know He’s got it and thus, get the peace that passes understanding??? In fact, that’s a challenge for the day. As you go throughout your day today, pick at least one instance that you would normally be upset about and consciously choose to have the above reaction in place of your usual reaction. Feel free to come back and comment on the blog and share your experience if possible! You never know, you might help someone else :). I’m going to do this as well and hopefully report back to you guys. Pray for me! :D

February 10, 2012

Proverbs 20:9-11

“Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’? Differing weights and differing measures— the LORD detests them both. Even small children are known by their actions, so is their conduct really pure and upright?”

If there’s one thing I’ve come to find that God hates, it’s people who pretend to be someone they’re not. Everyone knows that one person, you know, the one who can do no wrong, the one who knows everything, the one who sits there looking down on all of us sinners like he has no sin?? Yea, I have had firsthand experience with that for as long as I can remember lol. Problem with that is, God hates when things don’t measure up…If you’re not perfect, don’t claim or pretend to be. Better to be humble and honest, then proud and dishonest.

As people, it may be hard to continuously maintain that congruity, but we must try our best because as the scripture says, even small children are known by their actions…so the question is…what do your actions say about you?? It’s definitely something to think about it. And if it doesn’t say something you’re proud of…might be time to go ahead and make that change. You can do it! :-)

February 9, 2012

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

This past weekend, I found myself so frustrated! I had so many things to do for classes this week and I never have time on the weekends because of church. I have a quiz coming, I have a recording due with interviewing techniques, I had to complete a diagnostic formulation, all of this atop the normal 500 page readings for the week -_-. Even with taking Monday off to catch up, still seems like it isn’t enough. I was so tired of never getting ahead because I always had stuff to do. So, I just thought, what the heck have I gotten myself into for the next 4-5 years??

It’s easy to become discouraged when we see so many different things in front of us, and this is true not only of our regular lives but our spiritual ones as well. The devil always does his best to overwhelm us with his trials, temptations, and never-ending words of discouragement. But we have to keep our eyes on the prize and keep moving! Remember that in our weaknesses, He is strong, and that we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us! God’s not going to reward someone who starts and doesn’t finish, nor will society. But if we keep pressing forward, we will attain our prize at the end, whether it is a great career, a comfortable living, a loving family, or a crown of life… :-)

February 8, 2012

Philemon 1:4-7

“I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.”

Remember that time when someone got you real upset??? You know what I’m talking about. That time when that girl said something to piss you off and that other time when that guy almost got you heated in an argument. You just wanted to slap them!!! O_o But something stopped you from doing it…What was it?

There could be many things that stopped you. Maybe it was your pride, maybe it was the fear of getting in trouble, maybe it was just typical self-control. Your parents raised you not to do that. But how about doing it for a different reason? That is, refraining from doing that because you don’t want to give a negative testimony as a Christian and follower of Christ? So many people forget that people are always watching us, our reactions, to see if Christianity attracts them. It would just be horrible if we repelled them away just because of how we felt in the moment. Paul in this chapter, knew that Philemon could be upset with a runaway slave that returned (Onesimus); so he pre-advised Philemon to not react in a manner that would put off a new convert even though he might be upset with him for running away. You might think, it’s too hard to maintain my composure when people get me so angry all the time!!! But what if I told you, there was a way that you could refrain from doing that w/more ease? That it wasn’t as difficult to maintain your composure? Wouldn’t you want a chance at that? If so, the Holy Spirit is a master at self-control and temperance. Invite Him to help you today. I’m sure He’ll be more than happy to oblige. I’m already on my way, slowly but surely 8-)

February 7, 2012

Philippians 1:3-6

"I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

     Have you ever found yourself striving to be a good Christian, praying, meditating on the Word of God, only to consistently find yourself struggling w/sin? Maybe it’s a myriad of things…maybe it’s those white lies, or maybe it’s just that one little temptation that gets you every time! In times like these, it’s easy to get discouraged and think that we’ll never get to the point where the disciples did, where Paul did, and even worse, where God wants us to be. Our sins make us ashamed and keep us in these situations because we often feel unworthy of being in God’s presence.

     However, that’s when you have to remember, the one who began this work in you, this work of salvation, of transformation, of wisdom, of peace? That same entity is going to be faithful to complete His work in you and that entity is GOD! God isn’t like us as human beings. He doesn’t automatically turn His back on us when we miss the mark. Rather, He is shaping you, molding you into the person He wants you to be. God is faithful and He never begins anything just to decide not to finish it. He completes everything He does, and all of it is perfect. The author of this hymn captured it well when he said,

“Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father, There is no shadow of turning with Thee; Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not. As Thou hast been Thou forever wilt be. Great is Thy faithfulness! Great is Thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!”

     You may not believe me now, but just you wait and see. At the end of the day, you’ll see not only did He have a plan in mind…He was creating a masterpiece!!! :)

February 6, 2012

Psalms 1

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.”

I remember growing up with the most overprotective parents ever! @_@ They would watch over every little thing, I MEAN EVERYTHING! Even who I became friends with…and they would control my interactions too! I used to think these people are crazy o_O. However, they were onto something that many of us miss though it’s explicitly written in the Bible: Do not mix or take pleasure in the company of sinners. That saying, Birds of a feather flock together? IT’S TRUE! Also, as the other saying goes, Tell me who your friends are, I’ll tell you who you are. All of these sayings exist because they’ve been observed to be true. It’s a slow fade my peeps. You don’t notice at first, but it starts with a finger, moves to a hand, then your arm, pretty soon, your whole body is involved in activities you’d swear you’d never be a part of :(. And yes, I have first-hand experience with that unfortunately -_-

So, if there’s one thing I learned about this life it’s that God knows what He’s talking about! If He tells you to stay away from something, it’s because He knows what can happen. Don’t overestimate yourself. The devil is the one boosting your head and tricking you into believing you can handle it. It’s when we are most confident and proud that the devil gets us. Pride comes before destruction. There’s no debating that bad company corrupts good manners. So be smart, be sharp, and be prudent because…

“It’s a slow fade when you give yourself away. It’s a slow fade when black and white turns to gray. Thoughts invade, choices are made, a PRICE will be paid when you give yourself away. People never crumble in a day…It’s a slow fade”

February 5, 2012

Proverbs 3:11-12

My son, do not despise the LORD’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. 

Hebrews 12:6

And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, “My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

Funny how this verse is repeated in the New Testament rights? The author pleads for us not to forget that who the Lord loves, He rebukes, He chastens, He disciplines. Sometimes, as humans, we stray away and do wrong because our flesh leads us to do so, and we let it. So, once the consequences come…sometimes, we’re left thinking, “God, I know I’ve done wrong, but do you really have to punish me like this??” We don’t like to suffer the consequences of our actions and be disciplined. We’d rather just say we’re sorry and just get away with what we do. But what good father would just let a child do whatever he wants and never punish him when he does wrong? Not a very good one right? In fact, at Bible study, one thing I learned is that if you’re not getting disciplined...you may want to check and make sure you’re in the fold o_O. If God doesn’t care to discipline you, it may be a warning sign that you’re not yet one of His children. It’s definitely something to think and pray about…until next time :) 

February 4, 2012

Luke 18:1-8

“Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’ For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’” And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”

Sometimes, as humans, we feel very discouraged in our prayers and efforts. We cry out to the Lord day and night and feel as if we get no response. Even worse, we may doubt God’s ability to hear and answer our prayers. Though there are times when God clearly says no, we have to remember the virtue of patience and the value of persistence.

God is always faithful to answer the prayers of His children. In this story, this woman kept bothering an UNJUST judge about granting her justice; and, because she persisted on it, he granted her justice….JUST TO GET HER TO LEAVE HIM ALONE lol. So, if God is fair and just, and most of all, cares for us, then how much more would He give us the desires of our hearts if we ask Him? So, don’t give up! Wait, have faith, and PUSH!!!--- > Pray Until Something Happens! :)

Sorry for the late posting!!! hehehe

February 3, 2012

Matthew 13:3-23

Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

 “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts
and turn, and I would heal them.’

But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Oftentimes, especially for those of us who grew up in the church, we tend to lose our "spiritual senses"… You might be confused by what I’m saying, but what I mean by this is, we tend to lose the ability to see w/our spiritual eyes, hear with our spiritual ears. So, we miss what God is trying to tell us. It falls on deaf ears or we become so used to hearing the vocal message that we miss its spiritual appeal to us.

In this scripture, Jesus conveys a message in a parable, which brings His disciples to question why He doesn’t always speak clearly. Jesus then explains that the secrets of the kingdom are not for everyone and that those who can see, hear, and understand are blessed!

An important message was being communicated in this parable that relates to that aforementioned message. There were four categories of people:

1)    The first group was the group that failed to understand the good message; so, the devil took advantage of this and draws their heart away from the good Word

2)    The second group, you all know them, probably the loudest ones at church, “AMEN!” o_O… But the word never took root in their hearts so they forget about it, probably by Sunday night even…meaning once life sends troubles their way, these people tend to drift off into world rather than drawing closer to God.

3)    The third group hears the Word, they hear it alright; but their preoccupation with this life and the things of this world renders the Word ineffective in their lives. They are blinded by the carnal aspects of this life…

4)    But the fourth group? This group hears and UNDERSTANDS the Word. Subsequently, they pass it on and reflect the message with their words and with their lives, which results in many people coming into the fold!

Which group do you belong to? Better yet, which group should you belong to? If you’re not there, which steps will you take to get there? Think about that and open your “spiritual senses” to receive the message that God is sending you. Wouldn’t want any of us to miss something important because we used our carnal senses when we should have been using our spiritual eyes and ears :)

February 2, 2012

James 1:5-8 (NIV)

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.”

When I was in high school, a teacher of mine asked me a question about something I wanted. So, I told her something that I had been praying for…but I also told her, “Yes, that’s basically what I want. But I don’t know if God is going to give it to me.” Then she replied, “Why would you say that? God is able, just have faith!” Being the thinker that I was (yes, thinking too much can be a hindrance at times in your spiritual walk…but that’s a devo for another day), I answered and said, “Yes, but I always think to myself, what if what I ask something that isn’t in God’s will? I probably wouldn’t get it then.” I thought uh huh, what could she possibly say to that?? O_o

You know what she told me? “If you ask God for something, you have to believe that He will do it and have faith in Him. If you don’t, the Bible says you’re unstable and you won’t get anything.” Of course, I was disturbed by what she said, but I asked for the reference to which she told me it was James. So I looked it up and thought to myself ah ha! This is in regards to wisdom, so she’s wrong….well, not necessarily, I was wrong this time.

Though James spoke about wisdom in this context, he makes it clear that God gives generously (in general) to all who ask Him and believe. He implies this by setting giving as an attribute of God. Also, he substantiates it with the subsequent verse saying that one who doubts “should not expect to receive ANYTHING from the Lord.” This implies more than just wisdom. It encompasses anything we ask for. Furthermore in Hebrews 11:6, it says that without faith it is impossible to please God because those who come before Him must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

So, today, as you ask the Lord for something, trust Him, have faith, and put Him first. As long as you seek Him first and believe, there’s no doubt that He will fulfill your prayer. :)