I have been thinking about the way things are. It started with seeing the movie "Letters to Julia". Not that this blurb is about the movie. It is more about the way we are and live today. We move fast, make stupid decisions, hurt others, don't own up to our mistakes, have no manners, break our word, step on anyone in our way, and sleep with anyone who happens to come along. Today love is just a "quickie", meet one day and in bed the next, and if it does not work out, well... on to the next one! There is no staying power, working on problems, growing together, loving each other in spite of ourselves.
It is sad, that we have become so hardened in our hearts. There is so much sexual stuff, depression, anger, pain, an unnecessary death going around. Not just in the secular world but also in the Christian world.
I am a Christian, and it pains me to see people who claim to know the God of the Universe, the Creator, the Savior of the world, the one who brings true peace and healing into our hearts, the one who forgives and brings our mind, body and souls rest, still being tortured by their own ignorance, and lack of the knowledge of who God is and what God is really all about.
Who are you serving? What are you doing? Did you know that you don't have to be depressed or angry or hurt or sick??? Do you know God at all? And if you do, what is killing, destroying you, and stealing from you? IT IS NOT GOD!!!! Stop blaming Him for your troubles, He wants to help you more than you want help.
"The thief's purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose (Jesus) is to give them a rich and satisfying life" John 10:10
I want so bad to see you have what God has intended you to have in this world. Jesus came to bring us life. He, Jesus, is the creator and He can re-create your heart, from the inside out. He can take your depression, pain, hurt, anger, sickness, or whatever it is that traps you and He, Jesus can help you today. I know. He has helped me. And He continues to help me. It took time. It took reading about Him in His Word. It took faith on my part. It still does. But He has changed my life. I am living proof that He is alive. And I want to share Him with everyone. I want you to have the peace that passes all understanding that Jesus has given me.
But..... not all will see it or have it. Not all will choose it. For various reasons, one of which is that
"Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don't believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don't understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God." 2 Corinthians 4:4
Many don't even realize that their eyes are blinded but it is true. It is also true that God loves you!! He knows everything you have done or thought, and He loves you anyway. He wants you to choose Him. And if you do choose Him, He will remove the veil that Satan has blinded you with. And He will open up your spiritual eyes and you will see His love and truth, and you will have rest.
There will always be strife in the world and sadly, in the Christian church, because not all of us walk by faith and trust God and know Him and His ways.
I pray that each one of you, will choose life. A life of forgiveness and rest. A Life that starts here today and a life for eternity. Why keep all the hurt, anger, strife, sickness, pain, in your heart. God is more than willing to re-create you from the inside. It truly is a miracle... what God can do.
Blessings to you!!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saved by Grace 2
1 Corinthinas 1:4-8 says;
"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge - even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul was speaking to a church who had many problems. The book of Corinthians addresses these problems. But notice that God gave them Grace, in Christ Jesus, and they were enriched in Him, in spite of the problems. It showed in their spiritual gifts! (which by the way each one of God's children who are filled with His Holy Spirit, has one or more spiritual gifts.)
Notice also that these Corinthians will be sustained to the end. This is not a new thought in the Bible. It is rampant throughout the Word of God how much He loves us, and will keep us.
Once we become born in the spiritual sense, He is with us always. He will not leave us or forsake us. It is true that we may leave Him, but as one man I know says, "God is not in the business of letting you go and will do everything to keep you" But you must know that God does not force Himself on anyone. He sent Jesus to die for our sins around 2000 years ago. Jesus said it is finished! He died for the whole world. His offer stands today and now each person has to believe in Jesus and His finished work by accepting it for himself. Each person has to choose to accept God's grace salvation. He will not force anyone.
When we do choose salvation, through Jesus Christ, God takes hold of us and totally changes us. We are no longer under condmenation, we are born again, we are a new creation, we are given His Spirit to live in our bodies, we are forgiven for past, present, and future sins. There is so much to this mystery!! Every time I read my Bible I am amazed at how much God loves and uses His children.
My prayer is that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and let Jesus be the Lord of your life. Let Him do His work in you. It is an amazing adventure. I pray that you will know Him, know in the experiential way. Not just know about Him, not know what He has done for someone else. I had a friend who once said; "I don't want to know Joni's God or Mary's God, I want to know my God." God wants a relationship with you. Enter into His rest of salvation. Let me know what He has done for you
"I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in Him in all speech and all knowledge - even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you - so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Paul was speaking to a church who had many problems. The book of Corinthians addresses these problems. But notice that God gave them Grace, in Christ Jesus, and they were enriched in Him, in spite of the problems. It showed in their spiritual gifts! (which by the way each one of God's children who are filled with His Holy Spirit, has one or more spiritual gifts.)
Notice also that these Corinthians will be sustained to the end. This is not a new thought in the Bible. It is rampant throughout the Word of God how much He loves us, and will keep us.
Once we become born in the spiritual sense, He is with us always. He will not leave us or forsake us. It is true that we may leave Him, but as one man I know says, "God is not in the business of letting you go and will do everything to keep you" But you must know that God does not force Himself on anyone. He sent Jesus to die for our sins around 2000 years ago. Jesus said it is finished! He died for the whole world. His offer stands today and now each person has to believe in Jesus and His finished work by accepting it for himself. Each person has to choose to accept God's grace salvation. He will not force anyone.
When we do choose salvation, through Jesus Christ, God takes hold of us and totally changes us. We are no longer under condmenation, we are born again, we are a new creation, we are given His Spirit to live in our bodies, we are forgiven for past, present, and future sins. There is so much to this mystery!! Every time I read my Bible I am amazed at how much God loves and uses His children.
My prayer is that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit and let Jesus be the Lord of your life. Let Him do His work in you. It is an amazing adventure. I pray that you will know Him, know in the experiential way. Not just know about Him, not know what He has done for someone else. I had a friend who once said; "I don't want to know Joni's God or Mary's God, I want to know my God." God wants a relationship with you. Enter into His rest of salvation. Let me know what He has done for you
Monday, February 15, 2010
I am saved by Grace through Faith
Ephesians 2:8-9:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast."
Grace is the work of God and only He gives it. God loves me and gives me grace. He sent Jesus to this earth to live and to die, taking all my yuk upon Himself. He exchanged His life for mine. I deserved to die, if you knew some of the things I have done and said. If you knew some of the choices I have made, you would agree with me. I do not deserve His love and grace. But He offered it to me and gave me a clean heart and a new life. And by faith I accept it and He has changed my life and continues to change me as I grow more and more in my relationship with God.
Faith is my part. Faith is what I add to the Grace that God has given me. I believe what God has done and accept His grace. I believe what He says in His Word. God loves me and has given me His Holy Spirit to guide me, to lead me into all truth, and to help me to have a relationship with God and to grow in it.
The Holy Spirit is the seal of God, a guarantee of my inheritance according to (Ephesians 1:13-14). I accept Him, the Holy Spirit, by faith, I believe what God's word says. I appropriate His Word in my life, and I am amazed at all God has done for me. God has saved me, cleansed me, recreated me, healed me, forgiven me for past, present and future sins, and He continues to live in me through His spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14: "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory"
I have assurance today that I have eternal life. I trust God, by faith, for my physical life here on this earth and the one to come. I am safe in His arms and I know He loves me. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). So if you want to have faith, hear the Word of God. His Word will teach you many things, especially how much He loves you and forgives you and wants to give you His free gift of Grace and eternal life. It will show you the changes you need to make in your life. It will comfort you and become a healing balm for you.
God sent His Son to die for the sins of the whole world. He is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9). Anyone who believes in Jesus can become a child of God. But... not all will be saved because there are many who do not believe in Jesus. This is where faith comes in. You must accept what God has done for you. By Faith. And then through His Grace and your Faith you may walk in a victorious relationship with the Almighty Creator of the World.
"For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast."
Grace is the work of God and only He gives it. God loves me and gives me grace. He sent Jesus to this earth to live and to die, taking all my yuk upon Himself. He exchanged His life for mine. I deserved to die, if you knew some of the things I have done and said. If you knew some of the choices I have made, you would agree with me. I do not deserve His love and grace. But He offered it to me and gave me a clean heart and a new life. And by faith I accept it and He has changed my life and continues to change me as I grow more and more in my relationship with God.
Faith is my part. Faith is what I add to the Grace that God has given me. I believe what God has done and accept His grace. I believe what He says in His Word. God loves me and has given me His Holy Spirit to guide me, to lead me into all truth, and to help me to have a relationship with God and to grow in it.
The Holy Spirit is the seal of God, a guarantee of my inheritance according to (Ephesians 1:13-14). I accept Him, the Holy Spirit, by faith, I believe what God's word says. I appropriate His Word in my life, and I am amazed at all God has done for me. God has saved me, cleansed me, recreated me, healed me, forgiven me for past, present and future sins, and He continues to live in me through His spirit.
Ephesians 1:13-14: "In Him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory"
I have assurance today that I have eternal life. I trust God, by faith, for my physical life here on this earth and the one to come. I am safe in His arms and I know He loves me. Faith comes by hearing the Word of God (Romans 10:17). So if you want to have faith, hear the Word of God. His Word will teach you many things, especially how much He loves you and forgives you and wants to give you His free gift of Grace and eternal life. It will show you the changes you need to make in your life. It will comfort you and become a healing balm for you.
God sent His Son to die for the sins of the whole world. He is not willing that any should perish. (2 Peter 3:9). Anyone who believes in Jesus can become a child of God. But... not all will be saved because there are many who do not believe in Jesus. This is where faith comes in. You must accept what God has done for you. By Faith. And then through His Grace and your Faith you may walk in a victorious relationship with the Almighty Creator of the World.
It takes both, His Grace and your faith.
I have heard people say that you can't be sure that you will "make it to heaven until the time comes" That you have to just wait and see. That is totally against what the Bible says!!!!! If you think that, you need to start reading the New Testament. It is filled with God's love for you and your victory in Christ. Once you have read it a few times, go on to the Old Testament. In the New Covenent, (we are in the new covenant today) we interpret the Old Testament by the New Testament. In other words, if I have a question or get confused, while reading the OT, I go to the NT and let Jesus show me the answer. He was the fulfillment of all the OT. If you have doubts read the book of Galations every day for a month. Pray that God's Spirit opens your eyes. You will be amazed at what God will reveal to you.
I desire to grow in my relationship with God. I trust Him to keep me safe. I have memorized Psalm 91, it is an awesome Psalm. Read it. Ephesians is so full of food, read it.
I pray that you will thirst after Him, He will fill you if you ask Him. He is full of Grace for you. I know for a fact because of what He did for me
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)