Discouragement

It seems I often find myself in a state of discouragement, that often leads to me feeling depressed. I know that in Christ Jesus I have no reason to feel discouraged and yet week after week I often fall into this state. I know that God loves me I have no doubt about that but I often feel like my life is a whirl wind out of control, and I don't know how to get back on my feet. God has given us the ability to stand firm in him and I know that he will strengthen me each new day. Joshua 1:9 Says this: Have I not commanded you? Be Strong and Courageous. Do not be terrified do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you where ever you go. If God is with me always then I should not worry about anything or become dimayed for he is with me and he alone will light the path that I must follow. My life is Christ is one that should be filled with hope and peace. Lord please forgive me of my insecurities, help me to stand firm in you help me to not become discouraged or depressed. The Lord longs for us to call upon his name when we are weak, and I have been very weak the past fews days. Thank You Lord for giving me your strength.

Humility

Humility, What is it? We hear this word all the time in reference to living a Christian life, and yet many Christians don't even begin to understand what it is or how to walk in humility. We started a bible study at my church about humility, and I have to say that I was very humbled. In our study we talked about Christ's humility and his attributes. Christ never took credit for anything he did, always gave credit to God. He never excepted praise for the things he did but gave the glory to His Father. He did not seek to please man but rather his Father. He never claimed that his words were his own but that they were of his Father (God). Christ never wanted himself to be lifted up or glorified, he walked in true humility. I know that often times as Christians we pat ourselves on the back for the things we have done, but in truth we have done nothing without God's strength. The bible speaks about humbling ourselves as children. Matthew 18: 3-4. And he said: I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore , whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Christ lived it for us, being obedient to his Father, and living his life as a reflection of God. Luke 14:11 says: For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled but he who humbles himself will be exalted. That doesn't mean that we are going to get a pat on the back for everything we do, and we shouldn't expect it if we are truly seeking to give God the glory. I am going to work on my humility this week. I am so far off the mark when it comes to walking in humility, but I know that God began a good work in me and that he is faithful to complete it me. Blessings to all.

Forgiveness

I was reminded today of Gods grace and mercy, and his willingness to forgive all my trespasses. As I look back on the past few weeks I have been reminded of the sin in my life. The hurtful words spoken, my ungodly heart attitude, anger, laziness, and many many more. I was listening to a song on the radio today that spoke of Gods precious price paid for my sins. The blood of Jesus Christ and the sacrifice he made for me on the cross. The words of the song go like this: There is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins and sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. Although I am reminded of the guilt within, I know that I am forgiven in Christ Jesus. He paid the price for me once and for all. I can't take back the sins of my past, but I can except the forgiveness of Jesus Christ and move forward. Looking towards that goal of the reward of heaven. I'm forgiven because you (Jesus) were forsaken. I praise God for giving me such a wonderful gift of life. Blessings to all.

Running the Race

When we think about running a race we think about the reward we will win at the end. A medal or a trophy, some reward usually comes to those who win the race. But in getting to the finish line we often endure hard work, be it speed or endurance or hurdles in our way. Eventually we get to the finish line. Our walk with the Lord is just like that we have to endure and climb a few hurdles, and often times it is painful. But God promises us a reward if we will run the race with perseverance a reward in heaven where his son Jesus stands with his arms open wide waiting to give us our reward which is eternal life. We are going to suffer here on earth but the bible tells us in Romans 5:2b-3 says And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance and perseverance character; and character hope, and hope does not disappoint us. I am so looking forward to that day when I can stand before the Lord and he will say "well done my good and faithful servant. I will run the race with diligence. Hebrews 6:11 says We want each of you to show the same diligence to the very end in order to make your hope sure. Run hard, endure the pain and the suffering for it is only for a short time. Blessings to all.

Justified in Christ

Happy Lords Day everyone.....I am thankful for a church that desires to serve God by teaching the truth of God's word, even when it hurts deep. Today I was reminded again of the sin in my life that I have been set free from. I was deeply troubled in that just a few days before I had said and done some things in my sinful anger that was not at all Christ like. I know that God has given me freedom from the bondage of sin, in that, through Christ I am set free. But my unrighteous anger always gets me in trouble and I fall into sin. A passage I was reminded of today says: For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34b. So then I look back on yesterday and the words that were spoken and I wonder what on earth my heart had been meditating on, or was it that I just allowed myself to become so angry that the sin in my life came flowing out. Psalms 19:14 teaches us that what so ever we meditate in our hearts should be pleasing in his sight. Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight Oh Lord my Rock and my redeemer. Often times I regret words spoken because I had not meditated good things in my heart. That is why sin keeps creeping into my life, because what ever I think in my heart comes out of my mouth. Praise God I am forgiven and I am justified in Christ. Praise God that he still loves me even with mud on my face. Blessings to all you read this today.

Continuing in Sin

Our Pastor has been preaching on sin and how because of what Christ has done for us we are no longer a slave to sin. As Christians we should not be walking in sin, or living a sinful life. We can not claim to be children of God and continue in our old sinful lives. In fact we have been freed from the bondage of sin. If we are in Christ we no longer desire to live our lives in ungodly ways. In fact there should be evidence of a changed life, a renewing, putting off the old self and putting on the righteousness of God. I have to wonder then why it is as Christians we find ourselves falling into our old patterns of sin. Romans 7:17-23 tells us why we still struggle with sin in our lives. As it is, it is no longer myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God's law; but I see another law at work in the members of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within my members. Whenever I fail in my Christian walk, I remember that because of the sin's of Adam I inherited a sinful nature. My desire is to walk a life that is pleasing to God and yet everyday I feel as if I fall flat on my face. But God is always there picking me back up again and washing the mud off my face and saying to me, your forgiven. He loves me even though I fall on my face. I am looking forward to that day when there will be no more sin, no more waging wars within my members, and I will be living a pure and holy life with Christ in Heaven.

Life

I have learned that over the years it doesn't matter what you think your life will look like in ten or 20 years its always going to be different then you expected. God definately has a plan for each of us on this earth and his plan is certainly different then anything anyone might ever expect for there own life. So don't go looking for your life down the road ahead, but keep your eyes on the path that God has set before you.

My First Blog

Well this is my very first blog....I want to use this blog to share my thoughts with friends and family. I am a child of God and I want my life to reflect the love of Christ. Living a Christian life is a very difficult task, but it has a huge reward waiting for me in heaven. I want my life here on earth to be remembered in a way that those around will remember and embrace the Love of Christ for themselves. I want my life to be a living testimony to what God has done in my life so that others will understand what a wonderful, mighty and loving God we have.